International webinar on information generation, dissemination at PU

Chandigarh: Second international webinar on the theme 'Information generation, dissemination and use during covid-19 lockdown' through cisco webex app was organised on June 17, 2020 by the Department of Library and Information Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh. 

Prof. Preeti Mahajan, chairperson of the department, introduced the aim of the webinar series as continuous professional development by converting the lockdown challenges into opportunities for upgrading various skills required of the LIS profession. 

Prof. V. R. Sinha,Dean Research presided over the webinar and while highlighting the importance of such webinars, he congratulated the department for holding 17 webinars during the lockdown period.

 Dr. P. K. Jain ,Special Library Association Board of Directors, USA and librarian, Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi was the Guest of Honour. 

Firstly, Mr. Jay Bhatt ,Engineering Librarian, Drexel University, Philadelphia delivered the talk on "The role of libraries during covid 19 and future plans for their reopening in the US" in which he cited various services which the public librarians in US are providing to the community during the pandemic period like live streaming of Zoos and how they are making themselves future ready.

 The second speaker, Dr. Maleerat Maliyaem , Asst. Professor, King Mongkut's University of Technology, North Bangkok delivered the talk on "Information generated on social media and related research during covid -19". She talked about the various types of information that was generated on social media during Covid 19 pandemic including comforting information, shocking information, misinformation, disinformation, etc. She highlighted the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in detecting and responding to such situation. She also talked about the new way of living with new normal trends like Drones, 3D Printing, Service Robots, etc. 

Prof. Rupak Chakravarty delivered the Vote of Thanks. Today's webinar was attended by about 400 people including LIS academicians, Library professionals, LIS researchers and students of Library and Information Science from different countries of the world.