Industrial roots of information science

Abstract

The term “information scientist” was used by industry in the 1960s to designate a scientist who worked with information, as differentiated from one who worked with chemicals or animals. Government regulation, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, was a driving force in the establishment of industrial information centers. A turning point occurred in the 1970s when universities began offering degrees in information science. Graduates, especially those also holding degrees in science, were then preferred for employment in information centers. JASIS was also affected, in that the content of its articles became more oriented toward academic information science. As a result, industry interest in JASIS waned. A plea is made here for JASIS to reach out beyond its narrow focus to address a wider audience, because other subject disciplines, as well as industry, could benefit.