At the University Libraries, faculty and staff bring diverse backgrounds and interests to their roles, elevating the Libraries’ culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning and curiosity. We asked Data Education Librarian Emma Slayton a few questions about her work, to find out more about the inspiration behind her contributions to the campus community.
Q: In your own words, what is a quick overview of your role at the Libraries?
A: I serve as the Data Education Librarian, which basically means that if anyone wants to learn about how data is made, how to understand data, or how to communicate about it I am your person. I have also expanded to work on AI literacies, or how we can more effectively understand AI outputs and the context of when and how we should be using AI from an ethical, equitable, and effective standpoint.
Q: Talk a little about the work you’re most passionate about. Why have you chosen to pursue this work within a library setting?
A: When I am not wearing my library service hat as an data / AI educator, I continue to stay active in my research field of archeology.
My background in archeology sets me up well to work in libraries, not only for my practical background in different data-focused software like GIS for map making or R for data analysis and visualization, but it also sets me up to support multiple disciplines. I often think of archaeology as the magpie discipline, in that we steal a lot of theory and practice guidance from other fields to broaden our understanding of the past. For example, in my Ph.D. I worked with ethnographic anthropologists conducting interviews of modern populations to understand their cultural heritage ties to the past as well as scientists who were using modern DNA analysis techniques to assess how diet can inform us about human mobility.
For my own area, I look at how climate data can be used as a basis for computer models to assess the connections between archaeological sites, to tell us about possible human mobility and object exchange between island communities in the past. This process means I get the opportunity to work with multiple disciplines, like environmental science and engineering, computer science, and also history! The Libraries is a great place to find these communities — since we serve all of campus, we have connections to experts in multiple fields.
Q: Share an experience or skillset that people might not expect a librarian to have. How is it a game changer for the work you do at CMU?
A: A lot of people seem surprised when they meet me to learn that there is a whole list of data skill training for software or coding and data communication education through the Libraries. As these skills are some of the most sought after by employers, particularly data communication and graph building, it's great to be able to help students, faculty, staff, and even community members from the Pittsburgh area build their knowledge and skill in these areas. Being able to communicate across expertise divides has really helped me connect with those I support, but it’s also a skill I can help others develop as well.
Q: The Libraries serves as a neutral convening space to bring different areas of campus together. How do you value collaboration in your work? Can you give us an example of a recent collaboration that has helped a project reach new heights?
A: One project I have worked on recently is developing AI Literacy training for students, so that they can be prepared to join the workforce / research community and use AI as a part of their research. Some of this work is with Nik Martelaro from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) — we are developing workshops and training materials that focus on real-world application of AI, while inviting students to be critical and curious about how to use AI ethically and effectively. I am also working with the CMU Libraries team on AI Research tool exploration, which is focused on developing communities of practice to make faculty and graduate students aware of and able to work with new AI research tools connected to things like literature reviews and finding resources.
I value collaboration, as I have learned through my career there is always more than one way to approach a problem. What we lose by only going to one person, one tool (yes even AI), or one method is immeasurable, and different perspectives help us build the way we think about the world and develop a critical lens that provides a new view of how past and current people think.
Q: What’s an area that you want to innovate and push boundaries in? Why is it exciting to you?
A: Connecting my research in archeology to the love that I have for teaching through the CMU Libraries, I have recently published a special issue that focuses on orienting students to computational seafaring modeling. Published in the Journal of Maritime Archeology, it features several papers that explore basic themes and theories behind using computational humanistic focused models. This is exciting as it shows how we can use traditional platforms that support learning about research to learn also about process, and focus on training literacies that are so important to student growth as well as to bringing new people into the field.
Q: What’s something in the Libraries that speaks to you personally? This can be a book, something in the Archives or Special Collections, a space in one of the buildings — anything you want to highlight!
A: I love our zine cart and button making machine! They are a great way to both express your interests but also meet and collaborate with new people.