A Sheffield conference ambassador’s efforts are being rewarded this week, as 450 delegates from around the world meet in Sheffield for the iSchools’ annual international iConference. The event comes to the UK for the first time, 25-28 March, and is hosted at Sheffield University’s multi-million pound Diamond Building.
Val Gillet, professor of chemoinfomatics at the University of Sheffield’s Information School, is jointly hosting the event with the iSchool at Northumbria University. The event will bring together thinkers and leaders from academia, industry and not-for-profit organisations to discuss emerging challenges and potential solutions for information and data management.
The theme of the conference is ‘Transforming Digital Worlds’ and it will focus on the importance of the information field in transforming an increasingly data-driven world.
iSchools is a worldwide association of around 90 information schools dedicated to preparing students to meet the information challenges of contemporary society.
More than 420 of this year’s delegates hail from outside of Sheffield, with people travelling from North America, China, South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe to attend the four-day conference.
The Information School at Sheffield has been at the forefront of developments in the information field for more than 50 years and has recently been named number one by the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Professor Gillet said: “I’m proud to be bringing the iConference to Sheffield. It’s a real coup for the University and is great timing given our recent top position in the QS rankings.
Emma France at Marketing Sheffield added: “Val is a fantastic ambassador for Sheffield and this is proof of the success of ambassador led bids – it’s been fantastic to support her.”
Various social events are happening across the city around the main conference, including an opening reception in the Winter Garden, a reception for Heads and Deans in the Town Hall and a conference banquet in Sheffield City Hall.
Delegates will also get the chance to experience one of the wonders of the Peak District with an excursion to Chatsworth House.
