2026-04-02-R-visualisation

March 27, 2026 ยท View on GitHub

ELIXIR-EE training course on R, Rstudio and ggplot2 graphical grammar. Target to learners who have some experience with R and Rstudio and would like to learn the art of creating captivating images with ggplot2.

The main document of the lecture is the 2026-04-02-R-visualisation.Rmd R markdown document. R markdown allows code (examples) and explanation / documentation to be in the same document in a nicely formatted, well structured manner.

Data files needed in the code are located in the data folder.

Learning outcomes for the training:

  1. Apply Data Wrangling Techniques:
  • Students will be able to manipulate and transform data using the tidyverse packages (dplyr, readr, etc.), including filtering, grouping, summarizing, and mutating datasets to prepare them for analysis.
  1. Implement ggplot2 for Data Visualization:
  • Students will be able to construct complex and multi-layered visualizations using ggplot2, applying the principles of the Grammar of Graphics to create informative and aesthetically pleasing plots.
  1. Enhance Data Visualizations with Aesthetic Mapping:
  • Students will be able to effectively map variables to various aesthetic properties in ggplot2 plots, such as color, size, shape, and transparency, to add depth and clarity to their visualizations.
  1. Customize Plot Themes and Export High-Quality Graphics:
  • Students will be able to customize ggplot2 themes, titles, axis labels, and other non-data elements to enhance plot readability and professionalism, as well as export plots to various formats using ggsave.
  1. Combine Multiple Plots Using Patchwork:
  • Students will be able to use the patchwork package to combine multiple ggplot2 plots into a cohesive and organized layout, facilitating comprehensive data storytelling and comparative analysis.

This is the second part of a two-part curriculum designed to introduce R and ggplot2. If you are unfamiliar with the basic syntax, data types, and the tidyverse in R, then you should first check out Part One at: https://github.com/ELIXIREstonia/2026-03-05-R-basic.

Please fill in the feedback form so that we can improve the course material and teaching skills: https://forms.gle/Zvt6wyEUBbvppyKM9