Dr. Barbara Wildemuth, SILS professor and associate dean for Academic Affairs, is the recent recipient of two awards presented by the American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T): the Watson Davis Award, as well as the Outstanding Contributions to Information Behavior Award from ASIS&T's Special Interest Group for Information Seeking and Use (SIG USE).
Established in 1975, The Watson Davis Award commemorates the memory and legacy of ASIS&T founder Watson Davis. It is given yearly to a single ASIS&T member who demonstrates outstanding continuous contributions and dedicated service to the Society (with an emphasis on the words "continuous," "dedicated" and "service").
A highly active member of ASIS&T since 1976 with a penchant for furthering the Society's legacy, Wildemuth certainly fits that description. In 2007, she was elected ASIS&T Director-at-Large, a position she has held for the past three years. Prior to that, she was one of ASIS&T's biggest movers and shakers, chairing awards committees and special interests groups, leading workshops, editing newsletters and planning annual conferences and special events.
"The Watson Davis Award is one of the most prestigious awards presented to a member," said Dr. Gary Marchionini, SILS dean and president of ASIS&T. "The selection committee couldn't have chosen a more deserving person for this recognition. Barbara is an outstanding and dedicated member of ASIS&T, and she continues to contribute in a variety of ways to make the organization a valuable asset to its members."
Wildemuth will formally receive the award at the Annual Awards Luncheon held during the ASIS&T annual meeting.
In addition to the Watson Davis Award, Wildemuth will receive the Outstanding Contributions to Information Behavior Award from ASIS&T's Special Interest Group for Information Seeking and Use (SIG USE). Wildemuth founded and chaired ASIS&T's SIG USE in 1999. The group selected her for the award this year in recognition of her years of service to and support of SIG USE. As a consequence of receiving this award, Wildemuth was inducted into the SIG USE Academy of Fellows. Founded in 2009, the SIG USE Academy of Fellows honors leaders in the study of information needs, seeking and use.
