2020 SciTech Programs (virtual)

Recordings of 2020 conference programs are available to conference registrants (or for purchase) in the SLA Learning Hub platform, and details for Sci-Tech hosted programs are below.

Monday, October 5, 2020  6:00 AM

Sci-Tech Researchers' Barriers to Publishing: Results of a Survey Sponsored by Annual Reviews, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and SPIE

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently did a survey of their research staff to determine what barriers they have when it comes to publishing in the hopes of removing or reducing those issues for them in the future. The presenters discuss how the survey was designed and deployed as well as the results of the survey.
Download a pdf copy of the presentation slides here.

Presenter: Mary Frances Lembo - Research Librarian - Senior Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Mary Frances Lembo is a senior research librarian at PNNL's PubCenter. She helps research staff by performing literature searches, creating citation reports, synthesizing and analyzing search sets as well as assisting staff with a variety of information organization and management needs. Mary Frances also provides training and instruction on a wide range of products, including EndNote, SciFinder, Web of Science and others. Mary Frances holds a Master of Library & Information Science from the University of Washington. Her new goal is to become proficient in using various data visualization tools. She is a kidney donor and a living donor advocate.

Transforming Open Science to Open Scholarship Sponsored by Annual Reviews, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and SPIE

Science and technology communities have hand-in-hand reshaped their culture and practice, influencing other fields. The principles and values of Open Science are rapidly re-shaping the landscape of scholarship. Presenters discuss the past, present, and future of Open Science and its movements and practices (OER, data sharing, and more), and the advent of an Open Scholarship for all, closing the door on institutionalized "closed" scientific practices from the pre-Internet age.

Presenter: Micah Vandegrift - Open Knowledge Librarian -- NC State University Library

Micah Vandegrift works on the evolution of policies and workflows to maximize the dissemination and impact of publicly engaged scholarship. Specifically, he studies the evaluation and validation of new forms of scholarly output. As NC State University's Open Knowledge Librarian, Micah builds programs and communities that embrace a more open scholarly praxis. He is the lead Principal Investigator for Immersive Scholar, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Micah studied open science policy and infrastructure in The Netherlands and Denmark as a Fulbright-Schuman Research Fellow in 2018-2019, and previously worked as the Director of Digital Scholarship at Florida State University.

Presenter: Nicholas Gardner - Staff Librarian -- West Virginia University-Potomac State College

To Infinity and Beyond Medicine: Librarian Experiences With Systematic Reviews Across the Disciplinary Spectrum Sponsored by Annual Reviews, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and SPIE

An established research method within medicine, the systematic review (SR) is now being adopted broadly across disciplines. A panel of subject specialist librarians from varying disciplines share lessons learned in providing a range of SR services to researchers. From the novice to the seasoned expert, these panelists speak to various levels of service engagement and the unique challenges they face in their disciplines in learning and teaching about this rigorous research method.

Presenter: Diana Ramirez - Associate Professor -- Texas A&M University, Medical Sciences Library

Subject librarian and liaison to the departments of psychology and educational psychology, 1990 - present; Systematic Review consultations, 2017 - present. 

Presenter: Kendra K. Levine - Librarian -- Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley

Kendra K. Levine is the director of the Institute of Transportation Studies Library at UC Berkeley. She earned a Masters of Library and Information Science and Masters of Information Systems from Drexel University in 2008. She was named an SLA Rising Star in 2013 and an SLA Fellow in 2019. Kendra is an active volunteer with the Transportation Research Board, and a member of UC-AFT. Additionally, she manages the library at KALX Radio where she also DJs.

Presenter: Margaret J. Foster - Professor --Texas A&M University

Margaret J. Foster, MS, MPH, AHIP, is a Professor at Texas A&M University Libraries where she serves as the Systematic Reviews Coordinator at the Medical Sciences Library.. She is the founder of the Systematic Reviews Caucus of the Medical Library Association, and the co-author of the only book written on systematic reviews for librarians- Assembling the Pieces of a Systematic Review: A Guide for Librarians. She has collaborated on reviews in medicine, education, veterinary medicine, agriculture, engineering, and several other fields.

Presenter: Carolyn Jackson - Agriculture & Life Sciences Librarian -- Texas A&M University, Medical Sciences Library

Carolyn Jackson is the Agriculture & Life Sciences Librarian at Texas A&M University's Medical Sciences Library. In her role, Carolyn serves as subject specialist and liaison to departments in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, AgriLife Research and Extension, and the Texas Forest Service. She has a Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State University (2016), MS in Agricultural Education (1987) & BS in Agriculture (1984) from Kansas State University.

Presenter (Moderator): Tina Budzise-Weaver - Humanities & Social Sciences Librarian -- Texas A&M University Libraries

Tina Budzise-Weaver is a Humanities & Social Sciences Librarian and Associate Professor at Texas A&M University Libraries. She is the subject liaison to Visualization, Dance, and Performance Studies. Her research investigates the underutilization of libraries, barriers to access information, and the creation of new services to address academic and professional success among her students, faculty, and fellow librarians.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 8:00 AM

Science-Technology Community Awards Presentation Sponsored by Annual Reviews, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and SPIE

Please join us as the Science-Technology Community honors Labibah Zain, the winner of the 2020 Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian Award, and Susan (Sue) Wainscott, the winner of the 2020 Ann Koopman Sci-Tech Community Achievement award.

2019 SciTech Programs (Cleveland) 

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Newcomers Breakfast and Member Meet-up 

Location: Convention Center, room 7
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Join us to meet our new members. Have coffee and a quick bite to fuel up for a busy day of conference events. Share details about your innovations and accomplishments with your colleagues.

All Science and Engineering Divisions’ Poster Session

Location: Hilton Center Street BC
7:15 – 8:15 PM
Join us for the All Sciences and Engineering Divisions' Award presentations and stay for the snacks and poster session discussions. Vote for the best poster to be included in the SLA Best Poster competition.

Co-sponsors: Chemistry, Biomedical and Life Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, Pharmaceutical and Health Technology, Science-Technology Divisions 

Monday, June 17, 2019

New Research Tools You Need to Know About

Location: Convention Center, room 20
4:45 - 5:45 PM
New research tools are in the marketplace but direct information about how they work and how they are implemented in libraries is hard to find. This panel discussion will feature product managers from Dimensions, Mendeley Data and Clarivate/Kopernio to present brief case studies on how these new research tools are currently being implemented. 

Speakers: Jim Martin University of Arizona, Moderator, Don Sechler WOS/Kopernio, Moises Moreno, Elsevier, Heidi Becker, Dimensions.

Co- sponsors: Academic and Science-Technology Divisions

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Sci-Tech 101: Organ Donation and Medical Devices

Location: Convention Center, room 14
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Basic educational session focusing on free or low-cost resources for researching topics related to organ donation and medical device innovation.  Mary Frances Lembo will discuss living organ donation and resources to support research in that area. James Manasco will expand outside that topic and look at the latest in medical devices and resources for research on that topic.

Speakers: Mary Frances Lembo and James Manasco

Co-sponsors: Pharmaceutical and Health Technologies and Science-Technology Divisions

Gear up for your next career: managers and applicants share experiences and advice

Location: Convention Center, room 22
10:15 - 11:30 AM
Gear up for your next career: managers and applicants share experiences and advice. A panel of veteran and newly minted librarians will give 5-10 min presentations on the interview process, crafting cover letters and resumes, skills in top demand, and how to keep current with new technologies. The panel includes both corporate and academic librarians. 75 min time slot will allow for extensive Q&A and networking before and after the event.

Speakers: Carolyn Jackson, Moderator; Samantha Bouwers, ACT Inc, James King US NIH, Theresa Pipher Dawnbreaker

Co-sponsors Leadership and Management and Science-Technology Divisions

Blockchain: The New Technology and Its Applications for Libraries

Location: Convention Center, Room 14
10:15 - 11:30 AM
This session will explore how libraries may adopt blockchain technology via various paths. Experts will share their research and experience, providing the audience with a better understanding.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sandra Hirsh; Panelist: Bohyun Kim

Co-sponsors: Engineering, Information Technology, and Science and Technology Divisions

2018 SciTech Programs (Baltimore)

Monday, June 11, 2018

Science & Technology Meetup & Newcomer Welcome: Futurizing STEM Libraries

7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Location: Baltimore Hilton Hotel – room TBD in May
Sponsored by IEEE Xplore Digital Library and SPIE Digital Library

All Sciences and Engineering Poster Session & Awards Reception

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Sponsored by SAE International

 Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Oh, The Places an MLIS Will Take You! Speed Dating with Job Possibilities

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
It’s back! After a well-received session in Philly a few years ago, the job possibilities panel is back. This session offers a panel of information professionals sharing brief nuggets about their jobs and preparation behind the job. Panelists will include corporate and academic librarians across a diverse range of specialities within the information profession. Attendees at all stages in their career will benefit from the presentations. They will discover a wide variety of job and career possibilities, meet new colleagues, and gain ideas for marketing their skills.

Speakers: Rosanna Lindquist, Information Research Scientist, Technical Intelligence, The Hershey Company; Gwen (Guiyun) Wang, Research Engineer and Library Manager, Portland Cement Association; Linda Galloway, Customer Consultant, Research Intelligence Division, Elsevier; Samantha Bouwers, Information Resource Center, Research Strategy and Services, ACT, Inc.; Anna K. Meyer, Information Centre and Archives, Union Gas Limited; Rachael Altman, Market Intelligence Analyst, Sidley Austin LLP; Helen Josephine, Freelance Consultant, HBJ Associates; Richard Hulser, Chief Librarian, Research Library and Archives, Natural History Museum Los Angeles County

Climate Change Resources: 14 Sites in 60 Minutes

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Join us for a fun and informative session and discover excellent sources of free information across the science and technology disciplines. Mary Frances Lembo and James Manasco will team up to present 14 websites related to climate change in 60 minutes. This educational session will provide time for interaction with and sharing from the audience. Attendees will learn about freely available, high quality sources of climate change information. They will also be able to hear from colleagues about other quality sites related to climate change. Please note, speakers will not be discussing search strategies, assessing information, or discipline specifics.

Please join us in congratulating the 2018 winners of our awards

Dr. Nabi Hasan, Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian Award (jointly sponsored with the Engineering Division)
Anitra Ross, Diane K. Foster Student Award Application (shared with the Australia & New Zealand Chapter and Science-Technology Division)
Mr. Bhupender Paliwal, Kirk Cabeen Travel Stipend Award