The European Conference on Information Retrieval (ECIR) seems to have emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever. This year, in Dublin, saw the highest number of attendees ever, I’m told, at over 380 in-person and virtual attendees. I’m not a computing academic, so I don’t sit through the academic presentations, but the last day of… Continue reading ECIR 2023 Industry Day
Call for proposals for IRSG one-day events in 2023
The Information Retrieval Specialist Group (IRSG) of the BCS invites proposals for the organisation of one day events supported by BCS. Proposals will be evaluated based on the organisational and financial plans and benefits to the Information Retrieval community. Important dates * Submission deadline for this round: 19-May-2023 * Notification: 02-Jun-2023
Relevance under uncertainty – the commercial realities of IR development
Relevance Under Uncertainty – How Loop54 does software engineering to advance relevance Loop54 (on the market under the name FactFinder Infinity) is a technology that integrates with e-commerce stores and determines based on visitor interactions, in real time, which the most relevant products are for each individual user at every moment. It attempts to perform… Continue reading Relevance under uncertainty – the commercial realities of IR development
Tony Kent Strix Award 2022 lectures
The 2022 annual memorial lecture for the International Tony Kent Strix Award hosted by the UK electronic information Group (UKeiG) in partnership with the International Society for Knowledge Organisation UK (ISKO UK) , the Royal Society of Chemical Information and Computer Applications Group (RSC CICAG) and the British Computer Society Information Retrieval Specialist Group (BCS… Continue reading Tony Kent Strix Award 2022 lectures
Understanding Search Engines – Dirk Lewandowski
It is remarkable that this book is unique in its coverage of the development of the technology, business and impact of web search. The web search engines play such an important role in our lives and our business activities that we take them for granted. It’s not just a lack of books but a lack… Continue reading Understanding Search Engines – Dirk Lewandowski
Events Spring 2023
One Day Events Search Solutions 2023: The groups annual industry focused event, includes a tutorial day. 21-22 November 2023.
ECIR 2023 Dublin – conference report
Last week I attended the 45th edition of the European Conference on Information Retrieval (ECIR) which was hosted in Dublin, Ireland. Given that this was only my second in-person conference I have ever attended it was great to bump into several familiar faces throughout the week. One reason for that could be that this year’s… Continue reading ECIR 2023 Dublin – conference report
Karen Spärck Jones Award 2023 – Timeline for nominations
Professor Jochen Leidner has been the Chair of the KSJ Awards panel since 2019. As his term of office has now come to a conclusion Dr. Haiming Liu (University of Southampton) is taking on the role for the next three years. The Award now alternates between ECIR and the Annual Conference of the European… Continue reading Karen Spärck Jones Award 2023 – Timeline for nominations
An interview with William Wang – KSJ Award Winner 2022
I asked William Wang, who at ECIR 2023 was presented with the Karen Spark Jones Award for 2022, if he could respond to a series of questions about his background and career. I am most grateful to William for the care he put into his replies. What were your aspirations at high school? I have… Continue reading An interview with William Wang – KSJ Award Winner 2022
From Udo Kruschwitz – BCS IRSG Chair
Welcome to our Spring 2023 edition of Informer! Have we seen you in Dublin? Not inconceivable given it was the biggest ECIR ever in many respects including number of attendees (more than 400 registrations!). It felt as if everbody was there … Well, in case you missed the conference there is plenty of reading material… Continue reading From Udo Kruschwitz – BCS IRSG Chair