Colin Conrad

Overview:

I am an interdisciplinary information technology scholar whose work draws from human-computer interaction, neuroscience, education, and data science. I am currently interested in how attention or other brain mechanisms impact the effectiveness of learning technologies. My recent work uses a variety of research methods borrowed from neuroscience (such as EEG and eye tracking) and information science (such as surveys and data mining) to answer research questions.

Born and raised in Halifax, I was always interested in how information technology shapes who we are, and consequently how people shape information technologies. When I began my undergraduate studies, I took a philosophical perspective, which eventually led me to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Economics from Dalhousie and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Queen’s University. After taking some time off, I returned to Halifax where my interests became focused on how information technology is used. I enrolled in the Master of Electronic Commerce program and later the Interdisciplinary PhD. I believe that Dal SIM is well positioned to break new ground in the information management discipline.

Outside of work, I like to spend my time either outdoors or in the local community. I enjoy hiking and am looking forward to tackling some of Canada’s great trails over the coming years. I have also been long involved with various volunteer organizations, usually working on projects designed to engage and empower underrepresented groups in public dialogue.