2023:Program/Lightning talk showcase/BDTC8Q-Wikimedians as information intermediaries for COVID-19
Title: Wikimedians as information intermediaries for COVID-19
Speakers:
Jodi Schneider
I’m Jodi Schneider, a researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, in the USA. I have been editing the English Wikipedia since October 2006. Besides editing Wikipedia, I also research it, in part through talking with and interviewing other Wikipedians. Outside WMF projects, I am an admin for AcaWiki, a structured semantic wiki for summarizing research papers. I am currently recruiting Wikimedians, especially editors of English Wikipedia, for my project meta:Research:Strengthening Public Libraries’ Information Literacy Services Through an Understanding of Knowledge Brokers’ Assessment of Technical and Scientific Information.
Room: Plenary Hall
Start time: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:10:00 +0800
End time: Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:15:00 +0800
Type: No (pretalx) session type id specified
Track: No (pretalx) track id specified
Submission state: confirmed
Duration: 5 minutes
Do not record: false
Presentation language: en
Abstract & description[edit source]
Abstract[edit source]
Intermediaries who interpret scientific information for the public have an outsized impact on civic decision-making. What are the similarities and differences in how different COVID-19 intermediaries assess, interpret, and disseminate scientific information? We report findings from our interviews of Wikipedia editors, journalists, activists, fact-checkers, filmmakers, bloggers, and social media influencers. We also briefly describe two upcoming case studies (artificial intelligence and labor; climate change).
Description[edit source]
Complex scientific and technical information is highly relevant to the average person. It affects policy, legislation, and choices people make in their day-to-day lives. Intermediaries who interpret scientific information for the public have an outsized impact on civic decision-making. What are the similarities and differences in how different COVID-19 intermediaries assess, interpret, and disseminate scientific information? We report findings from our interviews of Wikipedia editors, journalists, activists, fact-checkers, filmmakers, bloggers, and social media influencers. We also briefly describe two upcoming case studies (artificial intelligence and labor; climate change).
This project aims to understand the process knowledge brokers (including Wikimedians) use to assess, interpret, and disseminate scientific and technical information. For this project, we define knowledge brokers as information intermediaries who look for and gather scientific and technical information; choose information relevant to their audiences; transform it to fit the skills and understanding of their audiences; and share that information with the audiences through various platforms. Specifically, interviewees for this study include knowledge brokers such as Wikipedia editors, journalists, activists, fact-checkers, filmmakers, bloggers, and social media influencers.
This research project is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Our research will result in a model of how knowledge brokers assess technical and scientific information and a toolkit of services for public libraries. This will help public libraries support everyday citizens and knowledge brokers in finding high-quality information. Information about Wikimedians’ needs will be helpful in suggesting relevant services that libraries could provide.
By Wikimania in August we will be completing our first case study and beginning two upcoming case studies: Case 1: Public health and public policy decision-making around the COVID-19 pandemic. Case 2: Artificial intelligence and the future of human labor. Case 3: Climate change and its mitigation.
Further details[edit source]
Qn. How does your session relate to the event themes: Diversity, Collaboration Future?
Collaboration is a key aspect of the information intermediary work that Wikimedians do! We as Wikimedians can learn from the diversity of strategies used by different groups to help the general public make sense of scientific and technical information. Solving future world challenges depends on effective communication, including effective communication on scientific and technical topics.
Qn. What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Qn. What is the most appropriate format for this session?
Onsite in Singapore
Remote online participation, livestreamed- Remote from a satellite event
- Hybrid with some participants in Singapore and others dialing in remotely
- Pre-recorded and available on demand
