Summer School 2026 “Location Matters”

Invited speakers will be announced soon.

While knowledge in a programming language is certainly an advantage, no advanced programming knowledge (and no prior R experience) is required. In the hands-on sessions, we work with prepared R scripts that are designed to be self-explanatory, and the lecturers will provide clear guidance and support throughout.

We use QGIS and R because they are free, open-source tools, making the workflow accessible and inclusive for everyone. We use R in particular because it is one of the most widely used open-source tools in the social and health sciences, so you can build geospatial skills in the software many of you already use in your research.

No. You do not need to bring your own data to participate. We will provide example datasets and guided exercises that everyone can follow throughout the week. If you have your own dataset or use case, you’re welcome to bring it: you can present it in the participant lightning talks/poster session, and if you have specific questions or challenges, you can explore them in the optional “bring-your-own-data clinic”.

No preparation of materials is required, unless you choose to contribute to the lightning talks or poster session. All materials (slides, data, exercises) will be shared during the summer school. The only thing we ask is that you install QGIS, QField and R/RStudio in advance. We will send a separate email with installation instructions and setup guidance before the event.

Sessions typically run from around 9:00 to 16:00–17:00 each day, including coffee breaks and a lunch break. On some evenings, we will offer optional social events for networking. Participation is entirely voluntary.

Yes, Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation. The certificate will include information on the course content, the total number of training hours, and whether you delivered a participant presentation.

Upon successful completion of the program, the summer school offers a Certificate of Participation. Students can apply for recognition of credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions.

Participation is in-person only. To encourage open discussion and protect privacy during hands-on work, the training sessions will not be recorded, and we do not offer hybrid or online attendance.

In principle, yes – you are welcome to apply even if you cannot attend every session. However, certificates of participation will only be issued if you attend at least 80% of the program. If you already know that you can only join for a small part of the week, please consider whether it might be fairer to leave the place to another applicant who can participate fully. In any case, please let us know in advance so the trainers can plan accordingly.

We will provide hot and cold drinks as well as snacks (e.g., fruit, cake etc.) free of charge during trainings and breaks. Lunch is not included and needs to be arranged individually at your own expense. There are many options on campus, including vegetarian and vegan choices.

Yes. If you require a visa invitation letter, we can provide one after you have been accepted to the summer school. Please indicate this in your application so we can prepare the documents in time for your visa application.

Participation in the summer school is free of charge, reflecting the Data Science Center’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary training and made possible through BMFTR funding within the “DataNord” project. Many comparable summer schools charge substantial participation fees. Participants are therefore generally expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs. We recommend checking whether your graduate school, department, or institution offers mobility or training funds.

However, if you are very interested in participating but face significant barriers in covering travel costs, please feel free to contact us at devogelprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de. While we cannot guarantee financial support, we are happy to discuss possible options depending on available resources.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide childcare or arrange childcare services as part of the summer school. If you have caregiving responsibilities that affect your participation, please feel free to contact us. While we cannot offer childcare support, we can share practical information (e.g., daily schedule) to help you plan.

Yes, there will be an option to leave your luggage in a locked room on-site on your arrival and departure day.

Yes, we may take photos during the event for documentation and communication purposes. At the start of the summer school, we will inform everyone about photo-taking. If you do not want to appear in photos, please let the organizing team know. We will of course respect this and ensure it is implemented.