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October 22-24, 2024, marked the second hybrid international workshop jointly hosted by the Consortium on Analytics for Data-Driven Decision-Making (CAnD3) and the  at Florida State University. The Pop Aging DataViz Workshop was expertly led by long time CAnD3 data instructor and CAnD3 Fellow from the pilot cohort, Dr. . The workshop brought together CAnD3 Fellows and FSU students both in-person and virtually for an engaging, hands-on exploration of data visualization in R.  

Over the three action-packed days, participants were actively engaged in a world of data visualization, covering topics from enhancing plot complexity to exploring animations and incorporating interactivity. The workshop leveraged powerful packages such as ggplot, tidycensus, cancensus, leaflet, mapview, and ggdag. Through a mix of demonstrations and hands-on exercises, participants had the oppportunities to expand their visualization skill set while actively applying it in problem-solving. 

On the second day, the workshop welcomed Dr. , Associate Professor of Sociology at , who joined us in-person for a timely Lunch&Learn on Data in Focus. With his wealth of experience in demographic research and creating engaging data visualizations, Dr. Hauer illustrated the best practices and applications through compelling examples. The following Q&A session allowed participants to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities in their own work. 

Mat Hauer provided excellent tips for creating more accessible and engaging data visualizations in his Lunch&Learn: Data in Focus.

The final day of the workshop provided an exciting opportunity for our Fellows to demonstrate the culmination of their learning through the "CAnD3 Shark Tank Competition," a lively twist on the well-known TV show. In this much lower stakes—but much more fun—version, each presenter (or group) had 2-3 minutes to ‘pitch’ the story their data visualization was attempting to convey. Participants rose to the occasion, developing compelling data visualizations in only 36 hours using skills they gained throughout the workshop and presenting their data stories in just three minutes to a panel of distinguished "sharks." This year's renowned panel included Dr. , Associate Professor of Sociology at , Dr. , CEO of  our longtime partner and ardent CAnD3 supporter, and , PhD candidate in Sociology at  and our esteemed CAnD3 alumni.

Guided by the Sharks' expert evaluations, the well-deserved first place was awarded to Maya Krishnan, PhD student in Sociology at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ, for her outstanding visualization, "Mapping Femicide Coverage in Indian-English Newspapers 2018-2023" which literally got a "wow" from the audience during her presentation. Samuel Nemeroff, MA student in Sociology at the University of New Brunswick, followed closely in second place with his presentation, "Radicalization Incidents By Ideological Motivation (1950-2022)", an important topic that the sharks found clear, easy to interpret and a compelling data story. Ian Van Haren, PhD Candidate in Sociology at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ took third place for his visualization on "Immigration, Age Structure, and Dependency Ratios in Canada". The sharks were impressed with how Ian's presentation had clear take away messages and policy implications. All nine participating groups did excellent work on their visualizations for the Shark Tank competition and are congratulated for their efforts! 

The three Shark Tank winners judges and workshop facilitators, from left to right: Tim Arthur, Sakeef Karim, Emily Šaras, Ian Van Haren, Maya Krishnan, Samuel Nemeroff, Patricia Homan, Miles Taylor, and Amélie Quesnel-Vallée. 

Below are the figures created by the SharkTank winner, Maya Krishnan:

The CAnD3 team extends heartfelt gratitude to our partners at Florida State University and the Pepper Institute for their invaluable support in hosting and organizing this event. This workshop would not have been possible without the hard work of our ever supportive partners and staff:

• Our instructor: Sakeef Karim 

• Speaker and sharks: Matt Hauer, Patricia Homan, Emily Å aras, Tim Arthur​

• FSU team: Miles Taylor, Rebekah Carpenter, Hope Mimbs, Kyle Rose, Tyler Bruefach, Tara Henry, Megan Skowronski, Linda Jordan​

• Our hosts: Dean of COSSP, Tim Chapin and his Chief-of-Staff, Tonja Guilford​

• CAnD3 team: Divine-Favour Ofili, Clara Bolster-Foucault, Michaela Bunakova, Katarina Bunakova, Pratik Mahajan​
  Under the guidance of CAnD3 Project Manager: Arianne Rodriguez-Saltron​

This collaborative effort has offered a truly enriching experience, advancing the frontiers of data visualization and inspiring a spirit of innovation among participants. Reflecting on the workshop’s success, we are reminded of the immense power in uniting diverse minds to address complex data challenges and promote data-driven decision-making. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm and dedication—this workshop wouldn’t have been possible without each of you!