On May 24, data.europa.Academy successfully hosted its second workshop, focusing on "How to use open data for your research." The event attracted 150 participants, including students and academics, who discovered the immense value of open data in academic research.
The workshop began with an engaging introduction by the data.europa.eu team, explaining the concept of open data and providing an overview of their portal. The team highlighted the portal's diverse features and the valuable information available to users, emphasising how it can benefit research endeavors. A technical demonstration followed, guiding participants on efficiently navigating the portal to find datasets tailored to their research needs. This hands-on approach helped attendees gain practical skills in utilising the platform.
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In the workshop's second segment, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid presented as the keynote speaker. Their session covered crucial topics such as the FAIR principle (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and featured a compelling success story about using open data to address light pollution. Additionally, they emphasised the importance of open-source software as a complement to open data initiatives.
Participants then engaged in a short, hands-on case study, applying their newly acquired knowledge in a practical setting. The session concluded with a Q&A segment, allowing attendees to share insights and pose questions to the experts.
For those who missed the live event or wish to revisit the material, a recording of the workshop is available here.