No. 531 - February 19, 2025


Coming Events


The Glass Room Exhibit at Weldon
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Weldon Library 113
Open during library hours
Brought to Western by the Starling Centre. What happens when you rely on social media for information? How do you know if a picture or tweet is truthful? What data is being collected about you and why? What power do you have to shape your relationship with technology? Examine these questions and more at The Glass Room exhibit, running at Weldon Library until April (continue reading).

It Takes a Village: Covering the World in the Post-Truth Age
Thursday, February 27, 2025
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Conron Hall, University College
Register now.
Presented by Nahlah Ayed, host of CBC's IDEAS.
Description: As long-standing models of journalism become outdated and discarded, the foreign correspondent has become an easy target. Nahlah Ayed speaks in defence of a reinvented version and the enduring necessity of international coverage in the post-truth age.

You are not here: coordinating repair under occupation
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
12:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.
Attend in-person: FNB 4130
Attend online: Register on Zoom
Presented by Professor Alissa Centivany as part of the 2024/2025 FIMS Seminar Series.
Abstract: This research challenges dominant understandings of ubiquity, mobility, and connectivity and explores the limits ICTs through a qualitative study of a collaborative capacity‐building initiative to localize the repair of medical devices and equipment in the Gaza Strip. Dominant perceptions of ICT affordances rely upon taken‐for‐granted political, economic, and social systems that are neither universal nor guaranteed (continue reading).

Save the Date - Conversations on Access: Disability Art Activism & Institutional Critique
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom - Register
Presented by Dr. Amanda Cachia (University of Houston) and Dr. Syrus Marcus Ware (McMaster University).
Description: Join us for a conversation about disability art activism and institutional critique in this third event in a series of conversations in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies aimed at bringing scholars, activists and practitioners together to consider issues and topics around accessibility and disability (read more). 


Important Dates


- February 1 - February 28, 2025 - Black History Month
- Thursday, February 27, 2025 - Provincial Election


News & Announcements

New FIMS Alumni Award of Excellence - Nominations open
FIMS has now launched the nomination process for the new FIMS Alumni Award of Excellence, with the first winner being recognized at Western's 2025 Homecoming celebrations. Nominations are open to all, so if you know a FIMS alum from any program or era who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding professional achievement, community service, service to the university, or social impact or innovation, please consider nominating them. Full details can be found at: https://www.fims.uwo.ca/alumni/alumni_awards.html 

2025 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS)
The CGPSS, administered every three years, is the largest graduate student survey of its kind in Canada, and is designed to provide universities with information regarding the quality of their graduate programs as assessed by their own graduate students. Students should have received a unique invitation link in their Western email from SGPS (do not forward or share the link as it is unique to the recipient). Students who complete the survey are eligible for one of three $1,000 cash prizes. The survey will remain open until February 28. For more information visit: https://grad.uwo.ca/CGPSS.html

RBC Design Thinking Virtual Workshops 2025
Are you ready to thrive and innovate in today's rapidly evolving tech world? Western students (grad and undergrad) are invited to join an exciting three-part virtual workshop series led by RBC experts. Gain invaluable design thinking skills and insights into emerging technology trends. Through interactive sessions, you'll explore real-world applications, strengthen your problem-solving abilities, and build a competitive edge in a technology-driven landscape. Read more. 


Awards & Achievements


The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) awarded MLIS student Sophia Abundo the Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship to attend the ARL President's Institute, focused on multigenerational collaboration in libraries. The scholarship was established in 2015 to honour the memory and extend the legacy of longtime ARL staff member Julia C. Blixrud.

Assistant Professor Lucia Cedeira Serantes was awarded the FIMS Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching for 2025 at the most recent Faculty Council.

Professor Pam McKenzie was awarded the FIMS Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2025 at the most recent Faculty Council.


Publications & Presentations

Dorotea Gucciardo, Research Coordinator for the Starling Centre, co-authored an article titled "Realising health justice in Palestine: beyond humanitarian voices" in Conflict and Health on February 5.


In the Media


Assistant Professor Alissa Centivany was interviewed for an article titled "Refurbished, returned, open box: Navigating the 'wild west' of second-hand products," published by Canadian Press on February 6. The article was then reprinted in over 50 media outlets including City News Halifax and the Victoria Times Colonist.

HIS PhD student Kris Eale and Wale Fadare (MHIS'24) were quoted in an article titled "Cutting U.S. foreign aid funding will hurt world's poorest, London researchers say," published by CBC News on February 19.

Professor Anabel Quan-Haase appeared in an article titled "Western campus acts as 'living lab' for building smart cities," published by Western News on February 10.

Assistant Professor Andie Shabbar was quoted in an article titled "To swipe, or not to swipe: The modern-day digital dilemma," published in the Gazette on February 14.

Assistant Professor Luke Stark provided expertise for an article titled "Kiss me thru the phone: Fall in love with AI," published by the Gazette on February 7.

Professor Stark was also a guest on CBC Radio's Alberta at Noon on February 11, appearing in a segment titled "Is AI our friend or foe?"


News from the FIMS Grad Library

Reading Week Hours (February 16 - 22)

Saturday February 15 – CLOSED
Sunday February 16 - CLOSED
Monday February 17 - CLOSED
Tuesday-Friday OPEN 10:00am – 1:00pm
Saturday February 22 OPEN 12:00pm – 4:00pm

*Regular hours resume Monday, February 24, at 10:00am

Upcoming Events at the Library

The FGL hosts workshops, lectures, and community events each term to support graduate teaching, learning, and research. Events are posted to our website (https://lib.fims.uwo.ca/events/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fimsgradlib/)

Information Black Out: a review of information creation and sources by Black North Americans from the 17th century and beyond

Join RJ Dill for an informational presentation session as she explains the unconventional and groundbreaking ways that Black North Americans (US and Canada) have created information systems and institutions throughout history and today. The information session is to highlight the strength of the Black community, resilience in the face of information oppression, and understanding how the legacy is still going strong today and into the bright future.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
12:00pm – 1:00pm
FIMS Graduate Library Room 3020 D/E

Make of the Month – Personalized Book Stamp Stickers

Drop into the library anytime this February for our Make of the Month!

Personalized "From the Library of” Stickers – Design and print your own custom bookplate stickers to mark your favorite reads as yours. These take between 10 and 15 minutes to make.

No registration needed—just stop by and craft whenever we’re open!


News from Western Libraries

Upcoming Research Skills Workshops

You're invited to join the upcoming Research Skills Workshops hosted by Western Libraries. From data collection to publishing, get expert help at all stages of the research cycle.

To find more upcoming Western Library events and workshops visit the Western Library Events page. If you have questions about workshops, please email rsclib@uwo.ca. 

Kindred Spirits Exhibit - January 6 - March 26, 2025

This unique exhibit, hosted in Weldon Library, showcases a collection of handcrafted book art and celebrates the life and work of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the beloved author of Anne of Green Gables.


Next Issue


The FIMS Bulletin is your source for news, announcements, and events pertaining to FIMS graduate programs. Submissions from the FIMS community are always welcome and may be sent via e-mail to fims-communications@uwo.ca.

The next issue of the FIMS Bulletin will be published on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Submit any items you have by noon on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.