Ingrid Mason
Ingrid Mason is a strategist, technologist and data specialist and the founder and co-convenor of the regional chapter of AI for Libraries, Archives, and Museums (AI4LAM) in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work in digital transformation of research, education, and collecting spans higher education and cultural heritage sectors. She brings her understanding of humanities, arts, and social science research needs together with disciplinary and technical expertise to the development of national research and data infrastructure in Australia.
Statement of interest.
“When the Open Library of the Humanities (OLH) was being launched and in the process of selecting its technology to underpin the scholarly platform, I put my hand up to offer technical advice and to advocate for uptake of the service. The OLH business model has become a key plank in support of scholarly communication for humanities research by academic libraries and the growth of its membership reflects this. Scholarly communication however is at an inflection point, decision-makers and funders in the research and collecting communities are aware the global system is strained by profiteering and publish or perish incentives. On top of this artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have arrived. AI brings opportunity and at the same time the calls for stronger regulation reflect the need for ethical approaches to use of the technologies. How open access scholarly communication is supported by the academic sector and how challenges with AI technology are addressed will be key for data stewards like OLH. Openly accessible content has been treated as “free” resources in the race to develop AI. This is a pivotal moment for data stewards like OLH to navigate what parties have rights to use content for AI development and why and to marshal AI for public good inherent in scholarly communication. Multiple perspectives are needed, and I’m delighted to be advocating for the OLH in the southern hemisphere.”