Alberta Letts Winner Discusses Conference Presentation

July 4, 2019 Laurel Sampson Leave a Comment

Each year, SIM awards up to two $500 prizes to current MLIS students to fund conference travel. The Alberta Letts Conference Travel award is named for past Provincial Librarian, and Past President of CLA (1957/1958), Alberta Letts. Ms. Letts was a strong supporter of the foundation of the School and was very engaged during its early years. After her untimely death in 1973, Dalhousie University established this award to recognize Ms Letts’ contribution.

Our most recent recipient is Kristy Hancock. Read on to learn more about her conference experience:

Kristy Hancock

I am delighted to have attended and presented at the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA) annual conference that took place in Ottawa from June 4-7, 2019. As a Research Assistant for librarians Robin Parker and Melissa Helwig from the W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library, I have been helping to evaluate the impact of individual research consultations in academic libraries using a web-based survey tool that we created. I presented the preliminary findings of this research in the form of a lightning talk, and it was a very positive experience. Given it was my first time both attending and presenting at a professional conference, I was nervous about speaking in front of such a large group of people (about 150), but everyone was very supportive and encouraging.

A wide range of topics related to health librarianship were presented upon, but I most enjoyed the sessions related to systematic reviews and open educational resources. I was able to network with health librarians from across North America, and to learn about their research and the types of programs they are implementing at their places of work. Attendees also came from a range of health information settings, including academic and hospital libraries, research institutes, professional associations, and vendors. A key theme that I took away from the conference was the importance of knowledge sharing with colleagues in your field. By sharing your research in a safe space, you can obtain constructive feedback and develop collaborations with others who have similar research interests.

My interest in health librarianship began while working as a Reference Intern at the W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library, and attending the CHLA conference has further fueled my drive to become a health sciences librarian. For current MLIS students interested in exploring this area of librarianship, the Maritimes Health Libraries Association offers a free student membership! I am also grateful to the School of Information Management (SIM) for granting me the Alberta Letts Conference Travel Award, and I recommend that other SIM students take advantage of the stellar opportunity that is this award.

For more information about the research that was presented at CHLA, see the abstract and presentation slides on DalSpace: http://hdl.handle.net/10222/75720

Job Posting: Assistant Professor (term position)

April 18, 2019 Laurel Sampson Leave a Comment

School of Information Management
Dalhousie University
Assistant Professor (term position)

The Dalhousie School of Information Management (SIM) invites applications for a three-year term appointment at the Assistant Professor level commencing 1^st July 2019.

The SIM (http://sim.management.dal.ca) offers two graduate programs: the American Library Association-accredited Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program, and the mid-career blended learning Master of Information Management (MIM) program. At the undergraduate level, the School provides core and elective courses in the Bachelor of Management program, delivered collaboratively with the three other schools in the Faculty of Management. The School also participates in Dalhousie’s Interdisciplinary PhD program.

The SIM is part of the interdisciplinary Faculty of Management (http://www.dal.ca/faculty/management.html), which also includes the School of Public Administration, the School for Resource and Environmental Studies, and the Rowe School of Business. The Faculty of Management’s mission is to collaboratively advance management knowledge and practice, and its vision is inspiring managerial solutions to transform lives. We seek an additional colleague who will contribute to, and thrive in, this environment.

Dalhousie University (http://www.dal.ca/) is one of Canada’s leading teaching and research universities, with four professional faculties; a Faculty of Graduate Studies; and a diverse complement of graduate programs. Inter-faculty collaborative and interactive research is encouraged, as is cooperation in teaching. Dalhousie University inspires students, faculty, staff and alumni to make significant contributions regionally, nationally, and to the world. Dalhousie University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Halifax is a vibrant capital city and is the business, academic, and medical centre for Canada’s east coast.

This position is co-funded by the School and the Bachelor of Management program (25% and 75% respectively). Given this funding, the successful candidate will demonstrate:

Strengths in teaching at the undergraduate level. Successful experience with graduate teaching, as well as with online course development, tools, and pedagogy, will be an asset.
Ability to lead a number of special projects assigned by the Bachelor of Management Program Director, including online course development.
PhD and research experience in Library and Information Studies, Knowledge Management, or a related field (such as computer science or information systems).

As the School’s strategic goals include the support of an undergraduate Major in Managing Data and Information the following teaching areas/courses are of special interest to the School and the principal teaching assignments for this position will be drawn from this list:

Information in a Networked World
Beyond Google
Management Information Systems
Web Design & Architecture
Data Management

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Dalhousie University is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Aboriginal people, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. Dalhousie recognizes that career paths can be diverse and that career interruptions may occur. Applicants are encouraged to include, in their cover letter, an explanation of the impact that any career interruptions may have had on their record of research achievement. Dalhousie also recognizes the need to accommodate candidates to ensure their full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed online at: www.dal.ca/policies

Review of applications will begin on 15 May 2019 and will continue until the position is filled. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application by this date.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of past teaching evaluations, and statements of teaching philosophy and of research interests. (Each statement should be approximately one page.) Applications must also include a completed Self-Identification Questionnaire, which is available at www.dal.ca/becounted/selfid. Applications should be directed to:

Ms. Laurel Sampson
School of Information Management
Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building
6100 University Avenue, Suite 4010
PO BOX 15000
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
sim@dal.ca
Fax: 902-494-2451
Voice: 902-494-3656

Electronic applications are preferred.

Job Posting: Lecturer or Assistant Professor

April 18, 2019 Laurel Sampson Leave a Comment

School of Information Management
Dalhousie University
Lecturer or Assistant Professor

The School of Information Management (SIM) invites applications for a 10-month limited term appointment, ideally commencing June 1^st, 2019.

Dalhousie University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Halifax is a vibrant capital city and is the business, academic, and medical centre for Canada’s east coast.

Requirements for a successful candidate:

MLIS or equivalent degree related to information management. A PhD (completed or in progress) related to information management, will be an asset.
Experience teaching at the graduate level is required. Experience in undergraduate teaching, as well as with online tools and pedagogy, will be an asset.
Professional experience in the private or public sectors as a qualified information management professional will be an asset.
Research experience relating to the private or public sector will be an asset.

The candidate will have prior professional and instructional experience relevant for teaching core or elective courses in at least two of the School’s programs in the following areas:

Enterprise information management
Organization of information (e.g., metadata, taxonomies, ontologies)
Data management: curation, preservation, analytics, and/or visualization
Information risk management
Information policy
New and emerging media
Other relevant areas including organizational learning, collaboration, user experience, or knowledge management

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Dalhousie University is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Aboriginal people, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. Dalhousie also recognizes the need to accommodate candidates to ensure their full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed online at: www.dal.ca/policies

Review of applications will begin on 15 May 2019 and will continue until the position is filled. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application by this date.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of past teaching evaluations, and statement of teaching philosophy and of research interests. (Each statement should be approximately one page.) Applications must also include a completed Self-Identification Questionnaire, which is available at www.dal.ca/becounted/selfid. Applications should be directed to:

Ms. Laurel Sampson
School of Information Management
Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building
6100 University Avenue, Suite 4010
PO BOX 15000
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
Email: sim@dal.ca
Fax: 902-494-2451
Voice: 902-494-3656

Electronic applications are preferred.

Call for Applications: Scotiabank Ethics in Action Bursary ($10,000)

March 12, 2019 Laurel Sampson Leave a Comment

Scotiabank Ethics in Action Bursary ($10,000) (Application required)

Scotiabank sees a growing need to support students with an interest in ethics. To attract and retain the top talent, Scotiabank is awarding this competitive $10,000 bursary to one incoming MLIS student.

To apply, applicants must submit a 500 word statement (by email to sim@dal.ca) articulating their particular interest in ethics in the field of information management, and outlining how they propose to connect “ethics in action” to their MLIS Program and to their career as an IM professional.

The MLIS Awards & Scholarships Committee will select the successful candidate who will give a public presentation on their perspective on ethics in action as part of SIM’s Research Day, April 2020.

Note: A change in registration status from full-time to part-time status between September and the end of the academic year would compromise eligibility for this award.

Note: Incoming students will receive only one scholarship, bursary or award.

Deadline:
May 1 at 4 p.m. (AST)

3rd Annual NS Open Data Contest – Robyn Nicholson

March 12, 2019 Laurel Sampson Leave a Comment

2019 NS Open Data Participants

Open Data Contest
Robyn Nicholson

In conjunction with International Open Data Day, the first weekend in March this year saw the return of the Third Annual Open Data Competition to Dalhousie. Organized by the Province of Nova Scotia, the School of Information Management (SIM) and the Rowe School of Business, the event saw twenty-eight teams compete using Nova Scotia open data to create apps, models, visualizations, dashboards and more to address issues affecting Nova Scotia residents. The event was sponsored by the Government of Nova Scotia, Dalhousie Faculty of Management, ESRI, IBM and Socrata.

The weekend got off to a strong start bright and early Saturday morning as teams met with mentors and got started on their projects. SIM MLIS student and competition participant Dan Phillips noted, “it was difficult to decide which was the most effective use of our time: crunching numbers and writing code, or chatting with mentors as we wrestled with our problem.” By early afternoon on Sunday the Rowe building was buzzing with energy as teams prepared to present their work.

Judges Sandra Cascadden (Associate Deputy Minister and CIO, Internal Services), Stephen Greene (Development Practice Leader, Halifax CIC, IBM), Thozamile Javu (PNS Innovation Garage Manager, IBM Services) and Brit Perry (Account Manager, Tyler Technologies Inc.) had their work cut out for them, as team numbers jumped from twenty-four on Saturday up to twenty-eight total by Sunday. Pressure was on, with a tight schedule and a strict two-minute cap on presentations, but teams rose to the challenge and presented a rich variety of creative and innovative solutions using the tools and data at hand.

After an exciting slew of presentations, it was time for lengthy deliberations. Om Agarwal took home first prize under his team name Prognomatrix after wowing judges with an AI tool that used deep/machine learning algorithms and frameworks to diagnose breast and skin cancer with impressive accuracy. Second prize went to Yingda Guo and Matt Richard, a.k.a. Data Boys, whose work focused on a web app aimed at predicting seasonal disease prevalence. Team 3, made up of Fasuyi Morounkeji, Sadman Hoque Sadi, Sarbottam Thapa, took third prize for their work on an app geared toward reducing food wastage and food insecurity in the province by notifying foodbanks of food surpluses nearby. The People’s Choice, as voted by contest participants, went to Tina Roberts-Jeffers (a.k.a Take 2) and her app called On Second Thought which was designed to enhance tourism in Nova Scotia by giving both visitors and residents new ideas about ways to explore the province.

Closing remarks made by Minister of Internal Services Patricia Arab lauded the creativity and problem-solving skills of participants as well as the power of open data. The Nova Scotia open data portal has been active since 2016, and these teams demonstrated what kind of original and exciting solutions can be created from simple datasets when motivated and thoughtful minds are brought together. Dan Phillips (current MLIS student) echoed these sentiments, saying, “there’s a lot of interesting stuff in the NS Open Data repository – and it’s not just there on the competition weekend. I’m already digging around for interesting datasets to use next year.” Issues ranging from public health and pollution to immigration and tourism were all addressed.

SIM students at the 2019 NS Open Data Contest (Li Liu, Dan Phillips, Yifan Liu, Dr. Sandra Toze, Director of SIM, Dr. Vivian Howard, Interim Dean FoM)

The power of information is a central value for SIM, and the results of the Open Data Competition further illustrate the vital nature of inspiring young professionals to recognize the possibilities for public good when skills, tools, data and passion are combined. SIM Director Sandra Toze would also like to add a final thanks to all the mentors from the Faculty of Management, Dalhousie Libraries and across the University who helped make this an excellent event.

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