Journal of Information Science i3 conference 2015 special issue now available #i3rgu

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Hazel Hall

The June 2016 issue of Journal of Information Science (volume 42, issue 3) has just been published. This is a special issue of the journal that comprises twelve articles developed from 54 papers presented at the Information: Interactions and Impact (i3) conference held in Aberdeen in June 2015. A guest editorial, co-authored by Peter Reid and Katie Cooper of Robert Gordon University, provides an overview of each contribution. Continue reading →

School of Computing Research Student Conference 2016

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Hazel Hall

Update post-conference: Four of the CSI students won awards at the conference. Frances Ryan won first prize for the best third year full presentation. John Mowbray won second prize for his second year 20×20 presentation and Iris Buunk third prize for hers. Lyndsey Jenkins won second prize in the first year poster competition.

Two students have blogged about the conference: Lyndsey at http://lyndseyjenkins.org, and Frances at http://justaphd.com.

Today the research students in the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University are hosting their annual conference (hashtag #socphdconf). The event has been organised by a committee of six students, three of whom are from the Centre for So cial Informatics: Frances Ryan, Iris Buunk and Lyndsey Jenkins. The other student organisers are Baraq Ghaleb, John McGowan and Andreas Steyven. My colleague Dr Kevin Chalme rs, who was previously involved in this series of conferences when a research student in the School himself, has also been helping out with the preparations for the event. Continue reading →

Tackling gender inequality from the classroom to the boardroom #ERIgender

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Hazel Hall

Today I’m taking part in a workshop entitled ‘Tackling gender inequality from the classroom to the boardroom’ hosted by the Employment Research Institute (ERI) at Edinburgh Napier University. My presentation draws on my experience of leading Athena SWAN work at Edinburgh Napier. Amongst the other expert speakers are: Continue reading →

Submit to iDocQ 6: deadline Friday 13 May 2016

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Hazel Hall

Calling all doctoral students in Information Science and related subjects! There is still time to submit an abstract for a 20×20 presentation at the 6th Information Science Doctoral Colloquium iDocQ 6, which takes place in Glasgow at Strathclyde University on Thursday 23 June 2016.

Abstract submission deadline: email 250 words to idocq2016@gmail.com by this Friday 13 May 2016
Notification of acceptance: by Friday May 202016
Presentation submission deadline: upload PowerPoint slides to EasyChair by Friday June 10 2016

Continue reading →

Athena SWAN bronze: the Edinburgh Napier experience #SAGEPilot

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Hazel Hall

This morning (or I should say ‘evening’ for those in Australia) I took part in a webinar hosted by Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE). First the SAGE team asked me about my experience of leading Edinburgh Napier University to successful achievement on the institutional bronze Athena SWAN award at first attempt in 2014. Continue reading →

Webinar preview: Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and Athena SWAN #SAGEPilot

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Hazel Hall

The equivalent body to the UK’s Equality Challenge Unit in Australia is Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE). SAGE is currently running a pilot of Athena SWAN in Australia in which 32 STEMM universities and research organisations are participants. They are all keen to improve the education and career outcomes of all women, and to boost the recognition of under-represented groups such as transgender scientists, indigenous Australian researchers and other minority groups. Following completion of the pilot, the long-term ambition of SAGE is to replicate the UK’s success of Athena SWAN as an evaluation and accreditation programme to enhance gender equity and diversity. Continue reading →

Standing for election for ASIST

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Hazel Hall

The Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIST) has published the biographies and position statements for the eight candidates who are standing in this year’s election. Voting will open soon, with the results to be announced in July.

Amongst the names of nominees is my own. I am proud to have been nominated for the position of Director-at-large. Continue reading →

Review: Information Science Scotland advanced training for PhD students April 2016 #InfoSciScot

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Hazel Hall

On 12th and 13th April we hosted an ESRC-funded training event for doctoral students in Information Science at Edinburgh Napier’s Sighthill campus. There were 23 participants in total, representing the four partner institutions of the Information Science Pathway of the Doctoral Training Centre of the Scottish Graduate School of Science. In addition, we welcomed two visiting Greek academics to the gathering: Dr Petros Kostagiolas and Dr Christina Banou, both from the Ionian University of Corfu. Delivered over two days, the training comprised a mix of lectures and exercises with plenty of time for the students to renew friendships and make new connections, including a small drinks reception on the first evening. Continue reading →

New funding for information literacy project

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Hazel Hall

The Centre for Social Informatics has won funding to investigate levels of digital and information literacy within Scotland’s Community Council system in a project entitled Information Literacy for Democratic Engagement (IL-DEM). The award has been granted by the CILIP Information Literacy Group.

Peter Cruickshank, Dr Bruce Ryan and I will explore how community councillors develop the skills required to inform and engage with the citizens that they represent, and how libraries support this work. It will build on two established research streams within the Centre for Social Informatics: Cruickshank and Ryan’s work on digital engagement in local democracy (such as our recent DigiCC workshops), and my work with Christine Irving on information literacy and life-long learning. It will also build on our group’s track record in library and information science research. Continue reading →

Call for participation at iDocQ 6, Glasgow, 23 June 2016 (#iDocQ2016)

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Hazel Hall

iDocQ banner Students working towards research degrees in Information Science and related subjects are invited to register for the 6th Information Science Doctoral Colloquium – iDocQ 6 – hosted by the Information Science Pathway of the ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science Doctoral Training Centre (SGSSS DTC) on Thursday 23rd June at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The event is suitable for doctoral students at all stages of their studies. Continue reading →