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Training Courses

This page is no longer being updated with information about new courses. To find our new Training Courses page, please click here.

 

Introduction: What we do.

Upcoming Courses: What courses we have planned.

Past Courses: What courses we have done in the past.

Testimonials From Course Attendees: What people have to say about our courses.

Host A GIS In Ecology Course: Find out how you can host a GIS In Ecology GIS course.

GIS And Spatial Data Clinics: How we can help you with your problems.

Advancing Your GIS Knowledge: What we offer to help you expand your GIS knowledge.

 

Introduction:

GIS In Ecology provides both standard and custom-designed training courses on all aspects of using GIS in ecological and marine biological research. In addition to our own courses, which we run in Glasgow in Scotland, we also run courses at locations around the world (hosted by other institutions or in association with conferences/meetings). In the past, we have taught courses in Scotland, Portugal, Australia and Mexico. If you are interested in hosting a GIS In Ecology course, click here or email info@GISinEcology.com for more information. While most courses follow a standard format (see below for more information), we can also provide custom-designed courses on request, either in Glasgow or at a host institution.

Courses are typically between two and five days, depending on what is being covered, and are taught by ecologists (rather than geographers). This means they are taught in a language that ecologists are already familiar with using ecological examples based on real ecological data sets. A list of past courses, along with links to their contents, can be found here.

At the end of each course, all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and completion. Each certificate is embossed with the GIS In Ecology official stamp to prevent its fraudulent reproduction. In addition, each certificate has its own unique identification number that we will record, along with your name, meaning that we can verify the authenticity of the certificates we issue (and the courses you have completed) on request.

We use Glasgow as the base for our courses because has great transport links and is within half a days travel by car or by fast train links from most cities in the UK.  For example, it can be reached in as little as 4h 30mins from London by train. It can also be reached by direct flights from many European cities and the flight time is generally under four hours. It also has good connections to many non-European cities.

 

Upcoming Courses:

This page is no longer being updated with information about new courses. To find details and dates of future courses visit out new Training Courses page by click here.

27 - 28 March 2017: A Introduction To Using QGIS In Biological Research. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Length: 2 days. Cost: £295 (£200 students/unwaged/NGOs).  Many commercially available GIS software packages require the purchase of expensive licences in order to use them which put them beyond the reach of many biologists. QGIS (also known as Quantum GIS) provides a user-friendly,  open-source, free alternative to commercial GIS software packages, and it is becoming increasingly widely used in both academic and commercial organisations. This course will provide an introduction to using QGIS in a wide variety of biological research ranging from the basics of making maps through to studying the spread of diseases and creating maps of species biodiversity. It is aimed at both those with no GIS experience, but wish to learn how to to do GIS with QGIS, and also those who are familiar with using commercial GIS software, such as ArcGIS, but who wish to learn how to use QGIS as an alternative. It will consist of a series of background sessions on using GIS mixed in with practical sessions where you will work directly with the software to complete various tasks which biological researchers commonly need to be able to do. For more information on the contents of this course, click here or contact us on info@GISinEcology.com. NOTE: When you attend this course you will receive a free copy of the book GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates as the practical exercises in that course are based on the ones contained in that book. Maximum number of attendees: 15. You do not need any experience with GIS to attend this course. Registration: To book a place on this course, email info@GISinEcology.com with the subject line QGIS Course Registration.

 

Past Courses:

GIS In Ecology has been providing GIS courses since January 2012. The courses which we have run so far are listed below.

24 – 26 January 2012: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

5 – 6 May 2012: An Introduction To Using GIS In Cetacean Research. Location: Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico. Instructors: Wezddy Del Toro Orozco and Carlos Troche Souza. Click here to read the course programme.

8 – 11 May 2012: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: University of Aveiro, Portugal. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with Advanced Studies on Marine Biology & Conservation. Click here to read the course programme.

19 – 22 June 2012:An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: University of Aveiro, Portugal. Instructor:  Dr. Michael J. Tetley. In association with Marine And Biological Conservation Studies. In association with Advanced Studies on Marine Biology & Conservation. Click here to read the course programme.

16 – 18 October 2012: An Introduction To Collecting And Analysing Cetacean Survey Data. Location: Gardenstown, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit.

November 2012: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland.

22 – 24 January 2013: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

25 – 27 June 2013: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

15 – 19 July 2013: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Mammal Research. Location: Adelaide, South Australia. Instructor: Dr. Michael J. Tetley. In association with Flinders University’s Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab. Click here to read the course programme.

22 – 26 July 2013: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Mammal Research. Location: Fremantle, Western Australia. Instructor: Dr. Michael J. Tetley. In association with Murdoch University’s Cetacean Research Unit. Click here to read the course programme.

30 September – 2 October 2013: An Introduction To Collecting And Analysing Cetacean Survey Data. Location: Gardenstown, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Michael J. Tetley. In association with the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit.

November and December 2013: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland. Click here to read the course programme.

23 – 25 January 2014: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

27 – 28 January 2014: An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling In The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

March 2014: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland. Click here to read the course programme.

17 - 19 June 2014: An Introduction To Using GIS In Ecological Field Studies. Location: SCENE, Rowerdennan, Loch Lomond National Park, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

23 - 25 June 2014: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the coure programme.

26 - 27 June 2014: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

11 - 13 August 2014: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod.  Run in conjunction with the  International Marine Conservation Congress.

19 - 20 August 2014: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Run in conjunction with the  International Marine Conservation Congress.

7– 10 October 2014: An Introduction To Collecting And Analysing Cetacean Survey Data. Location: Gardenstown, Scotland. Instructor: Dr. Michael J. Tetley. In association with the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit.

November 2014: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland.

12 - 14 January 2015: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

15 - 16 January 2015: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

9 - 10 February 2015: 9 - 10 February 2015: An Introduction To Investigating Home Ranges Of Individual Animals. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

11 - 12 February 2015: A Introduction To Creating Custom GIS Tools For Biological Research. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

30 - 31 March 2015: A Introduction To Using QGIS In Biological Research. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

17 - 19 August 2015: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

20 - 21 August 2015: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

28 - 29 September 2015: A Introduction To Using QGIS In Biological Research. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

November 2015: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland.

8 - 20 January 2016: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

21 - 22 January 2016: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

February 2016: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland.

21 - 22 March 2016: A Introduction To Using QGIS In Biological Research. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. Click here to read the course programme.

8 - 10 August 2016: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod.

11 - 12 August 2016: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod.

19 - 20 September 2016: A Introduction To Using QGIS In Biological Research. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod.

October 2016: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: GMIT, Galway, Ireland. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod.

November 2016: GIS For Ecologists: An Introduction To Recording And Analysing Spatial Distribution Of Biodiversity. Location: SCENE, University of Glasgow, UK. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. In association with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow University, Scotland.

16 - 18 January 2017: An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology. Location: Glasgow. Instructor: Dr. Colin D. MacLeod.

19 - 20 January 2017: A Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling in The Marine Environment. Location: Glasgow.

 

 

Testimonials From Past Attendees:

We think we provide good GIS training for ecologists and marine biologists, but don't just take our word for it. You can find out what others think in this section where we've provided a sample of the feedback we've received about our courses. If you would like to add a testimonial on course you attended, we'd very much appreciate it. Just email it to info@GISinEcology with the subject Testimonial (we may have to edit longer testimonials to fit in the space available - if we do, we'll let you read the edited version before we post it).

"I attended the Introduction to Using GIS in Marine Biology course in June, and found it extremely useful. Although I had a basic understanding of ArcGIS before attending the course, the skills learned allowed me to expand my knowledge of GIS and my ability to carry out relevant tasks for my job. Dr Colin Macleod is an excellent instructor, and was happy to answer any and all questions. For those looking to further develop their GIS skills, this is definitely a recommended course." Jena Saffery, Research Assistant.

"As hoped, this workshop has been extremely relevant for me. I have an immediate application for the principles and skills learnt as I will implement them to understand predictors of coastal dolphin distribution in the southern Pilbara. I have experience working with conservation agencies and in oil and gas and have always felt that GIS is very under-utilised. With marine fauna assessment and management in Western Australia in its infancy, the coastline being so long and most of it remote and development occurring at a rapid rate, species distribution modelling will prove to be an essential tool." Daniella Hanf, Research Masters Candidate, Murdoch University.

"Many thanks, for the Introduction to GIS in Ecology course you designed for our post-graduate students earlier in the year, the student feedback was excellent and they especially like that it was designed and delivered by an ecologist. It was a massive improvement on the generic GIS course we used previously and for the first time many of the students actually enjoyed the course and then applied GIS skills in their research projects, which didn't happen with the generic course."  Masters Module Coordinator, University of Glasgow.

 

Host A GIS In Ecology Course:

As well as running our own courses, GIS In Ecology also provides hosted courses for other institutions, organisations and conferences. Hosted courses can be run anywhere in the world (within reason), and we have previously run hosted courses in Scotland, Portugal, Mexico and Australia. For hosted courses, the host institution deal with all the bookings, advertising, room and equipment provision, while GIS In Ecology provides the course materials and an experienced course instructor who has been trained to teach the materials. The host institution decides who can attend the course they are hosting. This means that on some occasions, these courses are for people from the host institution only, while on others the host institutions advertise the course and fills some or all of the spaces with people from outside of of it. Hosted courses can either be based one of our existing courses, on one, or more, of the supplementary workbooks written by Dr. Colin D. MacLeod, or they can be custom-designed to cover a specific subject of interest. As well as paying for the GIS course, the host institution covers the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of the course instructor.

Host institutions can be academic institutions, research organisations, government or non-governmental organisations, or even conference/meeting organisers. If you are interested in hosting a course, simply email info@GISinEcology.com with the subject Host A Course to discuss this possibility. NOTE: The ability to host a specific course will be dependent on the availability of a suitable instructor.

 

GIS And Spatial Data Clinics:

While we provide GIS training courses, we also recognise that sometimes you just have a very specific question which you need advice or training on, and that within your institution, research group or organisation there may be a number of people in a similar situation. For this reason, we offer GIS And Spatial Data Clinics. These are either one day or half day session hosted by an institution, research group or organisation, which allows interested individuals can book blocks of 30 minutes with an experienced GIS instructor to deal with specific issues.

At the moment, these clinics are only be offered in the UK and Europe, or in association with a hosted course. However, an individual one to one online clinic can be provided on request. For more information on GIS And Spatial Data Clinics, email info@GISinEcology.com.

 

Advancing Your GIS Knowledge:

While your GIS training may start with a GIS In Ecology course, it is unlikely to finish there. For those wanting to develop their GIS skills further, we offer two possibilities. The first is through the supplementary workbooks written by Dr. Colin D. MacLeod. The second is through our one day skills training sessions. These are short training sessions aimed aimed at people with a basic understanding of GIS who wish to learn a specific advanced skill. One day skills training are a mix of practical and background information which help those who attend learn the specific advanced skill which is the subject of the day. These one day sessions are aimed at small groups of people who wish to learn a specific advanced GIS skill, and are typically hosted by a specific institution, research group or organisation.

If you would like to host a one day skills training session, please email info@GISinEcology.com. At the moment, one day skills training sessions are only available in the UK and Europe.

 

If you have any other GIS training needs which are not covered by any of the above, please contact info@GISinEcology.com and we can discuss them further.

 

 

 

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Last modified: 01/26/17