Category: SIMSA News

Posted on

IM Public Lecture: “Complex Innovation and the Patent System”

Lecture Details
Thursday, September 22nd, 2016
5:35-6:35pm *embedded in the class INFO 5500: Information in Society
Room 1011, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

The Information Management Public Lectures give attention to exciting advances in research and professional practice. The topics are diverse reflecting the importance and global extent of Information Management in today’s society. The lectures are open to all members of the Dalhousie campus and surrounding community. When feasible, recordings of the lectures are posted here for wider circulation. For the full schedule, visit the Public Lecture page of our website here.

NOTE: We encourage you to attend in person, but if that is not possible you can access an audio recording + slides on our website following the lecture (a notice will be sent when posted). Live streaming is not currently available.

“Complex Innovation and the Patent System”

Ryan Whalen

School of Information Management, Dalhousie University

Abstract: As the universe of available information becomes larger and innovation becomes more complex, the task of examining patent applications becomes increasingly difficult. This project demonstrates that the United States Patent Office has insufficiently responded to changes in the information universe and to innovation norms, leaving the Patent Office less able to adequately assess patent applications, and more likely to grant bad patents. 

After first demonstrating how innovation has been responsive to contemporary innovation norms for hundreds of years, this project uses information and data science methods to empirically demonstrate how innovation has drastically changed in recent decades. After empirically demonstrating the changed innovation system and the inadequate response to these changes by the Patent Office, this presentation concludes with policy prescriptions aimed to help the Patent Office implement examination procedures adequate to assess 21stcentury innovation. These prescriptions include more granular crediting for the time spent by examiners assessing applications, an increased focus on teamwork at the Patent Office, improvements to the inter partes review process, and alterations to the analogous art doctrine.

Biography: Ryan Whalen is a faculty member of Dalhousie University’s School of Information Management. His research focuses on innovation policy, intellectual property law, and computational social science. He holds a JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and a PhD in Media, Technology, and Society from Northwestern University.

Posted on

Technological Tips and Tricks Session: Slides

notebook

We know it’s been a busy week of classes and orientation events, so rest easy knowing the slideshows from the Technological Tips and Tricks session are available to download at your leisure.

The first is the Technological Tips and Tricks slideshow, presented by Katie Gallant: Technological Tips and Tricks

The second is the Student Discounts and Study Spaces slideshow, presented by Keri McCaffrey: Student Discounts and Study Spaces

Posted on

SIMSA Year End Party!!

 

SIMSA_YearEndParty

It’s been a long year! And what better way to wrap things up than to enjoy some food, drink, and good company with your friends and colleagues from the School of Information Management. Join us for an evening out with SIMSA; Appetizers will be provided and drinks will be readily available.
Where: The Arms Public House @ the Lord Nelson (1515 South Park St, Halifax)
When: Friday April 8th, 7-10PM
Cost: Students/Guests: $10 | Faculty/Staff: $20
*Pay at the door upon arrival

Please RSVP via the eventbrite link provided below. Click register and confirm your ticket option – you will not be charged electronically and payments will be received in cash at the door of the event.

Posted on

IM Public Lecture Series: “Choosing Food: Exploring Consumers’ Use of Ingredient Information”


Presented by Mark McCumber (New Brunswick Public Library Services)

*embedded in the class INFO 6750: Health Sciences Literature and Information Sources

Abstract:
Food labelling is designed to help consumers make better food choices. Understanding how this information is used becomes increasingly important as relationships between diet and diseases are recognized. Research on food label use has left the list of ingredients under-explored, despite its identification as an important component of the food label. As an internal cognitive process, information use during food choices is difficult to measure without influencing behaviour. This lecture will present the results of mixed-methods research designed to gain insight into cognitive and behavioural aspects of food choices. A survey measured self-reported nutrition behaviours of 518 university students. A screening tool identified surveyed volunteers likely to use ingredient information, 11 of which completed a simulated shopping task that produced rich qualitative data relating to food label information use. A theoretical approach to thematic analysis revealed that participants focused on avoidance of negatives when making food choices, employing various strategies to accomplish this goal.

Bio: 
Mark McCumber graduated from the MLIS program at Dalhousie in 2015. For a devoted vegetarian and conscious consumer who is eternally suspicious of our food production industries, it was the natural choice to incorporate some aspect of food security into his pursuit of the MLIS. Having become intrigued by the study of information seeking behaviour, he determined to combine this field with his natural interests, designing a study intended to explore how people use food label information when making food choices. Mark currently works for New Brunswick Public Library Services as the Public Services Librarian for the York Region. Residing in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he still reads every food label of products that he’s considering purchasing, as well as many that he is not, and is somewhat dissatisfied that he can only wear denim on Fridays and weekends.

Lecture Details
Thursday, February 25th, 2016 from 5:35-6:35pm
Room 3001, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

Posted on

Invigorating Winter Semester Potluck

!!Edit: This event have been postponed a week due to ❄snow❄!!

As you reintegrate into school after your (hopefully) rejuvenating winter break, we’d like to assist you in the task through some tasty treats and collegial meets!

Come on down to the SIM Common room on Wednesday, January 13th 2015 Wednesday, January 20th, 2015 to share in our Invigorating Winter Potluck. It starts at 11:30 am and will continue officially until 1 pm or until all the food is gone.

There will be a sign-up sheet in the common room, but if you aren’t there often please make note of your foodstuffs on this form. SIMSA will be providing some food, so don’t feel like you need to bring something in order to participate.