Data Literacy for Social and Environmental Justice - online 2025 entry

>> Those who work or aspire to work in non-governmental organizations and policy institutes and even in governments often feel like with the right training they can make more of an impact on social and environmental justice issues.

Our Data for Justice postgraduate program trains you in the three key areas that you 
need for success.

First, we cover the conceptual foundations.

What does it even mean to work for social and environmental justice?

Second, data literacy and spatial data science.

How do we create compelling evidence from data?

Finally, science communication and data visualization.

How do we communicate that evidence in a clear, scientifically sound, and engaging way?

>> But which data sources can we trust?

And how do we establish the quality of data that's already been collected?

And once we feel confident in the quality of our data, how do we summarise patterns in these data in ways that they are not just visually appealing but also helps us to achieve the desired impacts?

There are lots of hands-on exercises that can help our students develop a mastery of 
both theoretical and practical application of data to achieve social and environmental 
justice.

In addition, these practical exercises can form part of a great collection for our students and can uniquely position them to be more impactful for any data-related position on the job market.

>> But aside from just communicating the science, we want to share the benefits with the people in our communities.

We'll be learning how to generate mutual benefit from our justice-led research by exploring some of the theories and practices of public engagement.

>> I explore how modern anthropogenic activities modify the intensity, likelihood, and nature of extreme weather and climate events and their impacts along multiple human dimensions of our civilization.

For example, I collaborate with the World Bank on how the extreme events impact development projects around the world.

Such a multidisciplinary and multisectoral activities benefit our understanding of the balances between environmental benefits and burdens.

You will be in position to study such key elements of environmental justice in our Program on Data Literacy for Social and Environmental Justice.

>> I spent a lot of time developing methods to understand the spatiotemporal distribution of fishing activities.

This is important to protect the livelihoods and food security of millions of people around the world.

I can't wait to start the Masters to show you what amazing developments there have been in the field of spatial data science and how we can use these techniques to secure a more just world.

>> Regardless of your background training, we have opportunities to increase your skills.

So for example, if you don't have training in statistics, we provide introductory statistics modules that take you from the very beginning.

At the same time, if you have a background in statistics, you can go straight into an advanced quantitative methods course, or for example, spatial data science.

We'll also help you enhance your science communication skills through data visualization as well.

One of the elements that we're super excited about is offering a one to two week residential component here in St Andrews.

This is an optional component of the module, but we're really excited about getting people together to work with other justice scholars on the program, as well as local PhD students and faculty and practitioners from around the area.

You can find out more about the program, the modules we're offering, and the faculty who will be leading the program if you visit the St Andrews website.

We look forward to seeing you online.