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2015 SIGUSE Symposium Call For Participation

Theme: Making Research Matter: Connecting Theory and Practice

Date: November 7, 2015

Time: 1:30 to 6:30 pm

Location: Hyatt St Louis

Keynote Speakers: Ross Todd (Rutgers University) & Safiya Noble (UCLA)

About the 2015 Symposium:

Research and theory development in information needs, use, and seeking are grounded in work with individuals and groups of people from a variety of practice communities and sociocultural contexts. Reciprocally, work developed by information scientists has tangible impact on the life experiences of individuals within these communities. When connections between research activities and their societal and cultural contexts are overlooked, both research and practice suffer, and the usefulness of information science research is lessened.

The 2015 SIG USE Symposium will explore connections between theory building, research, and practice as they relate to information needs, seeking, and use. During the symposium, we will investigate multi-directional connections between theory and research, and societal and practice implications of information science research.

SCHEDULE:

  • 1:30-1:40 Welcome and introduction
  • 1:40-2:25 Keynote 1: Ross Todd
  • 2:25-3:10 Lightning Talks
  • 3:15 – 4:00 Mixer Chat and Break
  • 4:00 – 4:45 Safiya Nobel Keynote
  • 4:45 – 5:45  Table Talks
  • 5:45 – 6:10  SIG USE award ceremony and wrap up

CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

The symposium welcomes all faculty, graduate students, and information professionals who are interested in exploring connections among theory, theory development, information science research, practice, and information use.

Attendees are invited to submit proposals for lightning talks. Lightning talks are intended to provide examples of research, theory development, and practice that will further conversation related to the symposium theme.

Lightning talks will address connections among information behavior research, theory building, practice, and the communities served by researchers and practitioners. Successful/accepted proposals will emphasize these connections and explore interplay among this continuum (or the lack thereof). Proposals will be accepted in a wide range of topical areas, but should address issues such as (but not limited to) the following:

  1. Connections between theory and practice: talks that address practical implications of theory development for improving practice within specific communities or institutions, conduct of applied research, meeting specific information needs, and facilitating information use or seeking.
  2. Implications of research for practice/behavior in communities: Talks that address the social, political, educational, health, and/or behavioral implications of theoretical perspectives (in research and practice) and research methodologies (including ontological, epistemological, and methodological assumptions, and theoretical frameworks) for specific communities and community members.
  3. Influence of practice on theory and research:  Talks that address the implications of practice within varied communities for developing information science research and theory. Case studies based on practice at specific institutions, or more broadly designed work is welcome.

Lightning talk format:  Each lightning talk is permitted 1 speaker, 3 minutes, and up to 3 powerpoint slides. A mixer will follow the lightning talks, allowing discussion and questions about the talks.

Submission guidelines for the lightning talk abstracts:

  • Include your name, title, and institutional affiliation at the top of your submission
  • Proposal text must not exceed 500 words
  • Proposal should include: subject of the lighting talk (if the talk is based on a study, a brief study description), explicit connection to the symposium theme, and a final question to pose to the group
  • Submission is in pdf format with the filename in the format of  “2015_SIGUSESymposium_YourLastname.pdf”
  • E-mail your proposal to (2015SIGUSE@gmail.com) by midnight EST on September 1, 2015. Deadline extended to September 8, 2015.
  • Accepted submissions will be posted to the public SIG USE website.

2015 SIG USE Symposium Planning Committee

Co-Chairs:

Committee: