No. 477 - December 1, 2021

  • Coming Events:

    - GRADLIS 9004 Students' Research Showcase
    - Dark Pattern Typology: How Social Networking Sites Deter Disabling of User Accounts - mediations
    - Knowledge Exchange School 2021 - Western Research
    - Rotman AI Reading Group

  • Important Dates:

    - Friday, December 3, 2021 - Meeting of the Senate (1:30pm)
    - Friday, December 10, 2021 to Tuesday, December 21, 2021 - Undergraduate exam period
    - Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - Last day of classes for FIMS graduate programs 
    - Thursday, December 23, 2021 to Sunday, January 2, 2022 - Western Holiday closure (all administrative offices closed)
    - Monday, January 3, 2022 - Classes resume for undergraduate and graduate students
    - Tuesday, January 11, 2022 - Nominations Open for Faculty Membership on the Board (8:00am)
    - Tuesday, January 11, 2022 - Nominations Open for Faculty and Staff Membership on Senate (8:00am)

  • News & Announcements:

    - Pam McKenzie announced as Associate Dean Graduate
    - Voting open for Spirit of Librarianship and Fantastic FIMS awards
    - FIMS Career Central Site

  • Awards & Accomplishments:

    - Luke Stark

  • Publications & Presentations:

    - Nafiz Shuva

  • In the Media:

    - Yimin Chen
    - Danica Facca
    - Rachael Ponsen
    - Anabel Quan-Haase
    - Luke Stark
    - Tiara Sukhan

  • Additional Activities of Note:

    - FIMS grad appointed to award selection committee
    - Launch of From Remote Stars Podcast
    - TIFF Next Wave Film Festival (February 18 - 20, 2022) Call for Films

  • News from the FIMS Graduate Library:

    - ELIP Submission Deadline extended to Friday, December 10
    - Holiday Making Event: Wednesday, December 8 and Friday, December 10 
    - Winter Term Workshops at the FIMS Graduate Library: Share your ideas on our Jamboard!
    - Hours of Operation - Winter 2022

  • News from Western Libraries:

  • Next Issue:


Coming Events


GRADLIS 9004 Students' Research Showcase
FIMS faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to the GRADLIS 9004(650): Research Methods students' end-of-term research showcase. Each student will present a brief presentation and a digital research object that gives an overview of the research proposal they have been working on for the last few weeks. Browse the creative and interesting research objects posted on their Microsoft Sway site.

There will be five synchronous Zoom sessions - check your Western email for the Zoom link:
Wednesday, December 1 from 11:00am - 12:00pm
Wednesday, December 1 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Wednesday December 1 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, December 2 from 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Friday, December 3 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Dark Pattern Typology: How Social Networking Sites Deter Disabling of User Accounts - mediations
Friday, December 3, 2021
4:30pm
Via Zoom (Check Western email for Zoom link)
Talk by Dominique Kelly (Media Studies PhD student)
Abstract: Dark patterns are user interface (UI) strategies deliberately designed to influence users to perform actions or make choices that benefit online services. This presentation examines how dark patterns are employed by social networking sites (SNSs) with the intent to deter users from disabling their accounts (continue reading).

Knowledge Exchange School 2021 - Western Research
Do you have questions about how to share the knowledge from your research with the public, influence policy, use social media to communicate your research, write the knowledge mobilization section of your grant application, or explain how you will ensure Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in your application?

Western's third annual Knowledge Exchange School will be held virtually via Zoom with sessions on December 1st, 8th, and 15th, 2021. Open to grad students and faculty researchers, attendees are welcome to sign up for as few or as many sessions as they wish. For more information on this year's topics, and to register for sessions, visit the 2021 Knowledge Exchange School event page.

Rotman AI Reading Group 
Every other Tuesday, starting January 11, 2022
3:30pm
Via Zoom
The Rotman AI Reading Group is an interdisciplinary reading group on the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence. The group will discuss topics surrounding the impact of currently existing AI technologies on a number of social issues (including algorithmic bias, data privacy, automation and labour, etc.).

If you'd like to be added to the mailing list and/or take part in the meetings, contact coordinator Michael Barnes (Rotman Institute of Philosophy).


Important Dates


- Friday, December 3, 2021 - Meeting of the Senate (1:30pm)
- Friday, December 10, 2021 to Tuesday, December 21, 2021 - Undergraduate exam period
- Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - Last day of classes for FIMS graduate programs 
- Thursday, December 23, 2021 to Sunday, January 2, 2022 - Western Holiday closure (all administrative offices closed)
- Monday, January 3, 2022 - Classes resume for undergraduate and graduate students
- Tuesday, January 11, 2022 - Nominations Open for Faculty Membership on the Board (8:00am)
- Tuesday, January 11, 2022 - Nominations Open for Faculty and Staff Membership on Senate (8:00am)


News & Announcements

Pam McKenzie announced as Associate Dean Graduate
Professor Pam McKenzie will serve as Associate Dean Graduate starting January 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023.

Voting open for Spirit of Librarianship and Fantastic FIMS awards
Voting is now open for their Spirit of Librarianship and Fantastic FIMS awards. This semester's nominees include: Wilson Poulter, Dilki Rupasinghe, Kate McCandless (Spirit of Librarianship) and Nafiz Shuva, Karen Nicholson, Charlotte McClellan and Lucia Cedeira Serantes (Fantastic FIMS). Check your Western email for details about the nominees. Voting is open until Monday, December 6 at 11:59pm at: Fall 2021 Spirit of Librarianship and Fantastic FIMS Awards Voting

FIMS Career Central Site
Formerly known as the LIS JobWeb, the FIMS Career Central site was redesigned to help current students and alumni of all FIMS graduate programs with the job search. Alumni and industry employers are encouraged to submit their postings using the Post An Opportunity tool.


Awards & Accomplishments


Assistant Professor Luke Stark was awarded a SSHRC Insight Development Grant for his project titled, "The Political Economy of Emotion AI." A FIMS news piece with more details about this project is forthcoming.


Publications & Presentations


Limited Duties Assistant Professor Nafiz Shuva (LIS PhD'20) presented a paper titled "Online ethnic social media and newcomers’ settlement: Results from a mixed-method study on Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada" at the Pathways to Prosperity 2021 National Conference held on November 8-10, 2021.

Shuva also published the following article:
Shuva, N.Z. (2021). "The journey will be relaxed. You will watch television. Just like a VIP": Misinformation, secrecy, and the information behaviour of repatriated migrants in Bangladesh. Open Information Science, 5 (1): 233-249. https://doi.org/10.1515/opis-2020-0123/


In the Media


LIS PhD candidate Yimin Chen appeared as a commentator on an episode of The Opportunist podcast, "OOBAH BUTLER Part 1 of 1: Internet Prankster" published on November 16, 2021.

HIS PhD candidate Danica Facca was mentioned as a study co-author in the Western News article, "Study shows gender skew in digital info for new parents" published on November 24, 2021.

MLIS student Rachael Ponsen was featured in the article, "A Bridge to a Career - WDBA Helps Students Along Career Path" published by Gordie Howe International Bridge earlier this year.

Professor Anabel Quan-Haase was interviewed for the CTV News article, "Youths caught on camera kicking in door for social media challenge" and Newstalk 1290 CJBK on November 23, 2021.

Assistant Professor Luke Stark's research project, AI and You: How Artificial Intelligence Impacts the Western Community, was featured in the Western News article, "Western student probes social impacts of AI" published on November 23, 2021.

Stark also published "Facial Recognition & Canadian Youth" in the essay series Kids & Technology for McGill’s Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy on November 8, 2021. This piece was picked up by National Post on November 19, 2021. 

Stark was also featured in the CBC film "The Machine That Feels" which aired November 19, 2021 on CBC Docs.

Assistant Professor Tiara Sukhan was interviewed for "Good Cop/Bad Cop: Why cop shows make for complicated entertainment" on CBC Radio Tapestry, posted November 26, 2021. 


Additional Activities of Note


FIMS grad appointed to award selection committee
Angela Pollak (MLIS'06, LIS PhD'15) has been appointed a member of the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility selection committee for a three-year term. The award recognizes Ontarians who have gone above and beyond in improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

Launch of From Remote Stars Podcast
From Remote Stars Podcast explores a recently uncovered recording that artist Greg Curnoe made of futurist and architect R. Buckminster Fuller speaking in London, Ontario in 1968. It accompanies the exhibition From Remote Stars: Buckminster Fuller, London, and Speculative Futures, curated by Kirsty Robertson and Assistant Professor Sarah E.K. Smith, forthcoming at Museum London (February 19 to May 15, 2022). Visit From Remote Stars to listen to the podcast and learn more about this SSHRC-funded research project.

TIFF Next Wave Film Festival (February 18 - 20, 2022) Call for Films
TIFF Call for Submissions: Young Creators Showcase
The TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is now accepting submissions for a short-film programme! If you are a filmmaker aged 14-25 and have a short film, submit your work. Selected films will screen in person and online as part of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival. For submission criteria, visit here.
Submissions are due by December 10, 2021.

TIFF Call for Film Pitches: Battle of the Scores
TIFF Next Wave is looking for two Toronto filmmakers to create two separate silent short films, on the theme of nostalgia. Each filmmaker will receive $500 to create their short film. The films will then be handed off to bands/artists, who will have three weeks to compose and record an original score. This is a super-fun, unique way to have your work featured at the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival! For more details, visit here.
If you have an idea for a short film, submit your pitch by December 6, 2021.


News from the FIMS Graduate Library


ELIP Submission Deadline extended to December 10
For more details on submission categories and how to submit, check out the ELIP information slide.

Holiday Making Event: Wednesday, December 8 and Friday, December 10
12:00pm - 3:00pm
No need to RSVP, just drop into the library to get your hands on some materials for crafting holiday goodies. We'll be turning paper, yarn and repurposed materials into homemade gifts using library equipment like the Cricut cutting machine and button maker. You’ll take home a beautiful homemade card, gift tag, or ornament that you can give away or keep for yourself. If you’ve been meaning to try out one of these popular tools, this would be a great opportunity. All supplies provided. No making  experience required (but some may be gained). If you have any questions about this event, please contact library staff at fimslib@uwo.ca.
Also, bring your own mug for hot apple cider and holiday treats!

Winter Term Workshops at the FIMS Graduate Library: Share your ideas on our Jamboard!
We're planning our library workshops for the winter term, and we'd love to know more about what interests you!
Please feel free to share your interests, topics for new workshops, or workshops you'd like us to offer again on a sticky note in our Google Jamboard. To see a list of workshops and events we've held in the past, check out the events page on our website. 
 
Hours of Operation - Winter 2022
Beginning Monday, January 3, 2022
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 8:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday, Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm


News from Western Libraries


Zero-Cost Course Readings via Western Libraries: Beyond the Textbook
Thursday, December 9, 2021
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Registration Deadline: Dec 9, 2021 at 9:00am
Learn more about the Course Readings service from Western Libraries, and how library staff can support your course delivery with zero-cost, accessible readings for students. Crystal Mills, User Services Manager, and Stephen Spong, Copyright Officer, will share an overview of the Course Readings service & OWL tool, discuss common issues with selecting course materials, and field your questions related to Course Readings and Copyright. Register here.


Next Issue


The Grad Bulletin is your source for news, announcements, and events pertaining to FIMS graduate programs. Submissions from the FIMS community are always welcome and may be sent via e-mail to fims-communications@uwo.ca.

This is the final issue of the Grad Bulletin for the Fall 2021 term. Publication will resume on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The deadline for submissions is noon on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.