Join the Critical Media Lab for this virtual Critical Tech Talk which kicks off a series of three Wikipedia Edit-a-thons (Spring 2026, Fall 2026, and Winter 2027). No experience is necessary, just an interest in open content and wiki-editing. Attendees are welcome to register and join only the Critical Tech Talk or sign up for the edit-a-thon as well. The edit-a-thon is facilitated by Wikimedia Canada administrator and 2024 Wikimedian of the Year, Hannah Clover. Coffee will be provided.
About the Critical Tech Talk
Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, has long been a major reference resource for many. With more and more people utilizing AI summaries and large language models like ChatGPT, where does Wikipedia fit in? This talk will explore Wikipedia's current place in the digital landscape as well as its relationship with automation and LLMs.
When: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: MC 2065 and Online via Zoom (Hybrid event)
About the Edit-a-thon
This first workshop will focus on introducing Wikipedia editing (no experience necessary). Participants will collectively edit one existing article in an effort to improve the world’s most comprehensive free online encyclopedia. Participants are asked to bring their own computing devices for editing and may also optionally bring secondary research they'd like to refer to when editing. This workshop (and the subsequent series) is open to all students, faculty, and staff.
When: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: ECH 1205 (In-person only)
About the speakers
Chelsea Chiovelli is a librarian by trade and holds both a Master of Library and Information Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Alberta. Following a grad school assignment, Chelsea began contributing to Wikipedia in 2023. While working at the University of Alberta Library, she gained an appreciation for the intersections between libraries, free knowledge, and the Wikimedia Movement that was further compounded after attending Wikimania 2023. In her role as Program Officer, Chelsea hopes to engage institutions and communities to promote free knowledge as well as support Wikimedians across Canada.
Hannah Clover is an avid Wikipedian based in Hamilton, Ontario. She began editing Wikipedia articles in high school, leading to her first one being featured on the main page’s “Did You Know?” section. Hannah has performed extensive product testing regarding the mobile editing experience, and started a research project where she interviewed more than 300 Wikipedians about their motivations in contributing to the website. In 2023, she became an administrator at Wikimedia Canada and in 2024, was recognized as the youngest ever Wikimedian of the Year. Hannah is now on a mission to facilitate Wikipedia edit-a-thons at various institutions all across Ontario.
About the respondent
Mélika S. Hashemi is a PhD student in English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo. Her current research-creation practice engages with copper, using a metallurgical approach to forge techno-alchemical analogy-metaphors for our data-driven world. Mélika is the co-curator of In Search of a Loss of Self (with Soheila Esfahani), co-author of O Lone Traveller (with Shirin Fahimi), and course author of Digital Spirituality (University of Waterloo). Most recently, she was a Rungh Wikipedia Scholar through the Critical Media Lab.
Moderator:
Dr. Marcel O'Gorman, University Research Chair, professor of English, and founding director of the Critical Media Lab (CML), University of Waterloo. Professor O'Gorman leads collaborative design projects and teaches courses and workshops in critical media studies and responsible innovation. He has published widely about the impacts of technology on society, and he has an international portfolio of exhibitions and performances.
