Creating iEdge

During my second quarter at the iSchool, I became frustrated with my ability to keep up with all the interesting developments in technology and information science. In my classes, I would get tantalizing bits of information about new things happening, but wouldn't have the time to follow up on them. I felt that these new developments were the key to my future as an information professional. After talking to others in my cohort, especially my co-Founder Kathleen Walsh, I realized I was not alone in my frustration. Thus was born "iEdge."

My original idea was to create a forum for students to research and share information about cutting-edge developments in technology and information science. The world of technology changes at the speed of light, making it difficult for anyone to keep on top of things on her own. As a group, it was possible.

Our first meeting was April 11, 2006, and Dr. Terry Brooks was our first speaker. As someone who works hard to keep up on new developments, Terry was a huge hit, telling us what makes him feel "edgy." After Terry's lecture, the 30 people who were in attendance decided to meet every other week for the rest of the quarter. We also decided that since there were so few meetings left for the year, we should focus on expert lectures. The rest of the quarter's meetings featured Amazon's personalization manager, a web services expert and a data security consultant.

After taking over as ASIS&T officers, Kathleen & I decided that iEdge should become part of ASIS&T. This year, iEdge has done several events, including the Information Architecture Practical, a lecture by new assistant professor Jake Wobbrock and a session with professor Jeff Kim. We are frequently approached by other iSchool students and organizations who ask iEdge to co-sponsor events because of the success of our efforts. We are also recently organized a half-day conference, funded by a Learning for Leadership grant, called iEdge 2007: So What? Research into Practice.

iEdge provides a valuable service to the iSchool community. First and foremost, it creates a sense of community for iSchool students, especially those who are technology-focused. It is one of the few forums where students from all four iSchool programs mix. It also provides a training ground for students to practice their research and presentation skills. For those of us who are planning careers more focused on technology, it is absolutely imperative that we are well versed in what's new and hot. iEdge allows students to stay current without spending all of their time researching. Finally, it allows students to envision non-traditional information careers -- and create valuable connections-- by putting them into contact with professionals. I believe that iEdge will survive for many years to come.

I had never done anything like this before. I had rarely been involved in organized, extracurricular groups, let alone organized one myself. It was an enormous undertaking, both logistically and personally. What if you throw a party and no one comes? Or what if you throw a party and everyone comes? Because there had never before been a group like iEdge, I wasn't sure what the response would be. Moving past that fear to believing in the iEdge mission and knowing that the community needed such a group was a significant experience for me. It gave me greater confidence in my ability to evaluate the needs of a group, as well as in my ability to create change through organizing. Working so closely with Kathleen and subsequently the other ASIS&T officers, gave me valuable insight into how collaborations work. Additionally, I have made invaluable professional contacts and learned how to network successfully, something that has intimidated me in the past.

iEdge website

First iEdge Session: