Congratulations to Dr Andrew Cox: Information Manager of 2021

CILIP Special Interest Groups, the Knowledge and Information Management Group (K&IM) and the UK e-information Group (UKeiG), are delighted to announce that the winner of their prestigious Information Manager of the Year Award, 2021 is Dr Andrew Cox, Senior Lecturer, Information School, Sheffield University.

The award will be presented at the Knowledge & Information Management virtual Awards evening on Wednesday 10^th November starting at 5. 30 pm. Please join us for this free event as we celebrate all the K&IM Award winners for 2021.

Book to attend the awards here.

The Information Manager of the Year Award is presented to professionals who have raised awareness of, and made a significant contribution to, the value and impact of knowledge and information management in the workplace and across the LIS sector.

The judging panel was unanimous in its decision that Andrew has had an outstanding and distinguished career as a library and information science researcher, teacher and author. His research interests include the evolution of library work in response to contemporary challenges like big data, RDM and AI; new modes of learning; and the crisis in mental health and well-being.

His independently researched report – ‘The Impact of AI, machine learning, automation and robotics on the information profession’ - published by CILIP in 2020 with the support of Health Education England ’ - called for a ‘joined-up and coherent response from information professionals, enabling us to maximise the benefits of AI, machine learning, automation and robotics for information users while mitigating the emerging risks.’

Details of Dr Cox’s teaching and research activities and a full list of his publications can be found here.

Andrew’s nomination was accompanied by a glowing seal of approval from Nick Poole, CEO CILIP and Sue Lacey-Bryant, National Lead, NHS Knowledge and Library Services and CILIP Trustee.

‘Dr Cox is a leading figure in developing new thinking about the implications of new technologies for the information community. His 2017 research paper for SCONUL, “Mapping the Future of Academic Libraries” – (co-authored with Stephen Pinfield and Sophie Rutter) - enabled the HE/academic library community to re-think their role in an age of AI, machine learning and big data. His recent AI report is a landmark piece of research, a central contribution to the development of a “future-ready” library, information and knowledge workforce which sets an agenda for the development of our specialist workforce of today and tomorrow. Crystallising the implications of the fourth industrial revolution for the sector, his work demonstrates a talent for grasping complexity while remaining strongly connected to the core purpose of librarianship and information science.’

Andrew was delighted to receive news of the award.

‘I feel honoured and grateful to receive this award. We all have a distinctive role to play when talking about things like AI - placing user need above technology solutionism. Awards like this provide a great opportunity to emphasise the beneficial role our profession plays in such difficult times; unifying us as a community and conveying a positive message to a wider world that often doesn't fully understand our specialism.’

Book to attend the awards here.

Click here for more information about K&IM and UKeiG.

CILIP members can join any CILIP Special Interest Group for free.

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