#resbaz2017

Today's video briefly introduces some concepts in Data Visualisation, with examples of beautiful graphics produced in R using ggplot2:

Starting from 3:30pm under the Main Tent at ResBaz Melbourne, we’ve got so many exciting activities lined up - check them out below!

Guru Talks

As with previous years, we have invited organisations participating in various research-related, and community activities to come have a chat about all the cool things they do, as well as how to get involved. Over the course of 30 minutes underneath the main tent, expect to meet experts from diverse fields and learn about start-ups, digital archives, and more! Guru Talks will be on the 21st of February with the schedule is as follows - there will be a follow-up post on what each organisation does so keep an eye out for that!

3:30 - 4:00pm

Fairfax Media

BajaBoard

The Conversation

WISE - Women in Science and Engineering

4:10 - 4:40pm

RLadies

Interactive facial expression project

Research Platforms Services (Introduction to Scientific Programming)

Robogals

4:50 - 5:20pm

newCardigan

Research Platforms Services (Value of Having a Mentor)

5:30 - 6:00pm

VicNode

COMBINE

7 Tesla Medical Imaging Group

Lightning Talks

As you know ResBaz attendees are all researchers in one way or another and as such, they have exciting tales to tell and share about their research endeavours and pursuits! Come hear all about their exciting findings and ongoing research at these 5 minute Lightning Talks held under the Main Tent. Check out the amazing variety of topics in the spreadsheet below!

Tool Talks

Find out more about the tools you are interested in from data driven tools like R, Python, and MATLAB to visual based tools like Fusion 360, Inventor, and 3D Slicer. Tool Talks presents the opportunity to talk to our Research Community Coordinators about your research, learn new workflows, and find out how our available range of digital trainings can help accelerate the research you do! This will only be run on the first day of ResBaz (21st of February).

Tool Hacks

If you raring to get your hands dirty in the tools you’ve seen at ResBaz, on the second day (22nd of February) we’ll be running Tool Hacks. Intended for participants of all levels, this will be an opportunity to go through the challenges presented during the pitches in more depth, as well as to bring your own data to work on with our Research Community Coordinators. 

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality provides an opportunity for researchers to present information in ways not easily achieved through traditional 2D mediums. There will be hands-on demonstrations which will highlight some of the advantages of VR visualisation using examples of content produced both at the University and beyond. Check it out in Wilson Hall from 10:20 - 12:50pm, and 1:50 - 3:30pm!

Makerspace

A Makerspace will pop up during the second afternoon of ResBaz so get ready for a crafternoon (haha get it?) of everything from knitting, and origami to robotics, 3D printing, and stop-motion videoing! 

Trivia Night

On the second night of ResBaz (7-9pm 22nd of February) we’ll be hosting a Trivia Night under the main tent so come and test your knowledge on a wide range of topics and see how you stack up against the other teams! Teams will be formed on the night so come along and for some fun!

Other Social Activities

For today's video, we want to showcase an inspiring and informative video by ResBaz alumna Isabell Kiral-Kornek. Using web programming with D3 as a case study, she talks about the importance and fun of programming, and gives some general-purpose programming tips.

Ever heard someone say the 'words' CGI or API or IOT or any of the other wonderful internet abbreviations and wondered what the hell they were talking about? Then today's video is for you. Today's video explores the concept of API with food analogies. They certainly know how to capture our attention! Mmmm...

Today, we look at the history of type. We hope it inspires in you a love for beautiful lettering :)

If you ever thought your computer might be a zombie trying to destroy your brain, today's video starring Bill Gates might be just what you've been looking for! He convinces a zombie to switch its diet to flowers using "If" statements, and in the process provides a very gentle introduction to this important programming concept.

For Day 2 of the Twelve Days of ResBaz, we found a couple of videos that explain some universal coding concepts.

Programming/Scripting Concepts Explained (Variables, Arrays, Strings, & Length):

What is an algorithm and why should you care?

by Dejan Jotanovic

On Wednesday October 12th I joined Belinda Weaver, Amanda Miotto & Stephanie Bradbury at the annual eResearch conference (hosted in Melbourne) to discuss successes and challenges of our - now global - Research Bazaar conference. 

Underway with our #resbaz BoF #eResAu16 @heyDejan kicking off pic.twitter.com/5x5CNMCWVE

— Belinda Weaver (@cloudaus) October 12, 2016

I opened with “ResBaz: The Origins” a timeline of how ResBaz came to be what it is today and teasing out some of the key themes and anthems our community has picked up. In 2014 we were faced with a problem: too many digital research tools, not enough support. ResBaz was our answer: create communities around these tools so researchers could be empowered in digital literacy. Melbourne quickly saw ResBaz develop into a community, campaign and finally a free three day intensive conference. ResBaz also became a space where researchers could battle messy datasets as well as isolation and loneliness. We’ve previously written about how community can combat loneliness in research. You can read summaries of ResBaz 2015 and ResBaz 2016 through the links provided - and for a complete understanding of how ResBaz was founded, read this article from the Research Whisperer. 

ResBaz a community of support empowering researchers in digital tools. @heyDejan @unimelb #eResAu16 pic.twitter.com/CusFqhIenG

— Jennifer Warburton (@TzenniferW) October 12, 2016

Moving forward I looked at the complexities of shifting to a global ResBaz, hitting home that no one can “own” a community. ResBaz 2016 saw sites in Melbourne, Auckland, Perth, Dunedin, Brisbane, Sydney, Guayaquil, Vancouver, Oklahoma & Wellington. ResBaz 2017 will see more pop up! What binds these sites (apart from a handy hashtag, #ResBaz) are three core values: Community, Diversity & Open Access. ResBaz can therefore vary in size, scale, teaching material, and so on. 

Diversity, open access and community. Key values for ResBaz. Social aspect is critical. @heyDejan @ResBaz #eResAu16 pic.twitter.com/iA7ommkMab

— Jennifer Warburton (@TzenniferW) October 12, 2016

To conclude my section, I announced the changes we’d be making for ResBaz Melbourne 2017. Rather than an intensive three days of teaching/learning a digital tool, we’re putting the ‘Bazaar’ back into ResBaz. We’ll be offering a number of ‘ResPitches’ in a variety of digital tools and services. Attendees, grouped through digital tool preferences, will move around the Bazaar and listen to the stories of these tools: how can they be used to do research better, faster, smarter? They’ll also have the opportunity to sign-up to  training workshops/meet-ups for each tool scheduled for the weeks following the conference. 

Why the change? We figured that in terms of pedagogy learning a complex digital tool works best when it’s staggered over time. Learning is a process, and at Melbourne we have the resources to provide a community of dedicated support year round. We wanted to shift ResBaz from being a “one-stop-shop” to an “induction” - a kickstarter - for the year to come. ResBaz 2017 will be a chance to explore, learn about and engage with the community. 

REGISTRATIONS FOR MELBOURNE 2017 ARE NOW OPEN. 

Belinda Weaver then took the floor to discuss ResBaz Brisbane “by the numbers”. The statistics really spoke to the success of the Brisbane’s team’s ability to organise, motivate and create enthusiasm in their communities. Belinda also showed off Brisbane’s digital poster display (to which I was made very jealous of), and their ‘feedback tree’ (a simple idea of adding comments to post-its and sticking them onto a sticker tree). 

Here's @cloudaus talking #ResBaz Brisbane, "it's about helping people find their feet in a strange and new community" #eResAu16 pic.twitter.com/nvvPFX9POy

— Dejan (@heyDejan) October 12, 2016

Next up Amanda Miotto spoke of the importance of “keeping it social”. At the end of the day, ResBaz was about community - joining likeminded people together across very particular needs (such as digital literacy). Belinda said it well when she commented that ResBaz was “about helping people find their feet in a strange and new community". Tweet Amanda if you’d like some tips on how to socially engage your audience. 

Need some tips for doing a #ResBaz? @AmandaMiottoGU has you covered! Knowledge Bazaar sounds so great #eResAu16 pic.twitter.com/KdfLAtJedy

— Dejan (@heyDejan) October 12, 2016

And last - but certainly not least - Stephanie Bradbury explored the (much needed) logistics of running a ResBaz event. Institutional support, an enthusiastic volunteer base, sponsorship, an attractive proposal and an ever-flowing Twitter stream were all listed as key points of organisational success! 

Institutional support is the biggest influence for #ResBaz being a success or failure, says @stephbradbury #eResAu16 pic.twitter.com/DcTKmtHGON

— Dejan (@heyDejan) October 12, 2016