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iConference 2020: Sustainable Digital Communities pp 497–510Cite as

Expanding the REU Model Within an iSchool Context: Exploring iConference’s Potential Role in Addressing Underrepresentation

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Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNISA,volume 12051)

Abstract

This paper briefly explores the extant literature surrounding both the potential and critiques of undergraduate research initiatives built to address underrepresentation and develop pipelines for underrepresented students into graduate programs within the information (and related) fields. We then discuss one particular US-based iSchool program whose structure aims to address common criticisms and embeds presenting research at iConference into its curriculum. While not a formal study, this paper presents students’ reflections that emerged during program evaluation, discusses potential implications and next steps to systematically examine the role iConference, and perhaps other conferences, may play in addressing underrepresentation.

Keywords

  • Undergraduate research
  • Diversity
  • Inclusion
  • Recruitment and retention
  • iSchool education

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Acknowledgements

The iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. We would like to thank each of our participants and all i3 Scholars who have participated in the i3 program and iConference.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Kayla M. Booth

  2. University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Elizabeth V. Eikey

  3. Queens College, Flushing, NY, 11367, USA

    Joe Sanchez

  4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Josue Figueroa

  5. Highmark Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, USA

    Aderinsola Falana

  6. The iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3), Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Kayla M. Booth, Elizabeth V. Eikey, Joe Sanchez, Josue Figueroa & Aderinsola Falana

Authors
  1. Kayla M. Booth
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  2. Elizabeth V. Eikey
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  3. Joe Sanchez
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  4. Josue Figueroa
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  5. Aderinsola Falana
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kayla M. Booth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway

    Anneli Sundqvist

  2. OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway

    Gerd Berget

  3. University of Boras, Boras, Sweden

    Prof. Dr. Jan Nolin

  4. OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway

    Kjell Ivar Skjerdingstad

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Booth, K.M., Eikey, E.V., Sanchez, J., Figueroa, J., Falana, A. (2020). Expanding the REU Model Within an iSchool Context: Exploring iConference’s Potential Role in Addressing Underrepresentation. In: Sundqvist, A., Berget, G., Nolin, J., Skjerdingstad, K. (eds) Sustainable Digital Communities. iConference 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12051. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43687-2_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43687-2_40

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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