This collection hosts the slide decks from the UCSB Library’s Data to Discovery Series (Winter 2026). Held every two weeks, these 30 minute sessions highlighted practical skills for working with data and engaging in open scholarship. Each session offers a brief introduction to tools, resources, and good practices — along with space to learn from experts and connect with peers Winter 2026 lineup and description: Jan 15 | Designing Figures That Work: Visual Data CommunicationEffective data visualization depends on making intentional design choices that support accurate interpretation. In this session, we will explore practical guidelines for data visualization and connect them to key principles of human perception, giving you a clear rationale for designing figures that communicate effectively. Jan 29 | Rethinking Bar Graphs: Making Group Comparisons More InformativeBar graphs are widely used to compare groups, but that simplicity can come at a cost of transparency. In this session, we will unpack common pitfalls of bar graphs and explore practical alternatives that help make group comparisons clearer and more transparent. Feb 12 | From Static to Dynamic: Exploring Interactive Data VisualizationInteractive graphics offer new ways to explore and communicate data beyond static figures. This session introduces beginner-friendly examples using tools such as Plotly, Shiny, and interactive tables, along with practical considerations for sharing your interactive work.**Demo of tools can be found on this GitHub page (GitHub repository archived on Zenodo) Feb 26 | Beyond Pretty Pictures: Images as Research DataDigital images are research data shaped by many choices before and after acquisition. In this session, we will explore how images—including microscopy images—encode information, identify common pitfalls in image processing and annotation, and discuss best practices for creating transparent, interpretable, and reusable figures. Mar 12 | Graphical Abstracts: Designing Clear Visual SummariesGraphical abstracts condense complex research into a single, focused visual. In this session, we will explore recommendations for defining the message, structuring the layout, and using color and text strategically to create clear, compelling graphical abstracts. Slides were used for educational purposes. We invite educators, librarians, and community facilitators to share, reuse, and adapt these materials for training and outreach.
Li et al. (Thu,) studied this question.