Learning Resources

The Wicked Problems Lab provides individual and group training on a host of technologies for the Saint Mary’s community. These include self-paced tutorials along with instructor led sessions.

Topics include:

Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS, QGIS)
Qualitative Analysis Software (NVivo)
Web Publishing (StoryMaps)
Spreadsheets and Databases (MSExcel, MSAccess, SQL)
Presentations (MSPowerPoint, Canva)
Remote Sensing (Erdas Imagine, PCI Geomatica, Google Earth Engine)

Our interactive workshops have included the following topics:

Remote Sensing – Observing the earth from above
Dr. Khan Rahaman – Wicked Problems Lab

Satellites capture images of the earth’s surface, depicting changes such as migration, climate, and urbanization. Participants will learn of the types of data captured by satellites, where to access the datasets, and how to begin analyzing the images to track various processes.

Harnessing R and its statistical tools
Saiful Azim – Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen

R is a widely used and very powerful environment for statistical analysis. Over the course of these two sessions participants will learn the basics of this language and how to run some of its tools to pull insights from their datasets.

Introducing Machine Learning
Dr. Yigit Aydede – Dept. of Economics, Saint Mary’s University

Machine learning offers the potential to find patterns in the vast amounts of data constantly being collected, with widespread applications in everything from healthcare to marketing. Participants will discover the basics of machine learning and how it has the potential to revolutionize the world.

Analyzing Qualitative Data
Dr. Min-Jung, Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies, Saint Mary’s University

Qualitative data collected from interviews, media, and other textual sources provides a detailed and nuanced view of the world. Participants will learn how to employ QDA Miner, software freely available on campus, to manage and analyze various qualitative datasets.

Navigating the Census
Joyce Thomson, Patrick Power Library, Saint Mary's
Dr. Mathew Novak, Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies, Saint Mary’s University

A three part workshop on understanding how census data is collected and organized. We focus on the geographic structure underpinning the census and how to work with the data in GIS.

Getting Started with GIS
Dr. Khan Rahaman, Wicked Problems Lab, Saint Mary's
Dr. Mathew Novak, Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies, Saint Mary’s University

A four part workshop on the basics of Geographic Information Systems. Topics include data structures and management, spatial analysis, and cartography.