PyData Wolverhampton - May 2026: Mapping the PyData Community with Python and Web Scraping
Ever needed to pull data from a website that doesn't have an API? Want to know how to turn messy web data into actual insights?
Join us on May 22nd as Hugh Evans from PyData London shows us exactly how he mapped the entire global PyData community using Python and web scraping.
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What You'll Learn:
WEB SCRAPING FUNDAMENTALS
- How to extract data from websites without APIs
- Tools that work: BeautifulSoup, requests, handling dynamic content
- Dealing with the messy reality of web data
DATA PROCESSING & VISUALIZATION
- Cleaning and structuring scraped data
- Geocoding locations with Python
- Creating interactive maps with Folium
- Turning raw data into meaningful visualizations
REAL-WORLD PROJECT WALKTHROUGH
- Hugh's actual code and workflow
- Decisions made along the way
- What the data revealed about PyData communities globally
- Patterns, gaps, and insights from mapping 100+ chapters
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About the Speaker:
Hugh Evans is a Senior Developer Advocate at Aiven, specializing in Kafka and real-time analytics. He's also an organizer at PyData London, bringing hands-on experience building data tools and working with Python communities worldwide.
Talk: "Mapping the PyData Community with Python and Web Scraping"
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Why This Matters:
Web scraping is a critical skill for data professionals. It's how you:
- Get data when there's no CSV to download
- Analyze competitors and track market trends
- Build datasets that don't exist yet
- Collect information for research and analysis
This session shows you the real process - not just the theory, but how it actually gets done.
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Agenda:
- 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Arrivals, networking, and pizza
- 6:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Welcome and PyData Wolverhampton introduction
- 6:45 PM - 7:30 PM: Hugh Evans - "Mapping the PyData Community with Python and Web Scraping"
- 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Q&A and discussion
- 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Networking
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What to Bring:
Just yourself and maybe a laptop. Bring business cards if you'd like to connect with other attendees.
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Food & Drinks:
Free pizza and soft drinks provided.
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How to Find Us:
University of Wolverhampton Science Park - Technology Building Wolverhampton WV10 9RU
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: From Wolverhampton train station, walk 5 minutes to the bus station. Take bus 32 or 33, ride for 7 stops (approximately 12 minutes) and drop off at Stafford Road. Walk 5 minutes to the Science Park.
BY TAXI: 7-minute drive from Wolverhampton train/bus station.
BY CAR: Free parking available on-site.
ACCESSIBILITY: The venue is on the ground floor and fully accessible.
We'll have PyData signage at the entrance to help you find us.
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Who Should Attend:
Data scientists, data analysts, developers, students, and anyone interested in:
- Python programming
- Web scraping and data collection
- Data visualization
- Working with real-world data projects
All skill levels welcome! Whether you're new to web scraping or already building data pipelines, you'll learn something valuable.
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About PyData Wolverhampton:
PyData Wolverhampton is part of the global PyData network, supported by NumFOCUS. We're building a community for data professionals in the Black Country through monthly events featuring practical talks, hands-on demonstrations, and networking.
Follow us on LinkedIn: PyData Wolverhampton
See you on May 22nd!
