For more profiles of conference presenters, see our presenters category.
Kate is always on the go. So much so, that when I tried to pin her down for a five minute interview, between us we just couldn’t find a free time. So we conducted the interview via email. Not the most satisfactory method for unpicking an answer, but definitely short and to the point. Here are her responses.
I asked Mike Aynsworth (Scholarly Systems Manager) and Alan Rosling (Head of Resource Development) a few questions about the research project they are currently involved with alongside Wes Homard-Roy (Information Systems Developer). Their research is looking into students’ views of the University’s resource discovery tool, NELSON (Northampton Electronic Search ONline).
For more profiles of conference presenters, see our presenters category.
She’s positive, enthusiastic and tall, spends her free time narrowboating on Rosalie (pictured, right, at Foxton locks) and also loves cats … oh … and she is also the primary LLS Research Conference 2014 organiser!
Rather than end up with a repeat of my interview with Nick Dimmock, who worked with Miggie and Carey Hime (an URB@N student) on a project to see whether students are aware of their tutors research, I thought that I would take a slightly different angle this time and focus on Miggie as chief conference organiser.
Describe yourself in five words
Calm, Friendly/approachable (is this cheating?) Patient, Organised, Adaptable
Why did you do this research?
I wanted to measure the impact of the ISS programme on the students’ performance but it was also for my MSc in E-learning
What was biggest challenge you faced?
Learning SPSS and finding the time to do it because of juggling family, work and study commitments
Have there been any surprises in your execution or findings?
Students showed more confidence in their Internet searching skills before the intervention; in retrospect, they have less confidence than they first thought.
What advice would you give to someone new to research?
Never underestimate the time you have to finish the project and don’t worry about getting it all perfect or the outcome you wanted/expected; there is always room for improvement in future research.
For more profiles of conference presenters, see our presenters category.
It’s always hard when you interview the person with editorial control of the blog that you hope to post the interview write-up to, so as I write, I am acutely conscious of the fact that the subject of this interview may well exercise those editorial rights! [This is unlikely as I am genuinely scared of Rachel – Ed.]
“Enthusiastic, organised…”
Put on the spot by a demand for five words to describe herself, Rachel started well with two adjectives that are glaringly obvious to anyone who works with her. As a member of the conference organising team, her enthusiasm for the project is clear, she’s full of ideas and she can always be relied upon for an off-the-wall suggestion to liven up a meeting.
I met up with Gillian Siddall (Academic Librarian) and Katie Llewellyn (Information Assistant) to ask a few questions about their research project on how resources are selected and ordered for reading lists at the University. The rest of the research team is comprised of: Christine Dale (Acquisitions Manager), Cleo Cameron (Information Services Assistant) and Janet Milner (Metadata Specialist)