Opportunities for doctoral studies in Information Science in Scotland

A group of PhD students is meeting on Monday at the Centre for Social Informatics at Edinburgh Napier University for a training event on organisational research and case studies. The one-day event forms part of the provision of the Information Science Pathway of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Scottish Doctoral Training Centre (DTC).

The Scottish DTC Pathway in Information Science was established in 2011 as a collaborative activity of:

• Edinburgh Napier University – Institute for Informatics and Digital Innovation
• Robert Gordon University – Department of Information Management
• University of Glasgow – Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute
• University of Strathclyde – Department of Computer and Information Sciences

The Information Science pathway supports PhD students engaged in studies that explore the creation, recording, analysis, storage, retrieval, distribution, exploitation and measurement of information, and are concerned with its social and economic impact, the legal and regulatory context for its collection and use, the technologies for its management, and information policy and strategy. This agenda demands training and research that places emphasis on the relationship between the use of information and societal development.

The students in the four pathway institutions engage in a mix of institutionally-based and partnership-based training. The pathway builds on the complementary specialisms and expertise within each institution to provide core and advanced training, delivered collaboratively, in order to develop and support a strategic network of participants across Scotland.

As well as running training courses in research methods, the pathway offers PhD scholarships. The first was awarded in 2011 to Lauren Smith to undertake doctoral studies at Strathclyde University. Lauren is already known to the LIS research community through her involvement in the DREaM project.

A call for 2012 applicants has just been released. Those who are interested in applying for an ESRC-funded PhD place at one of the Information Science pathway partner institutions should submit their applications by March 30th 2012. In the first instance applicants should review the information science research activities at each of the pathway partner universities. It will also be worthwhile for applicants to contact the representatives to find out more about PhD study at each institution, and more about the application process. The representatives are:

• Edinburgh Napier University – Professor Hazel Hall
• Glasgow University – Dr Ian Anderson
• Robert Gordon University – Professor Peter Reid
• Strathclyde University – Professor Forbes Gibb

The members of the Information Science pathway are also involved in the organisation of the annual Information Science Doctoral Colloquium (iDocQ). This is an opportunity for postgraduate researchers working in the field of information science to present their research to their peers and gather feedback on their ideas. iDocQ 2012 will take place in summer 2012. For a flavour of iDocQ, please see the web pages of the 2011 event.