e-Research in the Life Sciences examines the use of online tools in the life sciences and finds that their use has significant impact, namely the formation of a Scientific/Intellectual Movement (SIM) (Frickel & Gross, 2005) complemented by a Computerisation Movement (CM) (Kling & Iacono, 1994) which is mobilising global electronic resources to form visible colleges of life science researchers, who are enrolling others and successfully promoting their open science goals via mainstream scientific literature. Those within this movement are also using these online tools to change their work practices, producing scientific knowledge in a highly networked and distributed group which has less regard for traditional institutional and disciplinary boundaries. This thesis, by combining ideas about SIMs and CMs, fills a gap in research that is typically confined to treating new tools as a part of scientific communication or in specialist areas like distributed collaboration but not in terms of broader changes in science. Case studies have been conducted for three types of online tools: the scientific social networking tool FriendFeed, open laboratory notebooks, and science blogs. Data have been collected from semi-structured interviews, and the online writings of research participants. The case studies of exemplary use by scientists of the web form a baseline for future studies in the area. Boundaries between formal and informal scholarly communication are now blurred. At the formal level, which peer-reviewed print journals continue, many academic publishers now also have online open access, frequently in advance of print publication. At the informal level, what used to be confined to water-cooler chat and the conference circuit is now also discussed on mailing lists, forums and blogs (Borgman, 2007). As these online tools generate new practices they have potential to affect future academic assessment and dissemination practices.

Citizen Cyberscience Projects (CCPs) are projects mediated through the Internet, in which teams of scientists recruit members of the public (volunteers) to assist in scientific research, typically through the processing of large quantities of data. This thesis presents qualitative ethnographic case studies of the communities that have formed around two such projects, climateprediction.net and Galaxy Zoo. By considering these social actors in the broader contexts in which they are situated (historical, institutional, social, scientific), I discuss the co-shaping of the interests of these actors, the nature of the relationships amongst these actors, and the infrastructure of the projects and the purposes and nature of the scientific work performed. The thesis focusses on two relationships in particular. The first is that between scientists and volunteers, finding that, although scientists in both projects are concerned with treating volunteers with respect, there are nevertheless considerable differences between the projects. These are related to a number of interconnecting factors, including the particular contexts in which each project is embedded, the nature of the scientific work that volunteers are asked to undertake, the possibilities and challenges for the future development of the projects as perceived by the scientists, and the tools at the disposal of the respective teams of scientists for mediating relationships with volunteers. The second is amongst the volunteers themselves. This thesis argues that volunteers are heterogeneous, from disparate backgrounds, and that they sustain their involvement in CCPs for very different purposes. In particular, they seek to pursue these through the way they negotiate and construct their relationships with other volunteers, drawing on particular features of the project to do so. This thesis contributes to two fields. The first is to Citizen Cyberscience itself, with a view to improving the running of such projects. Some social studies have already been conducted of CCPs to this end, and this thesis both extends the analysis of some of these pre-existing studies and also problematizes aspects of CCPs that these studies had not considered. I discuss the significance of my findings for those involved in setting up and running a CCP, and present some recommendations for practice. The second field is Science and Technology Studies, in particular studies of public engagement with scientific and technological decision- and knowledge-making processes. The modes of engagement found in CCPs differ in key ways from those that have already been documented in the existing literature (in particular, different power relationships) and thus offer new ways of understanding how the public might be engaged successfully in such processes.

In this study, research was conducted on the information needs of Unisa students. Most distance students do not personally visit the library, which makes it difficult for librarians to determine whether or not they are meeting their needs. The library plays an important support role in any university, especially in the open distance learning context. It is therefore important for librarians serving distance learners to continually evaluate their services in order to see if they are still meeting their client’s needs. The aim of this study was to determine if students are aware of the library services to which they are entitled, and if the library is successfully reaching and assisting remote students, and how its services can be improved. Questionnaires were posted to students, and interviews were conducted with on-campus students and staff. Chapter 1 covers the orientation and background to the study. Chapter 2 discusses the research methods used to collect information. In Chapter 3, the library needs of distance learners were discussed, while Chapter 4 presented a discussion of the findings drawn from the questionnaires and interviews, and Chapter 5 makes recommendations based upon these findings. It was found that some of the students surveyed were not aware of their library privileges. It is recommended that the Unisa library employ better strategies to market the library services available to students. Furthermore, the library needs to find better ways to reach out to remote students who have no access to information and communications technology upon which the modern library is so reliant.

The research presented in this thesis is based in the Humanities discipline of Ancient History and begins by attempting to understand the interpretation process involved in reading ancient documents and how this process can be aided by computer systems such as Decision Support Systems (DSS). The thesis balances between the use of IT tools to aid Humanities research and the understanding that Humanities research must involve human beings. It does not attempt to develop a system that can automate the reading of ancient documents. Instead it seeks to demonstrate and develop tools that can support this process in the five areas: remembering complex reasoning, searching huge datasets, international collaboration, publishing editions, and image enhancement. This research contains a large practical element involving the development of a DSS prototype. The prototype is used to illustrate how a DSS, by remembering complex reasoning, can aid the process of interpretation that is reading ancient documents. It is based on the idea that the interpretation process goes through a network of interpretation. The network of interpretation illustrates a recursive process where scholars move between reading levels such as ‘these strokes look like the letter c’ or ‘these five letters must be the word primo’. Furthermore, the thesis demonstrates how technology such as Web Services and XML can be used to make a DSS even more powerful through the development of the APPELLO word search Web Service. Finally, the conclusion includes a suggestion for a future development of a working DSS that incorporates the idea of a layer-based system and focuses strongly on user interaction.

O trabalho apresenta uma abordagem teórico-documental de análise e discussão de práticas e conhecimentos acerca da Information Literacy, a fim de sistematizar a matéria, com ênfase no papel educacional das Bibliotecas e do bibliotecário. Examina-se a Information Literacy, enquanto processo de interiorização de conhecimentos, habilidades e valores ligados à informação e ao aprendizado, segundo um quadro referencial histórico-conceitual. Evidencia-se a necessidade de um novo paradigma educacional frente à sociedade atual e à explosão informacional. Analisa-se o papel da Instituição Biblioteca enquanto organização e espaço educacional e a necessidade de implementar mudanças que conduzam à Information Literacy. Discute-se o papel do profissional bibliotecário e sua inserção na comunidade educacional, examinando-o à luz de sua formação educacional e profissional. Apresenta-se ao final a sistematização do conhecimento a respeito de Information Literacy, definição, características, objetivos, identificando diferentes níveis, elencando pontos relevantes de atuação de Bibliotecas e bibliotecários na implementação de uma Educação voltada para a Information Literacy. / The work presents a documental-theoretical approach analysis and discussions on practices and knowledge on Information Literacy, in order to systematize the subject, with emphasis on the educational role of libraries and librarians. It also examines Information Literacy as knowledge, skills and values interiorization process, connected to information and learning, according to a historical-conceptual referential scenario. The need of a new education paradigm facing the current society and the informational explosion is pointed out. Analysis are carried out on the Library’s role as an educational organization, learning and expression space. The librarian role and his/her insertion in the educational community are examined. Professional and educational profile are discussed. At the end, is presented the knowledge systematization about Information Literacy: definition, objectives, and characteristics, identifying different levels, enumerating relevant topics about Information Literacy Education, with emphasis on libraries and librarians role.

In this study, research was conducted on the information needs of Unisa students. Most distance students do not personally visit the library, which makes it difficult for librarians to determine whether or not they are meeting their needs. The library plays an important support role in any university, especially in the open distance learning context. It is therefore important for librarians serving distance learners to continually evaluate their services in order to see if they are still meeting their client’s needs. The aim of this study was to determine if students are aware of the library services to which they are entitled, and if the library is successfully reaching and assisting remote students, and how its services can be improved. Questionnaires were posted to students, and interviews were conducted with on-campus students and staff. Chapter 1 covers the orientation and background to the study. Chapter 2 discusses the research methods used to collect information. In Chapter 3, the library needs of distance learners were discussed, while Chapter 4 presented a discussion of the findings drawn from the questionnaires and interviews, and Chapter 5 makes recommendations based upon these findings. It was found that some of the students surveyed were not aware of their library privileges. It is recommended that the Unisa library employ better strategies to market the library services available to students. Furthermore, the library needs to find better ways to reach out to remote students who have no access to information and communications technology upon which the modern library is so reliant.

O trabalho apresenta uma abordagem teórico-documental de análise e discussão de práticas e conhecimentos acerca da Information Literacy, a fim de sistematizar a matéria, com ênfase no papel educacional das Bibliotecas e do bibliotecário. Examina-se a Information Literacy, enquanto processo de interiorização de conhecimentos, habilidades e valores ligados à informação e ao aprendizado, segundo um quadro referencial histórico-conceitual. Evidencia-se a necessidade de um novo paradigma educacional frente à sociedade atual e à explosão informacional. Analisa-se o papel da Instituição Biblioteca enquanto organização e espaço educacional e a necessidade de implementar mudanças que conduzam à Information Literacy. Discute-se o papel do profissional bibliotecário e sua inserção na comunidade educacional, examinando-o à luz de sua formação educacional e profissional. Apresenta-se ao final a sistematização do conhecimento a respeito de Information Literacy, definição, características, objetivos, identificando diferentes níveis, elencando pontos relevantes de atuação de Bibliotecas e bibliotecários na implementação de uma Educação voltada para a Information Literacy. / The work presents a documental-theoretical approach analysis and discussions on practices and knowledge on Information Literacy, in order to systematize the subject, with emphasis on the educational role of libraries and librarians. It also examines Information Literacy as knowledge, skills and values interiorization process, connected to information and learning, according to a historical-conceptual referential scenario. The need of a new education paradigm facing the current society and the informational explosion is pointed out. Analysis are carried out on the Library’s role as an educational organization, learning and expression space. The librarian role and his/her insertion in the educational community are examined. Professional and educational profile are discussed. At the end, is presented the knowledge systematization about Information Literacy: definition, objectives, and characteristics, identifying different levels, enumerating relevant topics about Information Literacy Education, with emphasis on libraries and librarians role.