Abstract

Geography and environmental science programs increasingly require students to work with large datasets using reproducible workflows. This study examines how participation in an introductory Earth Data Analytics (EDA) Bootcamp course is associated with changes in students’ approaches to data analysis. Using a mixed-methods pre/post survey design across four cohorts (2020–2023), we analyzed changes in tool selection, self-reported comfort, and written descriptions of analytic workflows. Results show a significant shift from spreadsheet-based tools toward programming tools, along with more structured, stepwise approaches to analysis. Changes in self-reported comfort were not statistically significant.

Short Bio

Nate Quarderer is the Education Director at ESIIL and Earth Lab with CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder. In these roles, Nate oversees the Foundations Earth Data Analytics Professional Certificate program through the Geography Department and the Division of Continuing Education. He is also the lead instructor for the ESIIL Stars internship program, and the ESIIL Data Short Course. Prior to coming to CU for his postdoc, Nate taught physics, math, and environmental science at Northeast Iowa Community College. When he's not focusing on environmental data science education, he likes to spend time outside with his dog Bruce.

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