Session A2
Tracks
Track A: New Horizons - Artificial intelligence and digital innovations
| Wednesday, August 27, 2025 |
| 2:15 PM - 3:35 PM |
| Bristol 2&3 Suite |
Overview
Individual Papers
Chair: TBC
'Just because we can doesn't mean we should': prototyping machine learning tools to monitor and assess research data
Dr Jade Godsall, Assistant Research Support Librarian; Dr Kirsty Merrett, Research Support Librarian and Mr Christopher Warren, University of Bristol
Interfacing Information Governance with the Ethical Agenda
Mr Reynold Leming, Managing Director, Informu Solutions Ltd
In Our Element: Creativity in the Archives
Louise Ray, Archives Consultant
Chair: TBC
'Just because we can doesn't mean we should': prototyping machine learning tools to monitor and assess research data
Dr Jade Godsall, Assistant Research Support Librarian; Dr Kirsty Merrett, Research Support Librarian and Mr Christopher Warren, University of Bristol
Interfacing Information Governance with the Ethical Agenda
Mr Reynold Leming, Managing Director, Informu Solutions Ltd
In Our Element: Creativity in the Archives
Louise Ray, Archives Consultant
Speaker
Dr Jade Godsall
Assistant Research Support Librarian
University of Bristol
'Just because we can doesn't mean we should': prototyping machine learning tools to monitor and assess research data
2:15 PM - 2:35 PMAbstract
Monitoring and accessing the uptake of Open Research practices is an activity identified by the higher education sector as urgent and necessary, but are our current systems and infrastructure equipped to support this? The UK Reproducibility Network’s Open Research Programme (UKRN ORP) member institutions were involved in a pilot to address the feasibility of current systems, and the reliability and usefulness of recent advances in machine learning. The Open Research Indicators Pilot was sector-led and explored how institutions and solution providers could work together to develop, test, and evaluate prototype machine learning solutions to provide valid, reliable, and ethical indicators for Open Research.
This presentation will explore the findings from the pilot that explored the Openness of data by addressing the inherent challenges and limitations of monitoring and assessing data within a research landscape that still prioritises traditional publishing outputs. This means datasets can only be monitored in Data Availability Statements, which do not have consistent language, terminology, or templates, and are often not included in the structured metadata of a publication. Prototyping innovative machine learning tools uncovered an uncomfortable truth: we cannot reliably and accurately extract inconsistent data from uncontrolled vocabularies. This presentation is a call to action to return to our roots as record-keeping professionals; to monitor and assess open research practices, institutions, publishers, and funders must work together to agree on metadata standards and consistent language to improve the reliability and ease with which researchers cite, curate, publish, and ultimately, preserve research data.
This presentation will explore the findings from the pilot that explored the Openness of data by addressing the inherent challenges and limitations of monitoring and assessing data within a research landscape that still prioritises traditional publishing outputs. This means datasets can only be monitored in Data Availability Statements, which do not have consistent language, terminology, or templates, and are often not included in the structured metadata of a publication. Prototyping innovative machine learning tools uncovered an uncomfortable truth: we cannot reliably and accurately extract inconsistent data from uncontrolled vocabularies. This presentation is a call to action to return to our roots as record-keeping professionals; to monitor and assess open research practices, institutions, publishers, and funders must work together to agree on metadata standards and consistent language to improve the reliability and ease with which researchers cite, curate, publish, and ultimately, preserve research data.
Biography
Jade Godsall is an ex-medievalist turned Assistant Research Support Librarian, supporting research data management and digital scholarship at the University of Bristol. She has twelve years of experience working in libraries, archives, and research with interests in digital preservation, digital accessibility, and data reproducibility & reuse. Outside the digital world, she enjoys walking with her dog Frankie & embroidering medieval bestiaries.
Christopher Warren is an Assistant Research Support Librarian, supporting all areas of open research and research data generation, storage and publication at the University of Bristol, as well as administration of the University's research data repository. His background is in economic and social history, Outside of the university, Christopher is active in local theatre and community groups.
Kirsty Merrett is Research Data Librarian at University of Bristol. She advises researchers how to manage, store and share research data, and helps them publish open and controlled access data at the University of Bristol's data repository, data.bris. She has authored publications on controlled data access, designing institutional policy, embedding RDM services in institutions, and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. She also works with the UK Reproducibility Network's Open Research Programme, where she designs and delivers Train the Trainer workshops on Research Data and Sensitive Data to UK HEIs. Kirsty is currently working with colleagues at the Irish Data Stewardship Network, Sonraí, to establish a curriculum for Microcredentials for Data Stewards.
Dr Kirsty Merrett
Research Support Librarian (research Data Management)
University of Bristol
'Just because we can doesn't mean we should': prototyping machine learning tools to monitor and assess research data
2:15 PM - 2:35 PMBiography
Kirsty has worked at the University of Bristol for 26 years and is the Research Support Librarian leading RDM and data.bris. She advises researchers how to manage, store and share research data, and publishes open and controlled access data at the University's repository. She is a strong advocate for sharing qualitative data using FAIR data principles and has authored publications on data access and Bristol’s sensitive data processes. Kirsty previously worked as the Open Access Administrator, managing Gold OA funds for RCUK/UKRI, and Wellcome. Kirsty works with UKRN to promote Open Research, and delivers workshops for Train the Trainer.
Mr Reynold Leming
Managing Director
Informu Solutions Ltd
Interfacing Information Governance with the Ethical Agenda
2:35 PM - 2:55 PMAbstract
Any organisation needs to ensure that it is meeting its operational goals in a manner that does not adversely ipact planet and people. Good practice in data governance, records management and information rights can directly support this.
Pulling together knowledge of international standards, accreditation schemes, law and sector initiatives, this talk will set out thoughts on a strategy and action plan to interface information governance with the ethical agenda, including:
* Digital decarbonisation and e-waste management
* Information access and use balanced with privacy
* Data resilience and security
* Assessing the ethical use of AI
* ESG recordkeeping
This will include coverage of aspects such dark data, shadow IT, impact assessments and compliance registers.
It will also signpost how people can find further information and get involved.
Pulling together knowledge of international standards, accreditation schemes, law and sector initiatives, this talk will set out thoughts on a strategy and action plan to interface information governance with the ethical agenda, including:
* Digital decarbonisation and e-waste management
* Information access and use balanced with privacy
* Data resilience and security
* Assessing the ethical use of AI
* ESG recordkeeping
This will include coverage of aspects such dark data, shadow IT, impact assessments and compliance registers.
It will also signpost how people can find further information and get involved.
Biography
Reynold is a longstanding information governance professional who has worked in the document and records management sector for the past 30 years. He has experience of projects across the private, public and voluntary sectors, covering both digital and physical records management. This includes work on strategies, policies and procedures, training and communications, and system specifications. He is the Vice Chair of External Engagement for the Information and Records Management Society, sitting on their Microsoft Customer Advisory Board and chairing their ESG Roundtable.
Mr Christopher Warren
Assistant Research Support Librarian
University Of Bristol
'Just because we can doesn't mean we should': prototyping machine learning tools to monitor and assess research data
2:15 PM - 2:35 PMBiography
I am an Assistant Research Support Librarian at the University of Bristol, supporting the research data lifecycle, from planning to publication. I'm a graduate of Bristol and UWE universities, and most of my time outside of work is spent raising my young family.
Ms Louise Ray
Archives Consultant
Freelance
In Our Element: Creativity in the Archives
2:55 PM - 3:15 PMAbstract
This paper explores the conference theme from the perspective of how innovation and imagination are aligned with creativity. There is currently considerable professional discourse on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on archives. This paper provides a counterbalance in reflecting upon the ongoing need for human centred activity in the archive, in particular, the role that creativity can play in developing and delivering services.
In 2024 Louise Ray began cataloguing the archive of Sir Ken Robinson (1950-2020) https://www.sirkenrobinson.com/about-sir-ken/. Sir Ken Robinson was a leading international authority on creativity and chaired the UK National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education that produced the influential report, 'All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education'. This paper will draw on Robinson’s approach to creativity in education, life, work, and leadership to consider what the archive profession can learn from his ideas. Starting from the personal perspective of how his publications; 'Out of Our Minds: The Power of Being Creative', 'The Element' and 'Finding Your Element' have informed her professional practice, Louise will explore what can be learnt from Robinson, as well as from the archives of creative individuals and organisations, in considering the extent to which creativity might guide future archival practice.
Whilst this presentation may not have the impact of Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned 2006 TED Talk, currently standing at over 78 million views on YouTube, it seeks to offer up some ideas for celebrating creative thinking in an archival setting and why this should be embraced within our professional advocacy.
In 2024 Louise Ray began cataloguing the archive of Sir Ken Robinson (1950-2020) https://www.sirkenrobinson.com/about-sir-ken/. Sir Ken Robinson was a leading international authority on creativity and chaired the UK National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education that produced the influential report, 'All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education'. This paper will draw on Robinson’s approach to creativity in education, life, work, and leadership to consider what the archive profession can learn from his ideas. Starting from the personal perspective of how his publications; 'Out of Our Minds: The Power of Being Creative', 'The Element' and 'Finding Your Element' have informed her professional practice, Louise will explore what can be learnt from Robinson, as well as from the archives of creative individuals and organisations, in considering the extent to which creativity might guide future archival practice.
Whilst this presentation may not have the impact of Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned 2006 TED Talk, currently standing at over 78 million views on YouTube, it seeks to offer up some ideas for celebrating creative thinking in an archival setting and why this should be embraced within our professional advocacy.
Biography
Louise Ray is a freelance archives and records management consultant with over thirty years’ experience. She worked as an archivist in a number of organisations, including Tate and the National Theatre, before moving into strategic roles within the UK archive sector, primarily focusing on funding and development support. She has previously undertaken several voluntary positions within ARA, including a period as a member of the Board. Last year she undertook a major research project for ARA and The National Archives on leadership in the UK archive sector, as well as work supporting the embedding of inclusive practice into the Archive Service Accreditation 10-year review. She is currently an Honorary Lecturer with University College London and a tutor for the University of Dundee Centre for Archive and Information Studies.
Most recently Louise has worked with archives relating to a range of creative thinkers, practitioners and organisations including Charles Jencks, Feliks Topolski, Matt’s Gallery and Complicité, as well as organisation that support creative activity, such as The Art Fund and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
