Where books used to be the focal point in university libraries, the importance of providing digital skills for collecting, analyzing, and visualizing large amounts of information has grown significantly. As UvA Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Peter-Paul Verbeek puts it: "Data are the new books." Eva Lekkerkerker, Digital Skills Coordinator, and Lisa Yu, Community Manager at the Data Science Centre, work closely together and discuss the importance of the Digital Skills workshops they organize through the Data Science Centre, part of the Library.

What is data science, and why is it important?

Eva Lekkerkerker explains: "Data science is a wide variety of methods, from statistics to programming, that generate insights or offer predictive models. They help us create meaning in a world of information overload." Lisa Yu adds: "Data is the raw material for all knowledge, regardless of discipline. It forms the foundation of everything. If the input for an AI model is of poor quality, the output will be poor as well. Data science connects different disciplines and serves as a common language at the university."

The Library organizes Digital Skills workshops through the Data Science Centre. What challenges are being addressed, and who are these workshops intended for?

“We aim to accelerate data-driven research and empower researchers to apply data science methods”, Eva Lekkerkerker explains. “That's why we offer free workshops, ranging from basic programming skills in Python or R to advanced methods such as data visualization, machine learning, and image analysis. The workshops are intended for researchers from all UvA faculties, regardless of their background or experience level.”

Do researchers from all faculties attend the workshops?

"None of the workshops is dominated by one faculty; researchers from various backgrounds and roles participate, from PhD candidates to university lecturers and data stewards," Lisa Yu shares. Eva Lekkerker adds: "Most participants are PhD candidates, but we also see those further along in their careers who want to refresh their programming knowledge or learn something new. We consider the different starting points of participants and try to meet various learning goals. The workshops alternate between plenary sessions and individual instruction, allowing for a wide range of questions."

How do the workshops contribute to community building?

"The workshops provide researchers from different disciplines the opportunity to meet and exchange knowledge," says Lisa Yu. "By participating in these workshops, attendees can see how data science methods and techniques can be applied in various domains and projects. The workshops are also crucial for the community because they create a shared basic level and offer the opportunity to further develop skills."

How do you determine the workshop topics?

Eva Lekkerker: "We offer a balanced program throughout the year." Lisa Yu adds: "We ask the Data Science Centre community for suggestions or to participate in polls where we present topics. We then try to find instructors, sometimes from our own data science community."

"In addition to the four-day workshops on programming, the workshops on deep learning and data visualization were very popular in 2023," continues Eva Lekkerker. "Within the data science community at UvA, we also offer workshops on storytelling and design, as it is essential for data scientists to bring their research to the forefront and reach a broader audience," adds Lisa Yu.

Who do you collaborate with when organizing the workshops?

"The programming workshops are offered in the format of 'The Carpentries,' a global community of software engineers, data scientists, and librarians who develop and deliver programming workshops," explains Eva Lekkerker. "In 2023, we started a collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Together, we can bring together more trainers and assistants with a passion for programming, improve the quality of the workshops, and serve a larger audience. By exchanging experiences and receiving valuable feedback, we can continuously improve the curriculum.

Additionally, through national collaboration with the libraries of Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, Leiden University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, TU Delft, the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), and the eScience Centre, we continue to strengthen our programs and workshops.”