DataLab: A hands-on hub of innovation and data science

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The DataLab was created to give UW Information School students hands-on, real world experience in the rapidly expanding field of data science and data analytics. Popularly referred to as “big data,” it’s the science of combing through large-scale data sets to identify quantitative insights and conclusions on why individuals, consumers, and societies behave the way they do. Stakeholders in the public and private sectors increasingly look to data analytics to make informed decisions in the 21st Century. The stakes are high for employers, which makes career opportunities rife for st

iSchool to hire 6 new faculty in multiple disciplines

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The iSchool is growing. Our society is faced with information problems related to privacy, security, access, and the management of information. To help solve these issues and meet the increased demand for information professionals, the iSchool is adding six new faculty with excellent research and teaching profiles. They will join an active community engaging in projects with global impact and educating future leaders in the information field. The iSchool is looking for faculty with expertise in the following areas:     • Information visualization and analytics  

TASCHA part of $1.5m USAID grant to strengthen higher education in Burma

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded $1.5 million to a University of Washington-led program to bring the power of new technologies to bear upon reform in higher education and policy-making in Burma, also known as Myanmar. This USAID Higher Education Partnership grant, called Advancing Democracy and Promoting Transformations with Information Technology (ADAPT-IT), brings together University of Washington’s (UW) Jackson School of International Studies and the Information School with Burma-based public and private sector stakeholders, along with a close collaboration

ASA’s ‘Reflections on Risk II’ features the work of 14 MSIM students

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Annie Searle & Associates LLC (also known as ASA) has just published Reflections on Risk II (ISBN 978-0-9839347-6-9), two years after the first volume was issued. There are a total of 14 authors for the 26 research notes to be found in the new volume, all either graduates or upcoming graduates of the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) degree program.  The volume is edited by MSIM graduate Emily Oxenford, ASA’s 2010-2011 research associate. She organized the research notes into the following chapters: Critical Infrastructure, Privacy, F

Designing across borders: iSchool goes to China

Monday, February 3, 2014

A new partnership between the iSchool and Peking University offers University of Washington students the opportunity to be part of an online product development course and competition this summer. Bob Boiko, iSchool senior lecturer and world traveler, will lead the program along with faculty from the top-ranked Department of Information Management in Peking University, and U.S. and Chinese business leaders. The course will teach participants about product design and development for internet and mobile applications. Peking University is often called ‘the Harvard of China’ due it its s

MLIS program earns re-accreditation from ALA

Friday, January 31, 2014

The iSchool's Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program received notice of re-accreditation from the American Library Association. The program has been continuously accredited by the ALA since 1926. Program accreditation reviews occur every seven years.  "Once again, an effort of our entire community has paid big dividends; we remain one of only a handful of programs accredited by ALA since they began doing it in the mid-1920s, so this is something we can all be proud of," said Joe Janes, MLIS program chair and associate professor.  ALA accredits m

USA Today: Professor explores why things go viral

Thursday, January 23, 2014

A British baby named Charlie bites his older brother’s finger. A youngster named David wigs out in the car after a trip to the dentist. During the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney writes off 47 percent of the voting public “as people who take no responsibility for their livelihoods and who think they are entitled to government handouts.” And this past fall, a high school student posts a selfie on Twitter also showing his pregnant teacher suffering labor pains behind him. The only thing that links these very different moments in modern history: They all went viral. Accordi

Barbara Endicott-Popovsky: How Target hackers hit the bullseye

Thursday, January 16, 2014

When it comes to stealing personal data from a retailer's customers, security experts say thieves are relentless in searching for the digital equivalent of unlocked doors or windows. Often, they operate from a safe distance, in countries such as Ukraine, where they feel beyond the reach of U.S. law. "The cyber thieves are constantly looking for the next big vulnerability where people aren't watching," said Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, director of the Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity at the University of Washington. "They're looking for the easiest place to attack," she

iSchool celebrates the possibilities of data

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Today massive amounts of information are collected, analyzed, integrated, and disseminated, transforming virtually every industry and offering a wealth of opportunities to make the world a better place. To mark the important opportunities and diversity that exists within the data economy, the iSchool and many others from across the world have joined together to present the second annual Data Innovation Day. The celebration promotes the benefits generated by the current revolution in data, and gives participants the opportunity to showcase the latest data innovations and the economic v

Best paper nominations for iSchool faculty and students at HICSS

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Associate Professors Jochen Scholl and Hazel Taylor, and Ph.D. student Jordan Eschler, authored research papers nominated for best paper at the 47th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS).  iSchool faculty, students and alumni participate at HICSS to exchange ideas, share research results and learn about the latest development activities. It is one of the few academic conferences addressing multiple disciplines including computer science, computer engineering, and information systems. Participants from the iSchool at this year's conference included:

Are apps becoming a human crutch?

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

A NEW suite of killer apps has arrived. These apps, which use predictive search technology, promise to answer questions before you ask them — or even before you know what those questions are. Apps like Google Now and reQall anticipate what information you will need before you even have to ask based on your traffic conditions, weather and your location. For instance, they alert you when to leave to make your restaurant reservation on time and the best route to take. Think of these apps as a kind of omniscient GPS, tailored just for you. Once we’ve gotten over any initial wonderment, w