Congratulations to UBC iSchool Doctoral student Lois Evans on being named one of 25 finalists in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) 2022 Storytellers Challenge! This annual competition challenges postsecondary students across the country to inspire audiences with a research story—in up to three minutes or 300 words—of how their SSHRC-funded research is making a difference in the lives of Canadians. This year’s finalists were chosen from among 230 applicants.
In 2020, Lois travelled to ten Canadian cities and asked records managers, archivists and technologists what we can do to reduce the impact of digital records, data and information on the environment. Most of the organizations in the study had significantly decreased paper consumption, but reducing the climate impacts of digital work is more complicated.
Evans found that participants in this study focused on consolidating digital storage and reducing stores of information that were no longer needed. They focused on protecting the most critical records and eliminating low-value, low-risk information using technological features and annual audits. She also found that some institutions tested automated approaches and researched potential artificial intelligence solutions.
To learn more about her Storytellers Challenge’s submission, watch Lois’ three-minute video:
The final five winners will be announced at the Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences on May 16, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. (EST). The Storytellers Final Five reveal event will be live-streamed for the public. You can cheer on Lois at this event, which you can register for here.
Congratulations Lois! We wish you the best of luck on this final!
