Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Bruce Ryan is a Senior Research Fellow in the Social Informatics Research Group in the School of Computing, Engineering snd Built Environment at Edinburgh Napier University. Before obtaining this permanent post in 2021, Bruce undertook project work within the Research Group (then known as the Centre for Social Informatics), focussing on the use of computing and technology for democratic engagement, connecting library and information science researchers and library practitioners, and investigating the UK library and information workforce. These stemmed from his MSc in Information Systems Development (awarded 2014: distinction and class medal). Prior to that, he was production manager in a leading Scottish educational publisher, having completed a PhD in organic chemistry.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Bruce’s current research interests include: ICT in hyperlocal government; information literacy, especially information literacy interventions; digital literacy in workplaces that are part of democracy; and information avoidance in healthcare. He is an experienced multidisciplinary researcher who has worked in a number of areas, including digital archives and the Scottish computer games industry. A key aspect of all of Bruce’s research is that it involves tackling practical questions and problems.
Recent research projects as Principle Investigator include
- 'Information Literacy and Society' (2023, funded by CILIP)
- 'Platform to Platform: an investigation into audience engagement with digitised archives and its transformative impact across different online formats' (AHRC-funded via the Creative Informatics project, 2022)
- 'Heritage organisations and podcasts: scoping study' (2022, concurrent with ‘Platform to Platform’).
Bruce has been co-investigator on the following projects:
- Information Literacy Impact Framework (2022)
- Community Councils online (2022)
- Research Impact and Value in Library and Information Science (2019-2021)
- Public engagement and information literacy (2020)
- GCRF map/database (2019)
- The role of participatory budgeting in supporting the very poor in Sao Paulo (2019)
- Information Literacy for democratic engagement (2018-2020)
- digiCC workshops (2014-2015)
- Workforce Mapping project (2014-2015)
- Hyperlocal engagement (2014)
- Emergent ICT strategies for local democracy: capturing innovation (2014)
- Community Councils location finder (2014)
- Community Council online presences: a survey (2012)
Bruce has also been a research fellow on
- Animation and games legacy of Scotland (2022)
- CHOICES: Cultural Heritage Organisations Impact in the COVID Era for Society (2021)
- iDP: Information professionals and volunteers as ‘digital proxies’: impact on effectiveness of clients and employees of informal support in accessing services (2020-2021).
Further information on these projects is available at https://bruceryan.info/a-brief-cv, while Bruce’s publication record is available at https://bruceryan.info/resources/publications.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
- Bruce joined Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing Research and Innovation Committee in September 2021.
- He reviews for JeDEM (eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government)
- In late 2023, Bruce became secretary of the 'Scottish Information Literacy Community of Practice'.