ICARUS

International Centre for Archives and Records Management Research and User Studies

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Located at University College London within the Department of Information Studies (UCL:DIS), ICARUS was established in recognition of the need to develop a significant body of research which seeks to identify, understand and meet the rapid social, technological and intellectual changes sweeping through the archives and records management discipline.

To this end ICARUS seeks to:

• Develop knowledge and enhance understanding of the creation, management and use of records and their role in society
• Map, monitor and evaluate significant changes in the archives and records domain using robust evidence-based methods.

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ICARUS brings together researchers in user access and description, community archives and identity, concepts and contexts of records and archives, and information policy. It promotes a fuller understanding of how records relate to and interact with other forms of evidence and information and other types of memory object and material culture. A key feature is cross-disciplinary, collaborative partnerships, both within UCL (ICARUS works closely with UCL's Constitution Unit and with museum studies staff at the Institute of Archaeology) and with major UK and international organisations, including The National Archives, the British Library, and the National Council on Archives.

At the heart of the rationale of ICARUS is an awareness of the international dimension to the challenges we face. ICARUS builds on UCL:DIS’s global reputation and worldwide range of contacts to bring an international perspective to the study of records. ICARUS seeks to engage in research projects with a range of international partners, including the International Records Management Trust, the Centre for Investigation of Financial Electronic Records and leading archives and records academics in Australia, Botswana, Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden.

ICARUS monthly research seminars are an informal way of keeping in touch with current issues and exchanging ideas and expertise. If you are interested in joining in please contact Dr Elizabeth Shepherd {e.shepherd@ucl.ac.uk}.