The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS) announced Daniel Russell, a Senior Research Scientist for Search Quality and User Happiness at Google, as the keynote speaker for the upcoming SILS Conference on AI and Knowledge Work on March 31 and April 1. Within Google, Russell conducts research on how people collect, organize and understand large amounts of information when they search the web.

The conference will focus on the changing landscape of workplace culture with the evolution of technology and knowledge work with three panels focusing on Tech and HR/Management Functions, Tech and Inclusion & Diversity, and Tech and Digital Wellness.

Russell, who currently serves as a member of the SILS Board of Visitors, will deliver his keynote address during the first day of the conference on March 31. His address is titled, “The Working Culture and Tech of Tech Companies: What works? What doesn’t? Why?”

Within the keynote address, Russell will identify key technological changes of knowledge work in the past as well as identify work practices that can lead to knowledge-working success in modern corporate cultures.

“Dan’s extensive experience in information and knowledge work research will provide a deeper understanding of the technological and interpersonal changes that are unfolding within modern workplaces,” Gary Marchionini, Dean and Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor at SILS, said. “We are honored to have Dan join us for the Conference on AI and Knowledge Work to share his insight and perspective with a broad community of knowledge work professionals.”

In addition to the panels and Russell’s keynote address, opportunities for breakout discussions and networking are included in the conference’s agenda. The conference is sponsored by EBSCO and Freedom. Additionally, the conference is free and open to the public for in-person or virtual attendance. To register to attend the conference, please visit: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4T68I9iVSIC8p4q 

About Daniel Russell 

Dr. Daniel Russell is a senior research scientist and 16-year veteran at Google. Within Google, Dan conducts research on how people collect, organize and understand large amounts of information when they search the web. Before joining Google, Dan held research positions at IBM’s Research Almaden Research Center (San Jose, CA), Apple’s Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and Xerox PARC. Dan has also been an adjunct lecturer in computer science at the University of Santa Clara, Stanford University, the University of Zürich, and has taught classes at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Colorado, Boulder.

As an individual contributor, Dan is best known for his studies of the human-computer interaction models of people’s sensemaking behavior for knowledge-driven work. He also teaches an online Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “PowerSearchingWithGoogle,” which has helped 4.5 million students become expert searchers.

His B.S. is in Information and Computer Science from U.C. Irvine. His M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are in Computer Science (specializing in AI) from the University of Rochester (1983).

He blogs weekly about search mastery skills at SearchResearch1.blogspot.com 

Dan is a Fellow of the ACM Computer Human-Interaction Society.  His latest book is The Joy of Search: An Insider’s Guide to Going Beyond the Basics, available from MIT Press and fine bookstores everywhere.

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