VCU Libraries opens Love Data Week with the Feb. 9 official opening of the Data Visualization Wall, an innovative way to display and communicate data. The wall includes high-resolution screens and an area for researchers to present their data, creating a dynamic space for information and the conversations that surround it.  

Register to attend to be added to the catering count for the hot chocolate bar.

Love Data Week (Feb. 9-13) is an international celebration of information in all its forms. Universities and institutions worldwide share their appreciation and interest in forms of recording, storing and using data. Coinciding with Valentine’s Day, the observation allows  participants to consider the people and communication necessary to make sense of information itself.

VCU is a member of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), which sponsors the week. ICPSR provides data sets for student and faculties’ secondary research, and builds literacy and leadership in the realm of data analysis.

The Workshop's Research Communication Series over the week will discuss data alongside visual design and dissemination strategies. The workshops center around how data can be communicated engagingly to audiences in a rapidly changing world of informatics.

Friday, share an opportunity for informal networking and discussion at Coffee & Data coffee hour at the Visualization Wall on the Lower Level near The Workshop.  Coffee & Data is a chance to meet other data fans and communicate ideas in a friendly, social setting.

These events are made possible by VCU librarians dedicated to building good data practices, and the VCU Foundation. The Visualization Wall installation and technology are made possible by VCU Quest, the Friends of VCU Libraries, and the VCU Foundation. Whether you are a data pro or just curious, Love Data Week is a great way to expand your understanding of data and meet a community of researchers.

Details on the week’s events

Ribbon-cutting at the Data Wall
Feb. 9, 3 p.m. 
At the Data Visualization Wall, Lower Level, Cabell Library 

Join Dean Irene Herold and the data visualization project team to celebrate how the VCU community can explore, share and interact with data together. Light refreshments will be served.

Research Communication: Data
Feb. 10, noon - 12:45 p.m.
Zoom Register Online

Learn the simple principles of data visualization that help you present effective charts and graphs so your audience can better understand your quantitative information. We will cover ways you can draw viewer attention to the point you want to make, choices you can make to declutter your visualization, discuss tool options and more.

Research Communication: Design 
Feb. 11, noon - 12:45 p.m. 
Zoom Register Online

Participants will learn how to create their own figures through design principles and accessibility guidelines in this interactive workshop. We will demonstrate a few different tools and leave time for participants to create their own simple figures.

Research Communication: Dissemination
Feb. 12, noon-12:35 p.m.
Zoom Register Online 

Participants will learn about the art of disseminating research to maximize its impact. We will cover where and how to share your research to meaningfully connect with the right audiences and demonstrate your impact as a researcher.

Coffee & Data Chat
Friday, Feb. 13, 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Data Visualization Wall, Lower-Level, Cabell Library
Register Online

Informal drop-in coffee hour for meeting other data fans. VCU community members who love data and data visualization can connect to discuss data projects, challenges and trends. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, “Coffee and Data” is open to everyone.