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Knowledge Equity and Justice Spring Seminar

Submitted on Monday, March 14, 2022

Welcome to the Knowledge Equity and Justice Spring Seminar!

Dates: May 9th to May 26th, 2022.

The transmission and circulation of knowledge within information systems is not equitable. Certain kinds of knowledge, such as oral knowledge, or knowledge from certain peoples, such as Black or Indigenous peoples, are subject to forces of oppression. Furthermore, people can be treated unjustly for their inability to access knowledge. Theorist Miranda Fricker has described epistemic injustice as “wrong done to someone specifically in their capacity as a knower.” In contemporary information work, it is vital to understand the structural nature of epistemic injustice and move beyond surface-level work that aligns with many diversity and inclusion efforts to focus on knowledge justice.  

The Knowledge Equity and Justice Spring Seminar (KEJSS) is an intensive learning opportunity open to graduate students in Information Studies programs focusing on critical issues in epistemic justice relevant to Library and Information Sciences (LIS). Alongside guest speakers, participants will explore a series of topics that consider knowledge in relation to systems of power and race and the ways dominant culture systems oppress knowledge. Topics include scholarly communication, language and marginalization; Indigenous knowledge; and issues related to knowledge, citation and the Global South. This seminar invites participants to recognize knowledge as a site for justice and consider how to put knowledge justice into practice as future information professionals.

Sponsored by SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) and the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, and convened by Professor Stacy Allison-Cassin, the seminar will take place online over three weeks. Through the workshop, students will have an opportunity to listen and be in dialogue with speakers and engage with critical readings and materials. The Seminar consists of five two-hour talks by guest speakers and two-hour introductory and closing sessions. Guest talks will be open to the public, with additional time reserved for seminar participants. Speakers include Leslie Chan (University of Toronto Scarborough); Priyank Chandra & Adrian Petterson (Faculty of Information, University of Toronto); Alan Corbiere (York University); Stefanie Haustein (uOttawa); and Anasuya Sengupta and Adele Vrana (Whose Knowledge?).

In addition to the learning outcomes for students, part of the goal of KEJSS is also to catalyze a conversation about the inclusion of Knowledge Equity as an important component of education for Information Studies programs.

The opportunity is limited to 25 graduate students from any institution. Students will be selected through an application process. As part of the application students are expected to commit to attending all sessions. Apply here.

The Knowledge Equity and Justice Spring Seminar (KEJSS) is supported by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Applications are due by April 4th, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST.

Session dates and times (all times Eastern Time):

  • May 10th 1:00 – 3:15 pm
  • May 12th 11 am – 1:15 pm 
  • May 17th 1:00 – 3:15 pm 
  • May 19th 1:00 – 3:15 pm 
  • May 24th 1:00 – 3:15 pm 
  • May 26th 1:00 – 3:15 pm
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