GIS and Data Support

The Maps, Data & Government Information Centre (MaDGIC) offers support services in the areas of GIS, data analysis and visualization, and research data management. We strive to foster GIS and data literacy at Trent. Our vision is to build a strong, interconnected community of students, staff, faculty and partners who are empowered to leverage the power of GIS and data to enhance learning, teaching and research experiences across all disciplines. We can

  • drop by your class, event or meeting to deliver a custom overview of our collections, resources and services
  • offer one-on-one appointments and research consultations in person or online
  • develop in-class or asynchronous training materials to build data literacy and management skills
  • deliver workshops on specialized topics in GIS, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and research data management. 

Contact MaDGIC to discuss your GIS and data support needs.

The Maps, Data & Government Information Centre (MaDGIC) offers workshops and class visits to support the use of GIS and data resources at Trent. 

Class Visits

Our team can develop and deliver content to support your students or research teams as they complete course assignments and conduct research. Staff and faculty who are interested in scheduling course-integrated workshops, resource overviews, or other customized learning opportunities are encouraged to connect with Tracy Sallaway, Research Data Services Librarian before the start of each term.

Workshops

There are currently no workshops scheduled. Our Fall 2024 workshop series will be posted here in August and promoted across various academic departments and the myTrent portal. 

If you have suggestions or requests for workshop topics, please share them with us! Drop by our office to chat or e-mail your ideas to the MaDGIC team.

Here are a few examples of workshops our team has offered in the past.

Data Handling Simplified: Discover The Power Of R 

For those with some R experience, this workshop offers an opportunity to advance your data manipulation skills. Learn the art of data reshaping with the dplyr package, import and export data, and discover techniques to combine, filter, sort, and modify datasets. 

Data Management for Researchers: A Step-by-step Guide 

Ideal for students and researchers new to data management, this workshop covers the essentials of creating a data management plan using the DMP Assistant tool. Learn how to choose the right repository for your research data, explore Trent University's Dataverse Collection, and securely share your research data for anonymous peer review. 

Mapping Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide to Data Visualization with ArcGIS Pro 

Kickstart your journey into the world of maps and geospatial data with our beginner-friendly workshop. This interactive session introduces you to ArcGIS Pro, teaching you how to find and use geospatial data, create and customize maps, and effectively symbolize and label data to tell a compelling story. 

R Programming Basics: A User-friendly Introduction 

Our workshop guides beginners through RStudio, demonstrating how to use functions, navigate help pages, install packages, and understand various data types and structures. 

The Maps, Data & Government Information Centre (MaDGIC) hosts GIS Research Day each year to celebrate Geography Awareness Week which takes place annually during the third week of November.

This event brings together Trent researchers and community partners to share the fascinating ways in which GIS and data are used to conduct interdisciplinary research, inform public policy, and enhance community services.

Details for the 2024 event will be posted here in October. 

Video recordings from our 2022 event are posted to Trent University's Library & Archive YouTube channel. 

Each year, the Maps, Data, and Government Centre (MaDGIC) administers the Esri Canada Scholarship Award. 

This award is made possible by Esri Canada in recognition of Trent University's ongoing delivery of strong, multidisciplinary GIS courses and programs. It is intended to support a currently enrolled, dedicated and high achieving student to continue using GIS in their studies and in their future work experiences. Visit the Esri Canada Scholarship Recipient page to browse the work of past recipients from Trent and other Canadian institutions. 

The deadline to apply for the 2024 Esri Canada Scholarship Award has now closed. and the successful applicant will be announced this summer. 

Details about how to apply for the 2025 Esri Canada Scholarship Award will be posted to this page in the fall. Questions can be directed to the Maps, Data & Government Information Centre (MaDGIC).