Data Visualisation for Biology: a practical workshop on design, techniques and tools

Date:

 Monday 30 January - Friday 3 February 2017

Venue: 

European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) - Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge,  CB10 1SD, United Kingdom

Application opens: 

Friday 16 September 2016

Application deadline: 

Friday 09 December 2016

Participation: 

Open application with selection

Contact: 

Johanna Langrish

Registration fee: 

£585.00

Registration closed

Overview

As biological datasets increase in size and complexity, we are moving more and more from an hypothesis-driven research paradigm to a data-driven one. As a result, exploration of that data has become even more crucial than in the past.

In this 5-day workshop, we will dive into the topic of biological data visualization and how it can be used to gain insight in and get a "feel" for a dataset, so that targeted analyses can be defined. We will start by covering theoretical questions like: What is data visualization? How do we perceive images? How can we visualise data in the best possible way? As the workshop continues, it will become more and more hands-on and interactive; a large part will be committed to creating visualisations using the P5 javascript library, based on biological data. In the workshop, we will focus on omics (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics) data rather than e.g. imaging data.

 

Audience

This course is targeted at biologists who want to explore, and gain further insight, into their own data through the use of visualisation and design approaches.  Some prior experience in programming would be beneficial, but pre-reading and exercises will be sent out to all successful applicants prior to the start of the course.

Bring your own data

You are encouraged to bring your own data to this course, you will be provided with guidance on the format for this data.

Syllabus, tools and resources

  • P5 (http://p5js.org)
  • Textbook: "Visualization analysis and design" (T Munzner)
  • Textbook: "Visualize this" (N Yau)

Outcomes

During this course you will learn about:

  • Theory of perception and cognition
  • Frameworks on thinking about data visualisation
  • Visual design process
  • Implementation of data visualisations

Programme

Time Topic Trainer
Day 1 -  Monday 30 January 2017
10:00 - 10:30 Welcome and introduction  
10:30 - 12:30 Basics of data visualisation and visual analytics Jan Aerts
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch  
13:30 - 15:00 Basics of data visualisation and visual analytics Jan Aerts
15:00 - 15:30 Tea/coffee break  
15:30 - 17:00 Data visualisation from the trenches Stefanie Posavec
19:00 Evening meal    
Day 2 - Tuesday 31 January 2017
09:00 - 12:30 The visual design process Niki Karamanis
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch  
13:30 - 17:30 The visual design process Niki Karamanis
19:00 Evening meal   
Day 3 - Wednesday 01 February 2017
09:00 - 10:30 Implementing visualisations using P5  Ryo Sakai
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch  
13:30 - 17:30 Implementing visualisations using P5  Ryo Sakai
19:00 Evening meal    
Day 4 - Thursday 02 February 2017
09:00 - 12:30 Implementing visualisations using P5  Ryo Sakai
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch  
13:30 - 17:30 Implementing visualisations using P5  Ryo Sakai
19:00 Evening meal   
Day 5 - Friday 03 February 2017
09:00 - 10:30 Presentation and visual design on a dataset (Trainees own data can be used, but trainers will also have suitable datasets for this exercise) All trainers
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch  
13:30 - 16:00 Presentation and visual design on a dataset All trainers
16:00 - 16:30 Course feedback and wrap up All trainers
16:30 End of course  
European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI)
Wellcome Genome Campus Hinxton Cambridge CB10 1SD United Kingdom

In association with

How to apply

In order to be considered for a place on this course, applicants must do the following:

  1. Complete the online application form.
  2. Submit a WORD document to johanna@ebi.ac.uk containing a short biography, including your work history and a description of your current research interests (maximum of 300 words total)-on/before Friday 09 December  2016 - 12:00 GMT. 
  3. Submit an example of what you would consider to be a bad data visualisation and an example of good or interesting visualisation. Please add a a brief explanation to why you consider the example to be good/bad.
  4. Provide a letter of support from a supervisor or a senior co-worker explaining why you should be selected for this course.

Further details will be provided on your confirmation email after completing the online form.

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. Please read through the following guidance document for further information on how to complete your application.

Included within the Registration Fee:

* 4 night's accommodation onsite - Arriving Monday 30 January 2017, Departure Friday 03 February 2017 

* Breakfast, Lunch, Tea/Coffee and Evening Meals

* Use of the Training Room

* All Course Materials

* Return Shuttle Service to Cambridge Train Station at the end of the course

 

Application deadline

09 December 2016

Number of places

25 places

Registration closed

Organisers

Jan Aerts - University of Hasselt, Belgium

Vera Matser

Trainers

Jan Aerts - University of Hasselt, Belgium

Nikiforos Karamanis - EMBL-EBI, UK

Stefanie Posavec - Freelance designer

Ryo Sakai - GSK, UK