Our last First Year Student Spotlight for the winter term features Hailey Wills! Hailey has been a wonderful presence at SIM over the past year and is SIMSA’s incoming Non-Academic Chair! We are happy to have Hailey continue to foster a warm and welcoming environment here at the School of Information Management. Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself, Hailey!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Hailey, and I am a first-year student at SIM. I’m originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and have been living in Halifax for the past 4 years. I completed my undergrad degree at Mount Allison University in International Relations. I decided to complete this program as I was looking to stay close to family and friends in the Atlantic provinces.
What is your favourite thing about SIM so far?
So far, I’ve been really enjoying meeting so many new people. The staff and faculty have fostered a supportive environment and the program is a great size to be able to connect with your peers.
What about Information Management interests you the most? What are you looking forward to learning more about?
I’m really looking forward to taking a variety of courses throughout my degree. I’ve found so many different aspects of Information Management that we are learning about interesting and don’t have any specialized interests yet, so it is great that the courses offered are so varied so I can explore lots of different topics.
Charlie Hook is a second-year Master of Information student at SIM. Charlie was recently accepted to a doctoral program at the University of Leicester. In this spotlight we learn about Charlie’s doctoral project and what she is most looking forward to as she continues her studies at a new university. Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment, Charlie. This is important and valuable work, and we wish you all the best as you embark on your degree.
Tell us about the program you applied to and why you were attracted to the University of Leicester?
I found out about this doctoral opportunity through Twitter! The University of Leicester’s School of Museum Studies was looking to award two fee waivers to students looking to pursue doctoral studies in their program in specific fields, one of which was human remains in the museum! I only had about six weeks left to apply when I found out!
I first became attracted to the subject of human remains in the museum while putting together an exhibit on women’s health in Victorian Leeds during my MA in Curating Science at the University of Leeds. During archival research, I became aware of a tumour that was removed from a female patient and then donated to the Leeds Medical School. When I inquired about it with my supervisor, he informed me that although there was a possibility that the school still had the tumour in their possession, it would be impossible to get access to it because of the laws that governed the care of human remains in the UK. I started designing my PhD project a few months later, but never finalised my application due to the start of Covid.
This specific opportunity is particularly special, partly because the fee waiver means that I do not have to worry about paying exorbitant international fees, but also because my supervisor is one of the few experts on human remains in the museum that is still teaching in the UK. Leicester also boasts the only dedicated museum studies school in England, so it is a natural fit for my studies.
What is your proposed doctoral project?
My proposed doctoral studies are on the provenance of colonial human remains in the museum. Currently, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Guidance on the Care of Human Remains states that the provenance of human remains should not play an important role in determining the outcome of requests for the return of human remains to their community of origin; instead, the outcome should be decided based on a prove-able association between the remains and the community making the request, and the spiritual or cultural importance of the remains to the community. However, remains that were acquired by individuals and institutions during the period of British colonial expansion from overseas territories were usually acquired through theft, or trade where an imbalance of power was present between the giver and the recipient. My research will study the provenance of certain colonial human remains in British institutions through archival research, and hopefully, interviews with the community of origin in order to ascertain the means of acquisition of the remains. My hypothesis is that my findings will confirm that these remains were acquired through unethical or illegal means, which would diminish the institution’s claim over the remain, and therefore mandate or encourage the return of said remains to their community of origin.
What are you most excited for?
The first year of my degree is the literature review year, so I’ll be doing a lot of secondary research at first, before passing an examination that would confirm the feasibility of my research and officially make me a PhD candidate. The real fun will start in my second year, when I’ll be able to start archival research and interviews with communities. It will be very important for me to balance archival research, which represents a Western point of view, with the research I’ll be conducting with the communities of origin, which will likely include other Ways of Knowing. Creating relationships of trust with those communities will be difficult, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to help bring their voices to light, and hopefully bring their ancestors home.
How do you feel the MI prepared you to move into a research-intensive degree?
I benefited tremendously from some of the courses that I took with Dr. Jamila Ghaddar in the first year of my degree, where I was able to further explore my interests in human remains and the policies and legislations that relate to them. Dr. Ghaddar uses an intersectional approach to her teaching that really helped widen my horizons and teach me about all the parties with stakes in human remains present in the museum. The opportunity to pursue a reading course over the summer and fall turn also allowed me to dive into the subject, and perform much of the research that went into my proposal. Research Methods also proved invaluable in teaching me to write a research proposal in the first place, which was obviously key in putting one together in such a short period of time.
Our First-Year Student Spotlight for the month of March highlights Keith Macknight! Keith talks about his experience in the Master of Information program so far and his evolving interests. Your insights are compelling indeed, Keith! Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself.
Tell us a bit about yourself! (Name, where you are from, and what brought you to this program)
My name is Keith Macknight, and I am from St. Andrews in New Brunswick, just on the other side of the Bay of Fundy from Nova Scotia. I came into this program after working at my local archives, the Charlotte County Archives, during the early years of the Covid-19 pandemic and deciding that I wanted to move further in that field. I enjoy living a quiet life, and I try to find time to play old video games when I’m not too busy with course work.
What is your favourite thing about SIM so far?
Our course lectures and assignments have afforded us many opportunities to discuss and examine topics which feel socially relevant, such as privacy on social media or social justice topics. My academic background is in archaeology and history, and I often felt during my undergrad that I was in a sort of “bubble” that was separate from everything else going on in the world. I don’t feel that way at all in the SIM program, and I find myself to be a lot more compelled with our work because of it.
What about Information Management interests you the most? What are you looking forward to learning more about?
I want to learn more about online databases, in particular how best to structure them to make sure they are easy to use and accessible for the general public. Online databases have a lot of potential for making the information kept in archives and libraries more widely available, but if they aren’t structured well that would seriously diminish their usefulness. I’ve also become interested in topics related to data privacy and the potential of social media as a source of information, data, and many headaches.
March First-Year Student Spotlight: Keith Macknight
Our First-Year Student Spotlight for the month of March highlights Keith Macknight! Keith talks about his experience in the Master of Information program so far and his evolving interests. Your insights are compelling indeed, Keith! Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself.
Tell us a bit about yourself! (Name, where you are from, and what brought you to this program)
My name is Keith Macknight, and I am from St. Andrews in New Brunswick, just on the other side of the Bay of Fundy from Nova Scotia. I came into this program after working at my local archives, the Charlotte County Archives, during the early years of the Covid-19 pandemic and deciding that I wanted to move further in that field. I enjoy living a quiet life, and I try to find time to play old video games when I’m not too busy with course work.
What is your favourite thing about SIM so far?
Our course lectures and assignments have afforded us many opportunities to discuss and examine topics which feel socially relevant, such as privacy on social media or social justice topics. My academic background is in archaeology and history, and I often felt during my undergrad that I was in a sort of “bubble” that was separate from everything else going on in the world. I don’t feel that way at all in the SIM program, and I find myself to be a lot more compelled with our work because of it.
What about Information Management interests you the most? What are you looking forward to learning more about?
I want to learn more about online databases, in particular how best to structure them to make sure they are easy to use and accessible for the general public. Online databases have a lot of potential for making the information kept in archives and libraries more widely available, but if they aren’t structured well that would seriously diminish their usefulness. I’ve also become interested in topics related to data privacy and the potential of social media as a source of information, data, and many headaches
Our February First-Year Student Spotlight features Courtney Pearce! Courtney joins SIM from Newfoundland and Labrador! She has enjoyed staying close to Atlantic Canada while expanding her horizons in Information Management. Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself, Courtney, you will make a great academic librarian!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Courtney! I’m originally from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and Labrador but I did my undergraduate degree in St. John’s, majoring in linguistics and minoring in psychology. I knew that I wanted to go into librarianship for a while, especially after having worked at the library at my undergrad university but I chose SIM for a few reasons. Most importantly, I like that there is a focus on many areas of information management outside of librarianship through a variety of electives. The location is also a plus because I love Atlantic Canada!
What is your favourite thing about SIM so far?
While I already mentioned the variety of areas of information management that SIM allows students to explore, I also love the community SIM has to offer! Since the program is small, it is easier to not only get to know other students but also the faculty which has been a good experience so far!
What about Information Management interests you the most? What are you looking forward to learning more about?
I am most interested in how information plays a role in all facets of society, not just in libraries and archives. In particular, I find information literacy fascinating and I want to learn more about how that can be promoted in a society that is becoming more and more dependent on information. This is something I hope to promote through a career in academic librarianship. I’m looking forward to learning more about this and other aspects of librarianship and information management during the rest of my degree!
Happy 2023, all! We are kicking off the new year with a First-Year Student Spotlight on Naomi Richards! Naomi describes her journey into the MI program and how her interests have diversified as she entered the world of Information Science. We appreciate your enthusiasm for exploring all the possibilities and opportunities this program has to offer, Naomi – we can’t wait to see where your path leads!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi, my name is Naomi and I’m a first-year student in Dal’s MI program! I’m originally from London Ontario but I did my undergrad at UBC in Vancouver. I majored in Biology and minored in Classical Studies. I really enjoyed studying such a wide variety of subjects and I honestly love learning! During the pandemic I had lots of time to think about what I wanted to do as a career and decided to pursue information science after watching a lot of Youtube vlogs by an Archivist about her career and daily work life!
What is your favourite thing about SIM so far?
I’ve loved getting to know everyone in the program! I really like that we all take the same four core classes the first semester of the program because it allows us to really get to know one another. I’ve really liked getting to know the profs too! They’re all so knowledgeable, and approachable – same with my fellow students! It’s so fascinating to hear advice from people who’ve been in the industry for some time about their work, their job hunting advice etc.
What about Information Management interests you the most? What are you looking forward to learning more about?
There are so many things that interest me about Information Management that I can’t describe them all! I’m still interested in archives (I’ll be taking Archives I next semester) but now I’m also intrigued by law librarianship and data librarianship! I want to try and explore those areas through courses where possible. Mostly I’m just taking this time to try as many new things as I can! I want to explore all the possibilities that the program offers through courses, the practicum, and internship opportunities!
Our next feature in our First-Year Student Spotlight is Mercy Chikezie! Mercy reflects on what she has learned in the MI program so far and her goals as she progresses into the field of Information Management. Thanks so much for sharing a bit about yourself with us, Mercy!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Mercy Chikezie and I’m from Nigeria, West Africa, I will say the flexibility of the SIM program at Dalhousie University captured my interest, more profoundly because of the curriculum that is people-oriented and exposes students to the realities of information management. I was also endeared by the research interests of the MI program particularly data, information and knowledge management with the emphasis on open data.
What is your favorite thing about SIM so far?
The interactive character of the professors and their willingness to assist and encourage students has so far been my favorite aspect of SIM. The lecturers are always willing to assist and are aware of how challenging graduate school can be. They want the process to be simple for the students, which is both intriguing and a cultural shock for me coming from a place where this is not obtainable. I really like it here.
What about Information Management interests you the most?
For me the most interesting thing is that the SIM program provides a diverse selection of courses for instance, the advanced technology courses, as well as management-style courses like records and knowledge management, also offers electives outside of the curriculum and the opportunity to take a reading course on a topic of your choice. I like how the program will allow me to create the exact experience I want as a student of School of Information Management.
As a professional in the field of Information Management, my goal is to express and promote the principles and ethics of using information assets in an ever-changing context; identify and weigh the various challenges that arise when people engage with information, information systems, and technology; and employ a wide range of data visualization tools and approaches to make data more accessible, and understandable. Having started my studies two months ago in the School of Information Management, I have been able to experience experiential learning through reflective writing, critical analysis, and synthesis which are all important parts of the process. As a student, I have been able to participate in activities that are intellectually, creatively, socially, and physically stimulating.
What are you looking forward to learning more about?
Being accepted into this wonderful (SIM) Master of Information Program was a dream come true and I look forward to learning so many different things from this program, building a new platform for professional growth, embracing technology, science, and the art of communication of SIM. I strongly believe that exposure to diverse concepts and ideas in this vigorous academic environment and through extra-curricular activities is beneficial to the development of my independent opinions and decisions.
At the end of my studies, I want to gain good academic values, professional development, and the ability to think conceptually and globally about a broad range of issues and to proffer innovative solutions. The information and the digital age present us with tremendous possibilities and this is a very exciting time to build a career in the information sphere.
