R Workshops @ UQ

We have been conducting several R Workshops each year since 2012. We are all mathematical ecologists and have learnt data analysis and data science through application to real-world problems in R. We initiated these workshops because we enjoy using R, we find it invaluable in our research, and we wanted to pass on what we had learnt. In particular, because we are self-taught, we want to help others avoid some of the mistakes we made when we were setting out to learn and use R. We have now taught >1,500 students at these workshops, and we look forward to helping the next generation of R programmers and applied statisticians learn the skills they need to meet the demands of the modern research environment.

The hex sticker feature wall from the useR! 2018 conference (O’Hara-Wild, Mitchell. 2018. “useR! 2018 Feature Wall.” July 11, 2018.)

The hex sticker feature wall from the useR! 2018 conference (O’Hara-Wild, Mitchell. 2018. “useR! 2018 Feature Wall.” July 11, 2018.)

What will you get from our workshops?

Our workshops are interactive, informative, and fun. We provide all the code, datasets and notes — the notes provide an invaluable reference guide for you in the future.

We have workshops that cater to all experience levels, from Introductory to Advanced. During each workshop, we have several tutors to ensure you have support to help debug your code if you encounter any problems. And we try to work at a pace that allows participants to follow along — acknowledging that there is a diversity of experience in every room.


“Thank you for organizing the R workshop! It was incredibly informative and well-structured.”       “The instructor’s expertise and clear explanations made learning R enjoyable and accessible.”       “a brilliant experience and I have already recommended it to others”       “They have been really influential in my coding/learning process.”       “these workshops are outstanding”       “I always leave with knowledge gaps filled”      


If you’d like to see more of what previous attendees have said about us please have a look at the Testimonials page.

In each workshop, we usually have a mix of postgraduate students and researchers from:

  • Universities (including UQ, UniSC, Griffith, SCU, CSU)
  • Government Departments (including QLD Dept of Environment, QLD Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries, NSW Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and NSW Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development)
  • CSIRO and AIMS
  • Private industry (Educators, Consultants, Scientists, Engineers)
More information coming soon

More details of the 2026 Summer R Workshops, including registration information, will be made available shortly. If you want to be notified of updates you can join our mailing list here.

Summer 2026: Introduction to R and Statistical Modelling

We have updated our website. Click here to go to the Summer Workshops tab, or select it from the Navbar above.

Winter 2026: Building your Data Science Skills in R

We have updated our website. Click here to go to the Winter Workshops tab, or select it from the Navbar above.

New in 2026: prioritizr: Practical Conservation Planning in R

Join us for a comprehensive 1-day workshop designed to empower you with the tools and knowledge to effectively use the prioritizr R package for systematic conservation planning. Whether you’re a seasoned conservation scientist or new to the field, this workshop will provide you with a practical foundation for making informed decisions about where to invest conservation efforts.

More information coming soon

More details will be made available in due course. If you want to be notified of updates you can join our mailing list here.

What you’ll learn:

  • Core Principles of Systematic Conservation Planning: We’ll delve into the fundamental concepts that underpin effective conservation planning, including representation, persistence, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Hands-on Introduction to prioritizr: Through guided exercises and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to load data, define conservation features, and set up optimization problems within the prioritizr framework.
  • Exploring Objective Functions: Discover the diverse range of objective functions available in prioritizr, such as maximizing feature representation or minimizing costs, and understand how to choose the right function for your specific conservation goals.
  • Implementing Constraints and Penalties: Learn how to incorporate practical considerations like connectivity, adjacency, and socio-economic factors into your prioritizations using constraints and penalties.
  • Real-World Applications and Case Studies: We’ll explore compelling case studies demonstrating how prioritizr has been successfully applied to address real-world conservation challenges.
  • Troubleshooting and Best Practices: Gain valuable insights into common challenges and learn best practices for developing robust and defensible conservation plans.
  • Q&A and Interactive Discussion: Engage with instructors and fellow participants to discuss your specific projects and challenges.

Who should attend?

  • Conservation scientists and practitioners
  • Environmental managers and policy-makers
  • Researchers and students in ecology, geography, and related fields
  • Anyone interested in using data-driven approaches for conservation planning

By the end of this workshop, you’ll be equipped with the practical skills and conceptual understanding necessary to leverage prioritizr for your own conservation projects.