Feel it in your bones: Incorporating the body in embodied information practice research outputs

Introduction. Embodied information behaviour is a burgeoning area of Library and Information Science scholarship. Such scholarship is vital to understand the lived experiences of people interacting with information, which occur in part through bodies. But findings on bodily information experiences are still typically conveyed textually and verbally through traditional research products: articles, books, and verbal conference presentations. LIS scholars are calling for more embodied research outputs, since knowledge can transcend the words we use to describe it. If our bodies learn and understand the world in ways that may not be possible if blind to the body, then some research outputs might be best expressed through embodied information practices. Developing embodied scholarly communication requires rethinking legitimized forms of scholarly production.

Method. This panel asks what that production might look like, and how might we restructure scholarly communications to accommodate embodied communication modalities. The panellists will demonstrate examples of theatre, video, poetry, animated maps, and movement, and will discuss how non-verbal/textual modalities can further our scholarly work. Participants will be invited to join this conversation through art, movement, and discussion.

Conclusion. This interactive event offers attendees opportunities to engage in bodily understanding of information behaviour concepts through poetry, music, art, and movement, and expands the conversation to include all conference attendees through participatory design methods.