On 24 May 2021, the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) hosted Prof Ina Fourie, the Head of the Department of Information Science's inaugural lecture titled ‘Information behaviour as research lens for life’. Prof Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic introduced Prof Fourie and welcomed the guests. 

Prof Fourie, who grew up in Kimberley, the South African diamond city, completed her high school education at the age of 17. She furthered her studies at the former University of the Orange Free State (currently the University of the Free State), where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science.

She completed her honours degree, and while employed as a librarian at the Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa from January 1983 until June 1986, she completed her master’s degree also from the University of the Orange Free State. She joined the Department of Information Science at the University of South Africa in June 1988, and in 1991 she started her doctoral study titled ‘Design of a multimedia study package for distant teaching in information retrieval’ at the University of Johannesburg. She received her doctoral degree in 1995, and in the same year was awarded a Diploma in Tertiary Education (with distinction) by the University of South Africa.

In July 2001 Prof Fourie joined the University of Pretoria’s Department of Information Science as an associate professor and was subsequently promoted to full professor in 2010. She was appointed Head of the Department of Information Science in January 2020. Her academic achievements include more than 130 publications, a book of which she was the sole author and a textbook on information literacy which she co-authored. Prof Fourie is soon to publish two more books. She has served abroad as a visiting professor and has successfully hosted an international conference.

In her speech Prof Fourie mentioned that she had learnt early in life while being a library science student, that information is important for productivity and keeping a competitive edge. ‘People with access to information and sophisticated databases can be more productive and can better maintain a competitive edge’, she explained.

In her speech, she described her academic journey by using information behaviour as a research lens. She spoke about information behaviour in terms of information seeking, sharing and use, the avoidance of certain information encountered, and the identification and expression of information needs. People engage in these activities daily in contexts ranging from work, health and study to decision-making. This is how society makes sense of situations in which knowledge gaps are experienced.

Prof Fourie spoke extensively about information behaviour, which is her niche area of expertise. She explained how information behaviour can be complex in terms of life-threatening diseases, viral infections and palliative care, where there are prospects of pain, death, and bereavement. She emphasised the importance of awareness of diagnosis and insightful theories that might deepen understanding. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and diseases such as cancer, and the accompanying uncertainties, her research is enlightening, contributes to improving quality of life and touches on human emotions. Since knowledge and a thorough understanding of information behaviour in such situations can be invaluable, information seeking and sharing are useful activities.

Different types of information can have different effects and could even lead to feelings of anxiety. Information service design and how information is made available are important. Prof Fourie briefly touched upon the concept of space, as in physical, emotional, and mental space, as well as the concept of time. She also mentioned the importance of language and the use of complex vocabulary, which can create information gaps, especially in the case of indigenous people. Due to the complexity of human behaviour, information design, awareness and the way in which information is made available are very important. Information behaviour is a separate field of study and is listed as a sub-discipline of Information Science. 

Prof Fourie’s research highlights three important issues that contribute to finding solutions:

• The value and importance of information for coping and improving quality of life
• Being informed of the problem and knowing the diagnosis
• A deep understanding of the situation and its context and scope

It is important to learn more, which requires active research, and Prof Fourie encouraged us to analyse information to form an opinion about its significance. She mentioned that she hopes to start research in bibliotherapy—a field that uses literature to deal with emotional issues—while working with children affected by cancer. 

Since most information behaviour research is focused on sad and challenging things in life, Prof Fourie, in her private studies, hopes to bring a bit of fun into research by focusing on redefining joy and happiness. Her two-year-old granddaughter, the apple of her eye, is the inspiration for this research.

In conclusion, Prof Fourie invited people who find it challenging to obtain information, to contribute to her research, if they could be interested in sharing their deeply personal experiences.

She also encouraged collaboration with:

• Researchers from other disciplines who can contribute to the study of information behaviour 
• People in practice, especially those in the health care professions
• Current students, who can become information behaviour researchers and contribute to improving our quality of life.

Speaking briefly at the end of Prof Fourie's address, Prof Sunil Maharaj, the Dean of EBIT, said: ‘Prof Fourie’s speech was thought-provoking, very inspirational and came deep from the heart. Her vast experience in her field of research was evident.’ He also praised Prof Fourie for inviting other researchers to participate in information behaviour research, which he felt would contribute greatly to the research agenda for Africa, and South Africa in particular.