Date: Thursday, October 27, 2016
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Robertson Library 312
Topic: Open Data Book Club
Michael Easter will introduce the Open Data Book Club - its origins, what it does, and projects they’re engaged in.
Topic: The Value of Open Data in Climate Research
Dr. Fenech will discuss his experiences with the value of open data, focusing on the application of open data to an internationally award-winning research project visualizing the climate change impacts of sea level rise, coastal erosion and storm surges known as CoastaL Impacts Visualization Environment or CLIVE.
Dr. Adam Fenech has worked in the area of climate change for almost 30 years starting with the IPCC First Assessment Report. He has edited eight books on climate change, and teaches regularly at universities across Canada and around the world. Dr. Fenech has worked for Harvard University researching the history of the science/policy interfaces of climate change. He has represented Canada at international climate negotiating sessions; written climate policy speeches for Canadian Environment Ministers; and authored Canadian reports on climate change to the United Nations. Dr. Fenech is presently the director of the Climate Lab at the University of Prince Edward Island and Associate Professor in the Environmental Studies program.
Topic: Health Data in an Open Data World
In the world of open data, the acquisition and usage of health data presents significant challenges due to the extremely sensitive nature of this data, and privacy regulations. Requesting this data from the government can be a challenging and lengthy process. In order to better facilitate access to health data by researchers, the Secure Island Data Repository (SIDR) is being created at UPEI. SIDR will have various levels of security, and will house record level health data from various sources, as well as aggregate data. An example of one project conducted by UPEI's Centre for Health and Community Research which examined high cost health care users in Prince Edward Island will be presented as an example of the possible analysis that can be undertaken with this type of data and the potential it could have to affect change in our health-care system.
Mary-Ann MacSwain joined UPEI's Center for Health and Community Research in 2016 as a Data Analyst. Mary-Ann received her B.A. (Honours) in Psychology from UPEI, where she is currently completing her MSc in Epidemiology. Prior to joining the CHCR, Mary-Ann worked as a Research Officer for the Correctional Service of Canada’s Addictions Research Centre, a Health Information Specialist for Health PEI, and as a Data Analyst and Chronic Disease Epidemiologist within PEI’s Chief Public Health Office. She brings over ten years of experience working in research, and is responsible for statistical analysis, data management, research design and execution.