Digital Disruptions? A Discussion

Over the last two decades, the phenomenal growth in the power and sophistication of computers, and the explosion in communication and information-sharing that the Internet enables have had a profound impact on academic practice. Not only how we research, read, and write, but also when we write, and where we get published: computers have affected all these things. The pace of change can be punishing, particularly when it seems sometimes to be driven more by ideology, political expediency, cost saving or a love of novelty. Our two speakers in this session, James Baker (British Library) and Danny Millum (Institute for Historical Research) will discuss these ‘Digital Disruptions’ of academic life informed by their experiences in their respective institutions, before opening to a wider discussion.