A brief CV

Bruce Martin Ryan BSc, MSc, PhD

Contact details

email b.ryan2@napier.ac.uk
BlueSky @bruce_research
Edinburgh Napier University https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/person/110770/bruce-ryan
ORCID ID 0000-0001-5499-2971

Career history

2025 onwards Visiting Senior Fellow, School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University
2021 to 2025 Senior Research Fellow, School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University
2014 to 2021 Researcher, Centre for Social Informatics
(within School of Computing), Edinburgh Napier University
2008-2011 Senior Project Editor, Leckie & Leckie
2007 to 2008 Project Editor, Leckie & Leckie
2007 Freelance copy-editor, proofreader and web-developer
2006-2007 Travel in India and Indonesia, and temporary work contracts
1994-2005 Production Manager, Leckie & Leckie

Education

2011-2014 MSc in Information Systems Development, Edinburgh Napier University
– Distinction and winner of class medal
1989-1996 PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of St Andrews
1985-1989 BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, University of St Andrews

Publications

See Napier publications list. (includes MSc dissertation)
7 papers from PhD (See abstract and thesis on St Andrews University repository.)

Academic projects and supervisions

2025

Tackling misinformation and disinformation for Scottish school librarians
This project was an empirical study of the ‘how, why and what could/should be’ of Scottish school librarians’ work to help pupils become better able to handle mis- and disinformation. The research questions are
1. How involved are school librarians in enabling pupils’ handling of mis- and disinformation?
2. What would they like to do to help pupils better prepare to handle mis-and disinformation?
3. What training/support do they have and wish for?
4. How can they collaborate with teachers?
5. How can this be used to advocate for school librarians/libraries?
This project was funded by CILIPS.
2024 to 2025 PhD supervision
Thesis title: The marginalisation of school librarianship in England: the fading influence of school librarians as information and digital literacy educators
Student: Sarah Pavey
My role: second supervisor
2023 Information Literacy and Society
This project was a comprehensive literature review of research from 2005 onwards about information literacy and society. The aims of the review were to:
1. Identify core research into the role that IL plays for different user groups in society
2. Identify core research into the barriers/enablers to shaping an information literate population
3. Map research methodologies used in the literature and which appear to be most effective at delivering social impact.
More detail of the call leading to this project is available on the Media and Information Literacy Alliance’s website as is the full project report,
My main roles: principal investigator; analysis of database-search results, writing outputs. Dr Peter Cruickshank was co-investigator. PhD student Marina Milosheva was research assistant.
This project was funded by CILIP.
2022 Platform to platform: an investigation into audience engagement with digitised archives and its transformative impact across different online formats
This project created podcasts of a World War 2 diary, then investigated how reactions to the diaries changed after they were transformed from textual/visual format on the Blipfoto platform to the audio/podcast platform. More details are available on Hazel Hall’s post. The project is also being tracked on a new Blipfoto journal.
My main role: principal investigator. Professor Hazel Hall and Dr Iain McGregor of SoC’s Centre for Interaction Design were co-investigators.
This project was funded by the AHRC’s Creative Informatics project and Edinburgh Napier University’s public engagement budget.
2022 Heritage organisations and podcasts: scoping study (HOPSS)
The aim of HOPSS was to scope the research landscape on the role of podcasts in the work of heritage organisations, as a complement to investigation of podcast creation in Platform to platform. This was achieved through the identification of the main sources and types of evidence available on the current use of podcasts by such bodies. The work comprised a literature review followed by analysis of empirical data collected by interview from staff in heritage organisations active in podcasting.
My main role: principal investigator. Professor Hazel Hall and Dr Iain McGregor of SoC’s Centre for Interaction Design were co-investigators. PhD student Marianne Wilson was research assistant.
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2021 Information Literacy Impact Framework
This project reviewed relevant literature to create a framework of information literacy impact. That is, it investigated what ‘impact’ means in information literacy interventions and projects, and how is it best enabled. This work was being undertaken in line with other work by the Media and Information Literacy Alliance.
My main roles: co-investigator; analysis of database-search results, writing outputs. Dr Peter Cruickshank was principal investigator. PhD student Marina Milosheva was research assistant.
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2022 Animation and games legacy of Scotland
This project addressed gaps in documentation of the substantial history and accomplishments of the Scottish animation, visual effects and games (SAVEG) sectors, and identified potential ways forward. It also addressed diversity and inclusion issues. This was achieved by developing (i) a prototype online interactive archive/‘living’ collection of SAVEG materials; (ii) a route-map to follow-on work.
My main roles: project management; developer. Jon Mortimer was principal investigator. Ingi Helgason was co-investigator
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2022 onwards Community Councils online 2022
This project is a survey of community councils’ online presences, aimed at discovering changes since the 2012 and 2014 surveys and hence elucidating lessons for stakeholders.
My main roles: co-investigator; project management; development of methods. Dr Peter Cruickshank is principal investigator. Two MSc students gathered data.
This project is funded by Edinburgh Napier University, as part of the MSc in Computing with professional placement programme.
2021 ‘CHOICES’: Cultural Heritage Organisations Impact in the COVID Era for Society
This project was a review of literature on equality of access to UK cultural heritage institutions’ online public offerings.
My main roles: academic database-searching, analysis of results
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2020-2021 ‘iDP’: Information professionals and volunteers as ‘digital proxies’: impact on effectiveness of clients and employees of informal support in accessing services
This project investigated emergent digital proxy practices by staff within local government, libraries, and civil society organisations. The goal was to investigate the impact of these practices on staff roles, and to develop practice recommendations, and guidelines for organisations to ensure the protection of staff and clients.
My main roles: supporting research and workshop activities
This project was funded by the Scottish Funding Council.
2020 Public Engagement and information literacy
This seed-project was an empirical study of what the ideas in information literacy models mean to ‘real people’.
My main roles: project definition, data-gathering and analysis
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2020 Information Avoidance and diabetes
This seed-project was an empirical study into how and why some people may avoid engaging with information that may help them manage long-term health conditions, especially diabetes.
My main roles: data-gathering and analysis, administration
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2019 GCRF map/database
This project was to built a web-map to display the projects supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund via the Scottish Funding Council. A demo version is available at http://socprojects.napier.ac.uk/GCRFmap/indexUNUSED.html 
My main roles: code-development and digital cartography, client-liaison,
This project was funded by the Scottish Funding Council.
2019-2021 RIVAL: Research, Impact, Value and LIS
(LIS = library and information science)
Building on a trial event in 2018, this series of four events aimed to maximise the impact and value of library and information science research, by bringing together LIS researchers and professionals in a self-supporting community.
A summary of RIVAL’s achievements was presented at #CILIPS21 in June 2021.
My main roles: admin and budgeting, videography, code-development and digital cartography, communications.
This project was funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
2018-19 The role of participatory budgeting in supporting the very poor in Sao Paulo, Brazil
My main roles: data-gathering and analysis.
The project was sponsored by the Global Challenges Research Fund.
2018-2020 Information literacy for digital engagement projects
These projects were focussed on various aspects of information literacy in Scottish community councils.
My main roles: designing and implementing research methods, project administration, reporting results
These projects were funded by CILIP and Edinburgh Napier University.
2015-2016 digiCC workshops
These projects focussed on promoting sharing of, and networking around, digital skills for community councillors.
My main roles: creating and running workshops, project administration, reporting results
These projects were funded by the Scottish Government and Edinburgh Napier University.
2014-2015 Workforce Mapping Project
This project was an investigation into the workforce in the Libraries, Archives, Records, Information and Knowledge Management sector.
My main roles: methods investigation, report production
This project was funded by CILIP and ARA.
2014 Hyperlocal engagement
This project was an investigation into communities of practice and knowledge management around digital engagement in Scottish hyperlocal government.
My main roles: data gathering and analysis
This project was funded by the Digital Economy ‘Communities and Culture’ Network+.
2014 Emergent ICT strategies for local democracy: capturing innovation
This project was a survey of community council online presences, concentrating on evidence of community engagement.
My main roles: data gathering and analysis
This project was funded by Edinburgh Napier University.
2014 Community Council Location Finder
This project created an online, searchable map displaying community council locations and other information.
My main roles: developer, client liaison
This project was funded by the Improvement Service.
2012 Community Council online presences: a survey
This project was an initial survey of Community Council online presences, concentrating on archetypes of online presence.
My main roles: data gathering and analysis
This project was self-funded.