Program

Breakfast
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

"Climate Change, Accelerated Aging, and the Erosion of Fitness in Polar Bears"
Dr. Colin Garroway (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba)
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

Librarian Lightning Talk Presentations
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

"Teaching Research Skills in Engineering with OER"
Katie Harding (Teaching & Learning Librarian, OER & STEM, McMaster University)

I’ll describe how an open educational resource (OER) was used to transform the delivery of information literacy instruction in a project-based first-year engineering course. I worked with one of the course instructors to imagine how we could create a series of online modules to teach students the research skills they need for their design projects. Our team, including an engineering professor, a librarian, an educational developer, and three student partners, created an OER entitled “Engineering and Information: Research Skills for Engineers”. This interactive resource consists of seven modules that teach students how to work with sources like journal articles, web information, standards, and patents. In this lightning talk, I’ll share the process of developing the OER and how it has changed the way that our engineering students learn.

"Learn About and Implement Open Research Principles with the Open Research Toolkit"
Christopher Eaker (Reference & Instruction Librarian for STEM, Carleton College)

As science librarians, we want to remain abreast of the research and teaching needs of our departments. As more and more research and teaching is conducted with openness as a leading principle, the needs of our faculty and students may change. In this lightning talk, I will present the Open Research Toolkit (ORT), a 14-module open educational resource for learning about open research. I designed the ORT with librarians in mind, but it would also be helpful for anyone interested in learning about the open research ecosystem. Open research helps increase the visibility of important discoveries and extend them to new places. It also helps to increase participation in research by underrepresented and underfunded groups. The open research ecosystem extends beyond just open access to data and publications. The principles of openness in research should extend to the entire research lifecycle, including education. I have chosen the term ecosystem because open research is an interconnected system. This system consists of philosophies, concepts, principles, practices, tools, and resources which, when taken together, are intended to make the research process open, transparent, accessible, and reusable by anyone.

Coffee and Refreshments
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

"Lessons from Oceans Never Sailed: What can Earth Sciences Teach us About Climate Change?"
Dr. Ricardo Silva (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Manitoba)
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

Oceans have been a constant feature of the Earth for at least 3.8 billion years. Despite the peaceful imagery of a blue marble floating in space, oceans are constantly in turmoil and have been a driving force behind many of the planet's biological and geological revolutions. In this talk, I will provide examples of severe environmental disruption associated with ancient oceans and draw parallels between those disruptions and the current issue of climate change. 

Lunch
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

Librarian Lightning Talk Presentations
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

"Information Literacy Instruction for Graduate Students in Math"
Jenna Thomson (Liaison Librarian for Chemistry, Earth Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics & Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University)

There is little debate that integrating information literacy instruction throughout a student’s education supports them as they move from undergrad to graduate student. Grad students in Math have been found to struggle with finding and using information and might have been missed by IL instruction built into undergraduate humanities or social science courses. My research explores if librarians are supporting these students. And if they are, how much? What’s being taught? This lighting talk summarizes the results of my 2021 survey, briefly exploring the demographics of who in the library is teaching Math grad students, the skills and resources being taught, and if instruction is being assessed. It leaves us with questions about what we can do to increase connection with these students and set them up for success throughout grad school.

"Engineering Librarian in Residence Program: A Successful Failure"
Dana Ouellette (Librarian (Engineering), University of Alberta)

In Fall 2023, two newly hired engineering librarians at the University of Alberta partnered with the Faculty of Engineering to restart a librarian-in-residence program within the faculty. We provide dedicated office hours once a week for anyone in the Faculty of Engineering wanting research help. After one academic year of restarting the program, we are now attempting to assess its success; however, it has been particularly difficult to decide which metrics to use for the assessment. In terms of faculty engagement and building relationships with faculty, the program has been a complete success. The office is near the coffee station, where we frequently see and talk with faculty, and this has led to many new relationships, partnerships, and opportunities. The program has received praise from faculty, staff, AULs, and the dean of engineering. But in terms of student service, this program has been a complete failure: in one full academic year, no student has ever used our office hours. Students prefer the convenience of the reference desk/chat help, or the ability to book consultations with us when it is convenient for them,  rather than waiting for set office hours.

"Development of a Learning Object on Green Chemistry as an Outreach Strategy for Climate Action"
Siu Hong Yu (Science and Engineering Librarian, University of Waterloo)

In the context of information literacy, the conventional competencies of finding information and evaluating evidence is no longer sufficient in tackling the climate crisis. This lightning talk will highlight the development and outcomes of an interactive, assessment-driven learning object on green chemistry to enhance the research guide for a first-year organic chemistry lab. By contextualizing relevant information beyond just another list of resources that students may find useful, the enhanced research guide is just-in-time and student-needs focused. While this learning object itself is highly specific, the outreach efforts and thought process that went into its development are highly transferable to other situations and learning objects. Overall, this is part of the author’s outreach strategies as a new science librarian to support the campus-wide climate action initiatives.

"Igniting Student Curiosity: Interactive Activities and Engaging Collections for Science Literacy Week"
Kathleen James (Learning and Engagement Librarian, University of Calgary)

This presentation will discuss the approach taken by the University of Calgary’s Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) during this year’s participation in Science Literacy Week, an annual national initiative encouraging science literacy programming from libraries, museums, and other non-profit organizations. A collaborative approach was taken to elicit input from members of LCR and science faculties and to incorporate various services and collections into the themed weeklong focus. The theme “E is for Energy” contributed to the success of this event as we were able to highlight the Archives and Special Collections, Spatial and Numeric Data Services, resources from the Doucette Education library, and student groups at a table in the main library over a 4-day period. The goal of this presentation is to kick-start a conversation about library outreach and engagement among science librarians and to see what strategies and techniques are being used to highlight collections, services, and more in S.T.E.M.

Coffee and Refreshments
Sponsored by Springer Nature
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

Dr. Lawrence Ryner (Medical Physicist, CancerCare Manitoba; Adjunct Professor (Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manitoba)
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful medical imaging method that uses magnetic fields to obtain a whole range of different images of the human body. The physics behind how MRI works will be reviewed along with a description of the many ways it is used to improve cancer care. Some of the MRI research projects underway at CancerCare Manitoba will be highlighted, including an exciting new project that tracks the probable path of brain tumour spread, using advanced MRI techniques.

Closing Remarks
Marshall McLuhan Hall, Room 204, University Centre

Free Time/Travel to Reception

Closing Reception (in collaboration with CHLA/ABSC 2024)
Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Boulevard

The TNSB Closing Reception will be held at Ilavut Hall at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Explore the Visible Vault, where over 5,000 pieces of contemporary Inuit Art are on display, as you nibble on appetizers and catch up on old (and new!) colleagues. This reception will be held in conjunction with the opening reception of the Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada Annual Conference, so is also a great opportunity to meet and talk with health sciences librarians from across the country 

Please note: a quiet room is available for use by conference attendees, in Room 115 in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library. Please use code 3600 to enter the room. The room is available from 8am-6pm on June 10 and 11.