Overview: R is a programming language and free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. User instruction in R is often limited to course specific content, that focuses primarily on statistical operations through the base R package. R functionality extends far beyond this and across research fields. When combined with the RStudio GUI, R can be utilised as a powerful tool that encompasses data cleaning, exploration, visualisation and documentation operations.

The dual aim of this 1-day workshop is to (A) highlight how the reorganisation of popular R packages, under the umbrella banner of the “tidyverse”, has made the versatility of R more accessible and (B) introduce data analysis through RStudio project workflows.

Preliminary schedule:

• 9.30 am: Setup, introductions, housekeeping
• 10 am: Lecture - Introduction to the tidyverse
• 11 am: Coffee break – Discussion
• 11.30 am: 3 × 30 minute tidyverse tutorials including:
  • Example scripts and problem sheets exploring R packages tidyr, dplyr, ggplot2 etc.
  • Opportunity to work on your own data sets
  • Opportunity to work in groups
• 1 pm: Lunch break
• 2 pm: Lecture - Project orientated workflows through RStudio
• 3 pm: 3 × 30 minute tutorials dedicated to reproducible research including:
  • Project folder structure
  • Scripting guides and formats
  • Automated report generation using RMarkdown
• 4.30 pm: Closing remarks

Essential Requirements:

1. Experience using R and RStudio
2. Your own laptop
3. R and RStudio pre-installed and running
4. Access to the Eduroam Wi-Fi network

Next step: To register your interest, email b.palmer@ucc.ie. Please ensure “[R Workshop]” appears in the subject line. Your place at the workshop will be confirmed via return email.

And finally: This workshop will lead-in to a 3-day Open Science event set to run from Wednesday 31st October – Friday 2nd November here in UCC (see attached poster and https://crfcsdau.github.io/post/openscienceucc/ for more). Research funders (including H2020, SFI, Wellcome and the HRB) are recognising the long term benefits to Open Science and new grant calls increasingly reflect this. The challenge for researchers is to become aware of the available options, and explore ways in which they can apply these techniques to their own day-to-day research workflows.