No. 551 - May 13, 2026

  • Coming Events:

    - Organizing research with citation management tools
    - In Conversation with Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada
    - Copyright 101: How to Research, Write and Use Materials Responsibly
    - Recognizing knowledge justice
    - Introduction to Qualitative Analysis with Nvivo

  • Important Dates:

    - Friday, May 15, 2026 - Senate (1:30 PM, Schmeichel Building, 4106)
    - Monday, May 18, 2026 - Victoria Day Holiday (no classes, FIMS offices closed)
    - Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - Philip Aziz Drive closure begins for construction
    - Friday, June 5, 2026 - Senate (1:30 PM, Schmeichel Building, 4106)
    - Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - FIMS Convocation Reception (morning) and Ceremony (afternoon)

  • News & Announcements:

    - WSCS Unclaimed Property Sale

  • Awards & Accomplishments:

    - Aloa Alota (PhD'25, Media Studies)
    - Juan Andrés Bello
    - Meghan Voll

  • Publications & Presentations:

    - Aloa Alota (PhD'26, Media Studies)
    - Revna Altiok
    - Mark Ambrogio
    - Chris Arsenault
    - Juan Andrés Bello
    - Giada Ferrucci
    - Eden Hoffer
    - Rick MacLean (MA'81, Journalism)
    - Darryl Pieber
    - Sandy Smeltzer
    - Sarah Smith

  • In the Media:

    - Chris Arsneault
    - Jacquelyn Burkell
    - Maria Laura Flores Barba (and Threads that Unite Us)
    - Amanda Grzyb
    - Jack Kausch
    - Susan Knabe
    - Daniel Robinson
    - Katie Simpson (BA'06, MTP, and 2026 Clissold Lecturer)
    - Luke Stark

  • News from the FIMS Grad Library:

    - Upcoming Library Closures
    - New Book Highlights - Summer 2026
    - Upcoming Events at the Library
    - Make of the Month

  • Next Issue:


Coming Events

Organizing research with citation management tools
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Zoom (register)
Presented by Heather Campbell, Curriculum Librarian, Centre for Teaching and Learning.
This workshop explores the advantages of reference management tools. Beyond quickly generating citations, reference managers allow one to construct a library of references, notes, digital objects, internet links, and files in one place for efficient retrieval. While there are many reference mangers to choose from, this workshop focuses on Zotero.

In Conversation with Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Weldon Library Community Room
Register now.
Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada & President of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) will talk with Geoffrey Robert Little, Vice-Provost and Chief Librarian, Western Libraries.

Copyright 101: How to Research, Write and Use Materials Responsibly
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Zoom (register)
Presented by Emily Carlisle, Western Libraries.
This session will outline the rights and responsibilities for students for creating and using materials in their classes and research. Rather than focusing all of the things that you should not do, it will be intended to focus on the things that you can do (okay, and maybe a few things that you shouldn’t...!).

Recognizing knowledge justice
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Zoom (register)
Presented by Heather Campbell, Curriculum Librarian, Centre for Teaching and Learning.
We may live in an information society, but so much of what we see, read, and hear is dominated by socially privileged perspectives. This workshop teaches you to recognize the implicit biases built into social media, search engines, generative AI algorithms, and even into academic research. We explore how white, male, English-speaking, hetero, and cisgender identities are considered the default by the tools we use every day and the consequences of these biases. This workshop is part 1 of our series on knowledge justice.

Introduction to Qualitative Analysis with Nvivo
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Zoom (register)
Presented by Kristi Thompson, Data Management Librarian, Western Libraries.
Interested in getting started with qualitative research but don’t know much about the software? NVivo is a popular tool for organizing, managing and analyzing qualitative data. This introductory session will provide an overview of NVivo’s capabilities and demonstrate how to use it to get started on a qualitative research project.


Important Dates

- Friday, May 15, 2026 - Senate (1:30 PM, Schmeichel Building, 4106)
- Monday, May 18, 2026 - Victoria Day Holiday (no classes, FIMS offices closed)
- Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - Philip Aziz Drive closure begins for construction
- Friday, June 5, 2026 - Senate (1:30 PM, Schmeichel Building, 4106)
- Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - FIMS Convocation Reception and Ceremony


News & Announcements

WSCS Unclaimed Property Sale
Western Special Constable Service (WSCS) is scheduled for its unclaimed property sale on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The sale will start at 10:00 AM and will end at 12:00 PM, or sooner if all items are sold out prior to that time. This event will be held at the University Community Centre (UCC) atrium. It is recommended to arrive early to ensure a position in line, as the sale follows a first-come, first-served policy. All items will be sold at fixed prices, and transactions will be accepted in CASH only. The revenue generated from the sale will benefit various charitable organizations.


Awards & Accomplishments

Aloa Alota, PhD'25 (Media Studies) won an Emerging Scholar Award for the Twenty-First International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, to be held at the University of Galway, Ireland, July 15-17.

Assistant Professor Juan Andrés Bello has been shortlisted for a FOCAL International Award in the 2026 Best Use of Footage in a History Feature category for his work as Footage Archive Producer for True North. Focal International, based in the UK, is a leading organization in the archives sector. It represents content libraries, as well as professionals, in over 30 countries. The Focal Awards are the ‘Oscars/Emmys’ of the archival footage sector–they recognize archive-based achievements in film, television, advertising, and new media. The Awards ceremony will take place on June 18.

Meghan Voll, Media Studies PhD candidate, successfully defended her thesis titled Relations Not Relationships: An Examination of the Link between Values on Mobile Dating Applications on April 20, 2026.


Publications & Presentations

Aloa Alota, PhD'25 (Media Studies), recently published an article in The Globe and Mail titled "The struggle for press freedom exists in all countries - it just might not be as visible." It was published on May 1.

Revna Altiok, Media Studies PhD student, co-presented a paper with Dr. Ted Gournelos at the PCA/ACA National Conference in Atlanta (April 8-11, 2026). The paper was titled "Rebellion Without Redemption: Monstrosity and Political Failure in Castlevania." In the paper they look at how Castlevania uses vampires to talk about rebellion and revolution, arguing that the characters mostly get caught in a weary cycle of political exhaustion that results in systemic failure rather than true change.

Mark Ambrogio, LIS PhD candidate, gave a presentation and hosted a discussion on Walter Miller's classic 1959 novel A Canticle for Leibowitz, at London's Central Library, on Saturday, May 2. The event was co-hosted by Science Fiction London. Mark is also assisting with the London Public Library's annual Join the Club event, happening on Saturday, May 23, from 10 am to 1 pm, at the Central Library. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Assistant Professor Chris Arsenault published an article in May and gave a conference presentation in April:

Arsenault, Chris. "The energy transition has a rare earth problem: These startups are solving it." Climate Home News, 5 May 2026, www.climatechangenews.com/2026/05/05/the-energy-transition-has-a-rare-earth-problem-these-startups-are-solving-it/

Arsenault, C. (2026, April 30). Pinch points and possibilities for building an end-to-end Canadian critical minerals supply chain [Conference presentation]. Workshop 4 – Power Beneath the Surface: Resources, Supply Chains, and Transition Diplomacy in Canada and Quebec, From Shock to Change: Rethinking Canada's Foreign Economic Policy, Université Laval & Government of Quebec, Quebec City. https://event.fourwaves.com/duchocalatransformation/abstracts/b2f983e6-98dd-4fe2-a174-3ec7e1bdd803


Assistant Professor Juan Andrés Bello was one of the speakers at LatAm Content, a media industry conference that took place in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 13 to 15, 2026. The panel he participated in was titled ‘Building a Regional Archive Network’.

Professor Bello was also the archive producer for “Constant Battles”, a documentary which premiered at Hot Docs. Directed by Vancouver-based filmmaker Mack Stannard, "Constant Battles" follows the journey of Nyousha Nakhjiri, an Iranian-born athlete, and her quest to represent Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

FIMS Postdoctoral Associate Giada Ferrucci, Media Studies PhD candidate Darryl Pieber, and Associate Professor Sandy Smeltzer co-authored the following publication:

Smeltzer, S., Poli, A., Pieber, D., Rockandel, H., Ferrucci, G., & Spraggon, M. (2026). A Critical Mapping of Community Engaged Learning (CEL) in Canadian Public Universities. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 56(1), 1-14.


Ferrucci also co-authored the following publication with Associate Professor Sarah Smith:

Erdogan-O’Connor, S., Ferrucci, G., & Smith, S. E. K. (2026). Revising the Narrative: Mobilizing Storytelling to Transform Diaspora Identities in Chicago. Museums & Social Issues, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15596893.2026.2652851 


HIS PhD candidate Eden Hoffer co-authored an article titled "Bill C-223 aims to protect kids while navigating complex family violence cases - but will it work?", published in The Conversation on April 30.

Rick MacLean, MA'81 (Journalism) published a memoriam of his longtime mentor, titled "David Cadogan was a newsman. I loved him for it," published in The Guardian on April 12.

Associate Professor Sarah Smith co-authored the article “Agonistic museum diplomacy: Advancing a conflict-oriented approach to global engagement” in the Journal of Cultural Management and Cultural Policy https://doi.org/10.1177/27018466261445000


In the Media

Assistant Professor Chris Arsenault made the following media appearance:

Kula, T. (2026, April 29). Chief defends barring reporter from Sarnia police news conference. The Sarnia Observer. https://www.theobserver.ca/news/local-news/chief-defends-barring-reporter-from-sarnia-police-news-conference


The article was republished in the London Free Press.

Professor Jacquie Burkell is quoted in an article titled "'Hidden gem' beach north of the Sault was trashed, no off-limits to the public. Is social media to blame?", published by CBC Sudbury on April 30.

FIMS postdoctoral associate Maria Laura Flores Barba was quoted in an article titled "Second Threads that Unite Us event turns mending into resistance," published by the Gazette on April 10. The Threads that Unite Us event, held on March 27, was a workshop led by Sharmistha Kar, an embroidery artist from India.

Professor Amanda Grzyb was profiled by the Gazette in an article titled "Amanda Grzyb, FIMS professor, appointed to the Order of Ontario," published on April 16.

Jack Kausch, LIS PhD'26, was a guest on the podcast The GraphRAG Curator, which explores how library science can contribute to retrieval augmented generation for AI models. The episode is recorded but not yet posted online.

Acting Dean Susan Knabe and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Daniel Robinson are both quoted in an article titled "What it means to be a 'mother in training'", published by the Gazette on April 10.

Katie Simpson, BA'06 (MTP) and 2026 Clissold Lecturer, was featured in an article titled "Katie Simpson reports from the front lines of the White House," published by the Gazette on April 9.

Assistant Professor Luke Stark was quoted in The Canadian Press article titled "Verdicts against Meta, Google in U.S. could boost Canadian big tech lawsuits," published on April 9. The story was later republished by The Toronto Star, City News, and over 70 regional outlets.

Professor Stark was also quoted in an article titled "Is your partner having an AI affair? Study shows Canadians are engaging in intimate relationships with chatbots and keeping it secret," published by Inside Halton on May 11, and republished by a number of Metroland Media outlets.


News from the FIMS Grad Library

Upcoming Library Closures

The library will be closed on Monday, May 18th, 2026, for Victoria Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

The Terrace is Open!

With the return of the warm(ish) weather, we’ve opened the door to our terrace. FIMS students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to make use of this wonderful outdoor space during the library’s summer hours of operation. As a food and drink friendly space, the library’s terrace is a great spot for lunch or a coffee/tea break; please be sure to take any waste with you when you leave.

New Book Highlights – Summer 2026

This post features some of the new books available at the FIMS Graduate Library. Check them out here: https://lib.fims.uwo.ca/2026/04/28/new-book-highlights-summer-2026/

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/).

Friday Listening Hours at the Library

Bring your lunch and join us in the Reading Room for Sounds of Summer, a drop in vinyl listening series hosted by one of our Student Library Assistants. We’ll bring out records from our special collections and spin them over the lunch hour.

Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood

Friday, May 15th, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
FIMS Grad Library Reading Room

Speaking in Tongues by Talking Heads

Friday, May 22nd, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
FIMS Grad Library Reading Room

Make of the Month – May – Button Making

Button makers are a popular tool in public libraries. They’re used for programming, promotions, or just adding a little personality to your backpack or jacket. All month long, you’ll have the chance to try it out, learn how it works, and walk away with your own creations.

Use one of our designs or create your own. All materials provided. No appointment necessary.

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 June 10. Other summer publication dates include July 8 and August 5.