The Maps, Data & Government Information Centre (MaDGIC) offers customized learning opportunities and literacy programming to support the use of GIS and data resources at Trent.
Class Visits
MaDGIC can develop and deliver instructional sessions to support students or research teams with completing course assignments and conducting research. Staff and faculty who are interested in scheduling course-integrated sessions or developing custom learning opportunities are encouraged to connect with Tracy Sallaway, Research Data Services Librarian to discuss their needs.
Workshops
Our fall 2025 workshops are open for registration!
If you require assistance with your own project or have requests or ideas for workshop topics, please contact us by email to madgichelp@trentu.ca or schedule an appointment from our Appointments and Consultations page.
From Collection to Curation: Managing your data in active research phases
Managing research data requires ongoing efforts but key considerations, methods, and tools will change as your research progresses. Join Tracy Sallaway, Research Data Services Librarian, for an informative discussion about managing data during the active phases of your research project. We'll discuss approaches and tools to ensure you are leveraging the supports available to you as a researcher at a Canadian institution. You'll learn how to
- collect and organize data to support analysis
- select an appropriate storage option for your active research data
- create a basic data management plan using DMP Assistant.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is required.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff and faculty
- When: Wednesday September 10th, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Key information, live demos, and helpful resources
Register: From Collection to Curation: Managing your data in active research phases
Business Analyst for demographic and economic data
The ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App is a browser-based mapping app with access to demographic, consumer spending and business data. Join James Marcaccio, GIS and Data Systems Specialist, for a basic overview of Esri's Business Analyst platform. You'll learn how to
- identify the data available in ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App
- perform basic geospatial analyses using the available data and tools
- export maps and data for use in other software or documents.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is required however participants will require an Esri account. Trent students, staff and faculty may request a free account by logging in to myTrent and filling out the Esri Enterprise Account Request Form under Services > MaDGIC.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff or faculty
- When: Tuesday September 16th, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo, hands-on examples, and helpful resources
Register: Business Analyst for demographic and economic data
Navigating Geospatial Data: Discovery, collection, and access
Join Kate Hodge, GIS and Data Support Specialist, for an introductory workshop to help you explore the world of geospatial data. Geospatial data can enhance research outcomes by enabling spatial analysis and visualization, improving data integration and interoperability, and integrating spatial perspectives to explore research questions. This session is designed to equip participants with practical skills and the confidence to get started. You'll learn how to
- understand what geospatial data is and why it matters
- find and download datasets from trusted sources
- collect your own data using mobile tools
- recognize key data quality and licensing issues.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is required.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff and faculty
- When: Thursday September 25th, 12:00 - 12:50 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo, hands-on examples, and helpful resources
Register: Navigating Geospatial Data: Discovery, collection, and access
Mapping in R: Basics
If you want to create a basic map of your study area using open-source tools and replicable methods, then this workshop is for you. Join James Marcaccio, GIS and Data Systems Specialist, for this introduction to creating basic maps using R. You'll learn how to
- identify packages and basic functions for mapping in R
- import and generate geospatial data
- plot your data on a map for use in a research paper or poster.
Prerequisites: Attendees must have a working version of R and RStudio to participate in this workshop. Prior experience in R is required. While we will cover some basics, it is expected that participants know how to install and load packages, define variables, and create and run functions in RStudio.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff and faculty
- When: Wednesday October 8th, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo, guided practice
Register: Mapping in R: Basics
Ready to Share: Licensing and preparing data for publication
Did you know that all research data must be licensed to enable effective sharing and reuse? Join Tracy Sallaway, Research Data Services Librarian, for an introduction to licensing and sharing your research data for publication. You'll learn how to
- identify the rights you need to license and share your research data
- choose an appropriate license for your research data
- conduct basic data de-identification and anonymization
- set access controls to enable review prior to publication.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is required.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Wednesday October 15th, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Discussion, hands-on examples
Register: Ready to Share: Licensing and preparing data for publication
Creating a Map in ArcGIS Online
Join Kate Hodge, GIS and Data Support Specialist, for an introductory workshop designed to help you create interactive maps using ArcGIS Online, a web-based mapping platform compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. This workshop is ideal for beginners who are curious about mapping and eager to explore the power of spatial storytelling to enhance research or course outputs. You'll learn how to
- convert spreadsheet data into spatial features
- edit and manage map layers
- create interactive pop-ups with images and links
- symbolize and style data
- share your map with others.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is required however participants will require an Esri account. Trent students, staff and faculty may request a free account by logging in to myTrent and filling out the Esri Enterprise Account Request Form under Services > MaDGIC.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Thursday October 30th, 2:00 - 2:50 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo, guided practice, and helpful resources
Register: Create a Map in ArcGIS Online
R Figures with ggplot
Join James Marcaccio, GIS and Data Systems Specialist, as he guides you through the process of visualizing your research data in R using ggplot2. After the workshop, try reusing the code to generate figures on your own! You'll learn how to
- create basic, publication-quality figures using ggplot2
- export figures for use in a research project or thesis
- transfer the workshop code to your own dataset for future use.
Prerequisites: Attendees must have a working version of R and RStudio to follow along with this workshop. Prior experience in R is required. While we will go over some basics, it is expected that participants know how to install and load packages, define variables, and create and run functions in RStudio.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Thursday November 6th, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo using an example dataset, guided practice, and shared code
Register: R Figures with ggplot
Mapping in R: Interactive maps with Leaflet
Want to upgrade your static maps for something more engaging? Join James Marcaccio, GIS and Data Systems Specialist, as he shares how you can create interactive (scrollable, zoomable) maps in R using Leaflet. This short presentation is designed to get you started with the basics. You'll learn how to
- set up a Leaflet map
- add data to your map.
Prerequisites: Attendees must have a working version of R and RStudio to follow along with this workshop. Prior experience in R is required. While we will go over some basics, it is expected that participants know how to install and load packages, define variables, and create and run functions in RStudio.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Wednesday November 19th, 2:00 - 2:30 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demos and guided practice
Register: Mapping in R: Interactive maps with Leaflet
Esri Apps for Sharing your Work: Instant Apps, Dashboards, StoryMaps and Experience Builder
While you may use ArcGIS to analyse spatial data and create maps, it also has several options to share your data online. Join James Marcaccio, GIS and Data Systems Specialist, as he guides you through several user-friendly options for sharing data and interactive content in ArcGIS Online. You'll learn how to
- use Instant Apps to share your maps via a public web link
- combine geospatial data and focus users on specific attributes using Dashboards
- combine text, figures, and interactive maps to tell a story using StoryMaps
- take all of this to the next level with Experience Builder.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is required however some exposure to ArcGIS Online will be an asset. Participants will require an Esri account. Trent students, staff and faculty may request a free account by logging in to myTrent and filling out the Esri Enterprise Account Request Form under Services > MaDGIC.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Wednesday November 19th, 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demos
Register: Esri apps for sharing your work: Instant Apps, Dashboards, StoryMaps and Experience Builder
Mapping Made Easy
Join Kate Hodge, GIS and Data Support Specialist, in this beginner-friendly workshop aimed at introducing you to the basics of digital mapping with ArcGIS Pro. ArcGIS Pro is a powerful desktop mapping software used extensively in research, planning, and data visualization. You'll learn how to
- navigate the ArcGIS Pro interface
- find and import geospatial data
- customize map layouts and symbology
- label features to enhance clarity and storytelling
- export and share your finished map.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is necessary however exposure to the ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online environments will be an asset. Participants will require an Esri account. Trent students, staff and faculty may request a free account by logging in to myTrent and filling out the Esri Enterprise Account Request Form under Services > MaDGIC.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Thursday November 20, 2:00 - 3:50 PM ET
- Where: Data Visualization Lab, Bata Library room 402
- How: Live demo, hands on practice and support
Register: Mapping Made Easy
From Project to Preservation: Making your Data Last for Maximum Impact and Reusability
Are you interested in preserving your research data and making it available for use in future research? Join Tracy Sallaway, Research Data Services Librarian, to explore tools and supports for researchers who wish to preserve data for lasting impact. You'll learn how to
- select a data repository suitable for your project, discipline, and publishing requirements
- meet basic and preservation-quality metadata requirements
- generate a DOI for your data and apply appropriate access controls.
Prerequisites: No prior experience is necessary.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Wednesday, November 26th, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo, hands-on practice and support
Register: From Project to Preservation: Making your Data Last for Maximum Impact and Reusability
Sharing your Project Online with R Shiny
Want to share your R project with a wider audience? Join James Marcaccio, GIS and Data Systems Specialist, to explore how a Shiny app is structured to enable you to build interactive web apps and share your work online. You'll learn how to
- create a basic custom app to survey a population
- display and share your results online.
Prerequisites: Attendees must have a working version of R and RStudio to participate as well as an R Shiny account. Prior experience in R is required. While we will cover some basics, it is expected that participants know how to install and load packages, define variables, and create and run functions in RStudio.
Details:
- Who: Trent students, staff, and faculty
- When: Thursday, November 27th, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- How: Live demo, guided practice
Register: Sharing your Project Online with R Shiny
