(last updated 2021_10_25)
Bruce Martin Ryan BSc, MSc, PhD
Contact details
| b.ryan@napier.ac.uk | |
| @bruce_research | |
| Edinburgh Napier University | https://www.napier.ac.uk/people/bruce-ryan |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5499-2971 |
Career history
| 2021 to present | Senior Research Fellow, School of Computing, 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 |
| 2008 | Project Editor, Leckie & Leckie |
| 2007 | Freelance copy-editor, proofreader and web-developer |
| 2007 | Project Editor, Leckie & Leckie |
| 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 full publications list. (includes MSc dissertation) |
| 7 papers from PhD |
project work
| 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 change after they have been moved from the textual/visual 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 is 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 is principal investigator. PhD student Marina Milosheva is 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 | 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. |
Bruce's IT-ish world 
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