SAEON Graduate Student Network
Resources for the SAEON GSN Advanced R workshop with Dr Joseph White, July 2022.
This short workshop for SAEON GSN will introduce you to spatial data and analysis in R. It is aimed at R beginners to intermediates, who may or may not have GIS-type background in other programming platforms. We will explore different types of spatial data and introduce you to spatial analysis workflows through worked examples.
Resources for the SAEON GSN Basics in R workshop with Dr Joseph White and Refilwe Kai-Sikhakhane, June 2022.
This workshop is targeted at postgraduate students who have not had as much experience using R or R Studio. It covers the basics such as installation of the software and necessary packages, importing different data types, data manipulation, creation of graphs and basic statistical analyses.
MSc and PhD students are
invited to submit abstracts to
present their research at the 2022 SAEON GSN Indibano
The SAEON Graduate Student Network hosted an Online Master Class in Public Engagement with Dr. Marina Joubert (Science Communication Researcher at Stellenbosch University) to enhance public engagement skills in postgraduate students. The resources from this workshop can be accessed here.
The South African Environmental Observation Network celebrated GIS day 2021. GIS day is an international event that celebrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. The day aims to educate and demonstrate real-world GIS applications that are making a difference in our society.
This event is supported by SARVA 3.0 an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation and forms a 10-year Global Change Grand Challenge.
The 2021 SAEON GSN Indibano, was all about making science accessible. We introduced you to Google Earth Engine and all things data – including data life cycle, longevity, creating value added products, and the SAEON data portal. We also zoomed into different layers of science. Looking at how co-engaged research and breaking the boundaries of research to encourage active participation across all members of society towards creating solutions.
Public engagement with science, and the ways that postgraduate students can integrate public engagement into their research, was the focus of a two-day masterclass presented to members of the SAEON Graduate Student Network (GSN) on 18 – 19 March 2021.
On 4 March SAEON hosted its very first online FameLab heat. FameLab is an international competition for young scientists (aged 21 to 35) in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The young scientists are challenged to communicate their science to a public audience in under three minutes. Their talks should be fun and engaging, without using jargon or formal presentations, therefore making their science relevant to everyone. The talks are judged based on content, clarity and charisma.
The SAEON Graduate Student Network (GSN) steering committee were forerunners in all stages of the successful FameLab event – from the planning and presentation stage to directing the programme of the day in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), Jive Media Africa and the British Council.
The workshop was aimed at postgraduate students in environmental science of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the QwaQwa campus of the University of the Free State. The purpose was to introduce students to data science programmes and to equip them with the necessary skills to analyse datasets for their studies.
The GSN is run by a steering committee made up of SAEON students, who are responsible for various portfolios. Each member can assume office for a period of up to two years. Steering committee members either volunteer themselves for portfolios or are nominated by SAEON staff or GSN members.
