Making Maps for Public Health: An Introduction to QGIS and Spatial Data

PLEASE NOTE: this course is run in-person at LSTM campus in Liverpool, UK. Full-time attendance for the entire week is required. Due to the practical approach used, places on this course are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis, so we encourage early application to avoid disappointment. Deadline for application is Friday 18 September 2026. To check availability for late applications, please use our enquiry form.

Course content

This hands-on course offers an introduction to making maps for use in public health. An intensive course aimed at beginners, participants will be guided step-by-step from learning what GIS stands for, through to operating a GIS software independently to visualise data. Learning activities will take place in the Weston Active Learning Lab, providing a cutting-edge multifunctional technology-advanced learning environment.

The course is predominantly practical in nature. It aims to equip individuals with the skills and confidence to begin using GIS in their work or studies by the end of the week.

Participants will be based in LSTM’s Weston Active Learning Lab for the duration of the course, where computers pre-installed with the necessary software will be available.

If you prefer to get set up and work from your own laptop from the start that is also possible; it might help you in the transition to using the software after the course. We will take you briefly through the installation of QGIS as part of the first morning and also send out installation notes ahead of the course for those who need or want to install QGIS before coming to Liverpool. Please note that you will need administrator privileges for the laptop you bring to be able to install software, therefore if you are using a work laptop, please check authority/permission with your IT department.

Topics:

• Introduction to spatial data and GIS
• Sourcing and generating spatial data
• Uploading and visualising data in QGIS
• Measurements, calculations and basic analysis of spatial data in QGIS
• Producing a map using QGIS
• Applying your new skills and troubleshooting common problems

Course structure

• Day 1: Introduction to the course, some terminology and getting started in QGIS
• Day 2: Spatial data, where to find it and how to create it
• Day 3: Spatial data, how to create it, part 2
• Day 4: Measurements, calculations, selections, and visualisation
• Day 5: Applying your new skills

Tutor Biographies

Sophie Dunkley 

Sophie joined LSTM in 2014. She works on disease control interventions providing technical support on project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and conducting operational research. She also assists with building the capacity of in-country teams.

Sophie is co-convenor of the module Development of a Disease Control Programme at LSTM and teaches on other Masters modules as required. Sophie has also delivered training courses on GIS overseas in English, French and Spanish.

Sophie is a Biologist and Medical Parasitologist by training and brings 6 years field experience as an epidemiologist with Doctors Without Borders.

Dr. Hannah Betts 

Hannah is an experienced programme manager responsible for data management and GIS analysis within several teams at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), including the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CNTD) and the OPT-AMR collaborative partnership.

As part of her role, Hannah designs and builds questionnaires and surveys tools using both ODK and Kobo toolbox, builds and manages databases within SQL Server and advises teams on methods to conform to statutory requirements and guidelines for the processing of personal data (GDPR).

Hannah is also responsible for the processing, management and analysis of data using both statistical and GIS techniques in ARCGIS, QGIS, STATA, SPSS and R.  Within her role as progamme manager, Hannah advises and trains staff, students and external partners. She has designed and delivered short courses for a number of our international partner and provided one-to-one training and support both to colleagues and Masters students.

In addition to her role as programme manager, Hannah is co-lead of the Quantitative Methods distance learning masters-level module at LSTM. She also delivers teaching on both GIS and questionnaire design methods within several undergraduate and masters courses based both at the University of Liverpool and LSTM.

Academic requirements

None – Basic computer literacy only

English language requirements

The course is taught in English. Students whose first language is not English must provide evidence of their language skills. A full list is available at English language requirements and English language waiver programme.