Sandy Littletree's new role makes room for research

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Libraries are a vital part of Indigenous communities, but there’s very little academic research that focuses on those libraries. Sandy Littletree is working to change that. “A lot of people, when you say ‘libraries,’ get warm, fuzzy feelings about books and story time, and that’s great,” said Littletree, who was recently hired as an assistant professor at the University of Washington Information School. “But there are really complex issues of information access for Native communities.” In her new role, Littletree is excited to have more time to dig deep into her research,

Class puts people first, technology second

Monday, September 12, 2022

It’s shortly before 8:30 on a Wednesday morning in June outside Room 139 at the University of Washington’s Condon Hall. Small groups of students huddle over laptops, feverishly typing revisions or rehearsing lines soon to be delivered. Today is presentation day for Information Management and Technology 565, a course called Designing Information Experiences. Half of the class will unveil their final projects for this upper-division course at the UW’s Information School. The rest will deliver theirs next week. All the projects take on the feel of business proposals in front of a grou

iSchool adds an inventive mind to faculty

Monday, September 12, 2022

Inventors who are women received just 13% of all patents awarded in 2019 in the U.S., a disparity seen around the world. What can be done about it? Mike Teodorescu asked that very question. Most inventors on their first try at a patent receive a rejection letter filled with legal jargon. Many abandon their attempt at that point. Teodorescu and his colleagues found that inventors who receive a simple phone call explaining their options have vastly better chances of successfully obtaining a patent. For women, the odds increase by 29%. Teodorescu isn’t a patent attorney. He’s a resea

New iSchool scholar harnesses technology for better health care

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Scientific papers can be daunting, with convoluted findings, baffling jargon and key takeaways buried in a blur of details. Lucy Lu Wang uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make these documents more accessible and usable. “I’m trying to find better ways of surfacing relevant information and making it discoverable,” says Wang, who joins the iSchool faculty as an assistant professor this fall. Wang comes to the iSchool from Seattle’s Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), where she has worked several years as a postdoctoral young investigator. At AI2, she helped develop m

7 MLIS students awarded ALA Spectrum Scholarships

Monday, August 22, 2022

Seven University of Washington Master of Library and Information Science students are among the recipients of 2022-23 Spectrum Scholarships, the American Library Association has announced.  “The Spectrum Scholars Program represents a serious commitment on the part of the American Library Association to contribute to diversifying the LIS profession, and we are thrilled to have such an amazing cohort of new and continuing Spectrum Scholars in UW’s Information School,” said Professor Michelle H. Martin, chair of the MLIS program. “We couldn’t be prouder of all of our Spectrum Sc

Fulbright fellowship backs Heather Whiteman's work in Guatemala

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Guatemala is one of the few countries in Latin America that have recently gained strong exposure to the use of information systems and people data processes. Information School Assistant Teaching Professor Heather Whiteman recently received a Fulbright Scholar Award for an idea intended to increase the exposure and understanding of those concepts.  Whiteman, who teaches courses in people analytics and information management at the iSchool, is creating the first master’s level people analytics program in Latin America at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM) in Guatemala. People

IMLS awards $1.3 million to support iSchool-led research projects

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently awarded a total of more than $1.3 million in funding for research projects led by faculty at the University of Washington Information School. The projects include efforts to help libraries combat misinformation, foster inclusion of neurodiverse people, and diversify the librarianship field. Three of the awards were funded by the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which supports the training and professional development of librarians and archivists and seeks to recruit, develop and retain a diverse workforce: Valuing Lib

iSchool faculty research centers Washington tribal libraries

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The University of Washington recently received a Mellon Foundation Public Knowledge Grant for a research project led by Information School Professor of Practice Cindy Aden and Assistant Teaching Professor Sandy Littletree called “Centering Washington Tribal Libraries: Building Relationships and Understanding Libraries from the Stories of their Communities.” Aden and Littletree first discovered their shared interest in tribal libraries early in the pandemic. Because both were based in Olympia at the time, they frequently met up to talk about their work. As a former Washington State Libra

iSchool welcomes incoming faculty cohort

Friday, July 8, 2022

The University of Washington Information School is proud to announce the 2022-2023 incoming cohort of new faculty. These faculty members provide intellectual leadership in our research areas and also inform our undergraduate and graduate education in the Informatics, Library and Information Science and Information Management programs.  The six incoming scholars bring direct experience and teaching expertise, along with leading research applied across fields as diverse as artificial intelligence, design thinking, entrepreneurship, Indigeneous knowledge, natural language processing, and

2 iSchool Ph.D. students receive ALA Spectrum fellowships

Thursday, June 23, 2022

University of Washington Information School Ph.D. students Tessa Campbell and Mandi Harris are among the seven recipients of the inaugural ALA Spectrum Doctoral Fellowships - Catalysts for Change. Campbell (Tulalip/Tlingit), has an academic and professional background in both library and museum fields. Her research interest stems from the personal experience of living and coping with mental health issues while struggling to find resources on her reservation.  Advised by Assistant Professor Miranda Belarde-Lewis (Zuni/Tlingit), Campbell hopes to research the help-seeking behaviors and a

Former iSchool dean Harry Bruce to be honored for impact on information science

Thursday, June 23, 2022

The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) has announced that Harry Bruce, dean emeritus of the University of Washington Information School, will be awarded its highest honor, the ASIS&T Award of Merit. The Award of Merit recognizes an individual who has made particularly noteworthy and sustained contributions to the information science field.  Bruce’s teaching and research have focused on human information behavior, information seeking and use, and personal information management. His research has been funded by organizations such as the Nationa

Alumni, students grapple with the censorship challenge

Friday, June 10, 2022

Given the key role of librarians and information professionals in topics such as academic freedom, content moderation / free speech, and access to materials and ideas, I have invited iSchool Associate Teaching Professor Chance Hunt to share the critical work our faculty and graduates are doing in this space, at a time when the policies and laws governing these activities are being rewritten. We would like to hear your thoughts and ideas on this topic. Reach out to cahunt@uw.edu to share your experience. — Anind K. Dey, Dean and Professor, Information School, University of Washington

iSchool represents at ICWSM 2022

Thursday, June 9, 2022

University of Washington Information School Ph.D. candidate Shruti Phadke and Assistant Professor Tanu Mitra, along with co-author Mattia Samory (GESIS), were awarded the best paper award at the 2022 International Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) for “Pathways through Conspiracy: The Evolution of Conspiracy Radicalization through Engagement in Online Conspiracy Discussions.” ICWSM is a leading international conference of research on online social media.  In announcing the award, conference organizers said, “This [paper] shines a light on an important yet under-atten

Marika Cifor uncovers history of AIDS activism in new book

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Information School Assistant Professor Marika Cifor recently published her first book, titled Viral Cultures: Activist Archiving in the Age of AIDS. The book explores the history of AIDS activism and how its story is preserved.  Published and released by the University of Minnesota Press in June, Cifor’s book is the first to take a critical lens to the archives that have helped keep the history and work of AIDS activism alive. Cifor specifically examines the documentation of AIDS activism in the United States and the infrastructure that has been used to preserve past activist efforts

Convocation celebrates hundreds of iSchool graduates

Monday, June 6, 2022

The University of Washington Information School honored graduating students from its undergraduate and graduate programs at Convocation on June 4 at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.  The ceremony began with remarks from Dean Anind Dey. He urged those in attendance to celebrate the dedicated group of students who persevered through a challenging few years. Before introducing the keynote speaker, Dey encouraged the graduating class to continue to be leaders beyond the iSchool.  “As you move forward in your lives and careers, I encourage you to continue to foster and grow your commun