Barcelona Summer School of Demography | Module 3: Data visualization with R

Course description

The Barcelona Summer School of Demography (BSSD) program is a comprehensive four-week course focusing exclusively on the R statistical language. It is structured into four distinct modules, with each module spanning a week (20hs), designed to provide an in-depth understanding of different aspects of the R language: statistical and demographic analysis, data visualization and spatial analysis. Applicants are invited to enrol in either the full four-week BSSD course or select individual modules that align with their specific learning needs and interests.

Module 3 focuses on data visualization using ggplot2 and the ‘tidyverse’ approach in R programming.

In the application form, candidates are required to specify the mode of attendance for the course, either in-person or online. Participants will be selected on a competitive basis based on motivation and research interests. Priority will be given to early-career researchers (Master and PhD students), but applicants from more advanced stages are also welcome. Applicants will be informed about the results of the selection process by 25 March 2025. Students registered in two or more other Bcn4Seasons School courses will be automatically considered for the Barcelona Summer School of Demography, without going through any selection process.

For further information, please contact bssd@ced.uab.cat

Content

Day 1: Basic dataviz principles, impressive dataviz showcases, tidy approach to data, {ggplot2} basics.
Day 2: ggplot2 basics, colors in dataviz, themes and fonts
Day 3: Useful types of plots, Dotplot – the most neglected and powerful type of dataviz Heatmap, equality-line, ggridges, treemap
Interactivity: plotly, gganimate.
Day 4: The basics of map projections, With geom_sf maps become yet another type of dataviz
Useful spatial processing tricks with rmapshaper, biscale maps
Day 5: dataviz challenge in teams, brief presentations by teams and discussion, course wrap-up

Learning Highlights

Participants will learn the tidyverse approach to R and how to produced different types of data visualizations using ggplot2.

Target audience

Master and PhD Students, Researchers, Data Journalists and people how work with population data in general.

Required training or equipment

Participants are expected to bring their own laptop, with R and RStudio installed. Also a general knowledge the R environment is required.

Lecturer

Ilya Kashnitsky

Ilya is a Senior Researcher at Statistics Denmark, specializing in small area population estimation and forecasting. His research focuses on regional variations in population age structures across Europe, the demographic processes shaping them, and their dynamics.

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