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UCL Department of Information Studies organises the Information Studies Book Forum by Rodgrigo Oteiza Aravena
By Ian Evans, on 24 July 2025
On 5 June 2025, between 10:00 and 16:00, the UCL Department of Information Studies (DIS) hosted the Information Studies Book Forum at Jeffery Hall, bringing together academics, editors, research students, and professionals to share recent developments and explore avenues for collaboration.
The conference was structured around three central themes:
- Communicating Information Studies through Books
- Publishing Popular Books in Digital Humanities
- Pioneering Women in the Information Professions
The day opened with a Keynote address by Professor Angus Philipps, followed by the first thematic panel, Communicating Information Studies through Books, which featured insightful contributions from Dr Adam Crymble, Dr Laura Dietz, Dr Simon Rowberry, and UCL Press editor Pat Gordon-Smith.
In the afternoon, the forum continued with a dynamic Q&A session led by Dr Kaitlyn Regehr and Dr Katharine Smales, who presented their work Writing Public Impact: ‘Smartphone Nation’ Book. Their presentation encouraged reflection on the potential of academic publishing to connect with wider audiences and contribute meaningfully to public discourse.
The final session of the day, Pioneering Women in the Information Professions, featured thought-provoking presentations by Professor Elizabeth Shepherd, Professor Sam Rayner, and Professor Julianne Nyhan. Their contributions offered historical and contemporary perspectives on the role of women in shaping the information professions, which culminated an intense day of presentation and discussion.
This forum offered a valuable space for the exchange of ideas, interdisciplinary dialogue, and networking between researchers, publishers, and academics. It was a significant opportunity to strengthen the development of disciplines related to information studies, both for students and for professionals and enthusiasts in the areas of library science, archiving, artificial intelligence, and digital humanities.