seeking information, designing appro- priate interactive search systems and developing human-focused approaches for evaluating information systems.”
Reputation
Ian leads the Strathclyde iSchool Research Group. SiSRG operates across the boundaries between information and computer sciences and has estab- lished an international reputation for research excellence and inquisitive and experimental IR analysis and explo- ration. In a fascinating online lecture, Ian referenced the significant research activity of international peers and role models, alongside the groundbreak- ing work of his Strathclyde team. He acknowledged that he was honoured to be a beneficiary of visionaries and mentors who had planted the seeds of curiosity that catalysed his innovative, impactful IR portfolio.
Ian expressly thanked his PhD supervisors Professors Keith van Rijsbergen and Mounia Lalmas for their professional and personal support; for enabling him to pursue his research goals without the fear of failure. True leaders in their field, they were “great examples that you can be a significant scholar, a great academic, but also a very decent human being”. He reflect- ed that previous recipients of the Strix award were also close personal col- leagues and had contributed to his suc- cess. “I remember how touched Keith was to receive the award back in 2004. Now I know how he felt.” Professor Emeritus Peter Ingwersen, Department of Communication, Copen- hagen University (recipient of the 2015 Tony Kent Strix Award), applauded Ruthven as “one of the few academics originating in computer science who has
January-February 2023 Professor Ian Ruthven.
succeeded in bridging the gap between computer science and information science, but also the social sciences”. Professor Pia Borlund, Oslo Metropoli- tan University (recipient of the 2018 Tony Kent Strix Award), concurred, saying: “Within the research community Profes- sor Ruthven is recognised for his high quality analytical and practical research. He is driven by a strong devotion to users with the purpose to optimise and support people’s information searching and access to information.”
Peter and Pia played a significant role in Ian’s career, encouraging the transition from a purely computer science back- ground by introducing him to library and information science theories and concepts from a rich and diverse user-oriented perspective.
Journey
Ian’s research journey has been 25 years in the making. Back then pundits weren’t even sure if “this world wide web thing” wasn’t just a flash in the pan. In an amaz- ingly short space of time the world has experienced the transition of search, like Dorothy stepping out of a black and white landscape into a technicolour Oz. From an ‘elite activity’ – the domain of trained computer and information scientists – to an everyday routine, where information seeking and retrieval is public property and pervasive.
As early as 1984, Peter Ingwersen had forecast that research and development into interface support – “simple, flexible and intelligent” solutions to help people work with information and search more effectively – was crucial to progress the
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