As a publisher, we like to take every opportunity possible to get to know our audience; where have they come from, where are they going, and what motivates them?
This wasn't just a one off - we intend to follow up with further 'Twinterviews' across a range of engineering and academic publishing professionals. This is likely to include established mechanical engineers, librarians, subscription agents and hopefully many more!
In case you didn't get to follow the Twinterview live, transcripts can be seen below.
Session 1. Dr Lucy Rogers
Session 2. Dr Emma Coonan
Dr Lucy Rogers
18th May 2010
Our first interviewee was Dr Lucy Rogers - author of 'It's Only Rocket Science', IMechE member, blogger and avid Twitterer! We found out what's going on in the field at the moment, and what exactly Lucy thought Dark Matter might be.
PEPublishing Here goes everyone - our first ever Twinterview, introducing our guest: @drlucyrogers! Hi Lucy - Q1 to follow...
PEPublishing Q1. @drlucyrogers What first got you interested in engineering and rocket science?
DrLucyRogers School's Great Egg Race - e.g. we set off party poppers at opp end of lab using equip avail in lab. Then Insight course by WISE #pepview
PEPublishing Love a good egg race! Q2. Do you think the new government will do good things for engineering in the UK? #pepview
DrLucyRogers It has the potential to. The #SciVote made a difference. @LordDrayson did a good job - I hope #DavidWilletts will do likewise #pepview
PEPublishing Q3. And are schools in the UK currently doing enough to encourage children to pursue careers in the sciences and engineering? #pepview
DrLucyRogers I feel that combining all the sciences has not helped. However, some schools are doing great things - it depends on the teachers. #pepview
PEPublishing Q4. This is currently a very male-dominated industry. How can more girls be recruited? Should they be? #pepview
DrLucyRogers Women represent an underused resource & should be encouraged. WISE (http://tinyurl.com/392oxy9) helps encourages girls. #pepview
PEPublishing Agree they are underused! Would be great to see more. Q5. Are there any big events on your calendar this year? #pepview
DrLucyRogers .@IOWStarParty 2011 preperation is underway - it's a gathering of astronomers who come & enjoy the dark skies on the Isle of Wight #pepview
PEPublishing Sounds fun! Q6. (UK's fave topic?) Did the govt. make the right decision in closing UK airspace as a result of the ash? #pepview #ashtag
DrLucyRogers Initially, was the only decision that could be made, as per guidelines. Good to see interviews with @imeche's #DrColinBrown #pepview #ashtag
PEPublishing Indeed :) Q7. As a member of @IMechE, do you think their work contributes positively towards the profession? Should they do more? #pepview
DrLucyRogers Not many people really know what Chartered Mechanical Engineers do (fix my car?) @FormulaStudent 's great, but more could be done. #pepview
PEPublishing Common problem! Q8. Rebecca, our resident astronomer, would like to know what you believe dark matter is? (one for @profbriancox?) #pepview
DrLucyRogers My gut feeling: I think new models will be designed that will involve a shift in thinking, so Dark Matter will not be required. #pepview
PEPublishing Be interesting to see what happens there. Q9. Do you think a manned mission to mars will be a success? #pepview
DrLucyRogers Hope so - it'll inspire people again.But there’s lots that can go wrong - a lot of luck (& talent) made Apollo missions successful. #pepview
PEPublishing Saw they're about to do a simulated one? Not my cup of tea... Lastly: Q10. What’s next for you Lucy? #pepview
DrLucyRogers Spreading the science/astronomy/engineering word in plain English, writing children’s astro-story books, & applying for FIMechE! #pepview
PEPublishing Sounds busy - point us in the direction of the books when they're done please! Thanks for your answers Lucy, you've been great! #pepview
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Dr Emma Coonan
30th June 2010
Our second interviewee was Dr Emma Coonan - Research Skills and Development Librarian at Cambridge University Library. We spoke to Emma about the current challenges facing University libraries and what it really means to be a librarian. Emma can be found @LbrGoddess on Twitter
PEPublishing Here goes then! Questions for @lbrgoddess to follow.... #pepview
PEPublishing 1. @LbrGoddess What is the best part of being a librarian? #pepview
LbrGoddess The ‘lightbulb moment’ when someone learns how to find the info they need for themselves. Love it. #pepview
PEPublishing Wish I'd had someone to help me out at uni! Q2. @LbrGoddess What are the most challenging parts of your job? #pepview
LbrGoddess Not enough hours in the day! There’s so much great stuff to do: course design, research support, interface testing, outreach ... it’s literally never the same two days running, which is what makes it so much fun. But planning is a challenge :) #pepview
PEPublishing Q3. @LbrGoddess Do you think library resources are undervalued within universities? #pepview
LbrGoddess The resources are valued greatly but people often don’t realise they’re provided by us ... libraries need to shout, not whisper, about the services and resources they offer #pepview
PEPublishing Problem for lots of libraries we think! Q4. Do you see a trend towards accessing information in new ways? (eg. on mobiles) #pepview
LbrGoddess Sure: instant access to info is highly desirable. But this complements traditional ways of working, rather than replacing them #pepview
PEPublishing Agree - not sure anything will ever replace a bit of a paper and a pen. Q5. Is the iPad the game-changer everyone is saying it is? #pepview
LbrGoddess Jury’s out until I get one :) It’s certainly enhancing the existing trend for info-on-the-go #pepview
PEPublishing Halfway through now guys - some good answers so far! Great to hear what the 'insiders' really think! #pepview
PEPublishing Q6. Do you think publishers and libraries can work together to find a way through the budget crisis? (not hopeful for the iPad!) #pepview
LbrGoddess I think the more talking we do the better: we’ve got lots to offer one another ... and as @ebookscambridge says, if we’re all in the dark, let’s hold hands! #pepview
PEPublishing Q7. How do you see your role changing over the next 5 years? #pepview
LbrGoddess Increased emphasis on outreach and innovative library services, propelled by focus on user needs rather than library processes #pepview
PEPublishing Q8. Do you think printed resources will exist in the future? #pepview
LbrGoddess Absolutely: the tangibility of print is still an important factor in study and research. When did you last read a pdf onscreen? #pepview
PEPublishing Mostly just restaurant menus! Q9. If you could change 1 thing about how a library serves the academic community, what would it be? #pepview
LbrGoddess The verb :) It’s a two-way communication, a partnership. We should be working together and sharing views #pepview
PEPublishing And finally... Q10. What do you think is the most effective way of encouraging take-up and use of library resources? #pepview
LbrGoddess Outreach, outreach, outreach. We need to go to users and let them know how much we have offer when it comes to information ... we can help them not only find quality academic info but organise, manage and evaluate it. Librarians are awesome :) #pepview
PEPublishing Some of them certainly are :) Outreach totally key - so many people just don't know what's there #pepview
PEPublishing That's it for this Twinterview! Thanks so much @lbrGoddess, some great answers and really interesting points #pepview
PEPublishing If anyone's got anything they'd like to add to any comments made then feel free to @ us or use #pepview!
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