Nigel Ford

Professor Nigel Ford is a part-time Professor of Information Science at the University of Sheffield’s School of Information, Journalism and Communication. He holds a BA in French Studies from the University of Leeds and an MA in Librarianship from the University of Sheffield. His career spans academic roles, including former Director of Research and Head of the Educational Informatics Research Group. He transitioned to part-time status in 2011 to continue contributing to teaching and research.

His research focuses on information behavior, information retrieval, and educational informatics, with an emphasis on cognitive styles and their impact on learning and information seeking. He has led projects such as PATHWAY (promoting inquiry-based science teaching) and PATHS (personalized access to cultural heritage). His work explores digital libraries, web-based learning, and creativity support systems.

Notable contributions include studies on children’s search strategies, metacognition in web credibility assessment, and the role of cognitive styles in information systems. He has supervised over 20 PhD students, many investigating diverse topics like public library service provision, online learning emotions, and knowledge sharing in virtual communities.

His grants include funding from the European Commission, AHRC, and others, totaling over £1 million. He remains affiliated with the Educational Informatics Research Group and continues interdisciplinary research bridging information science with education and creativity.