Home » Projects » How to best engage with digital humanities research in Victoria?

How to best engage with digital humanities research in Victoria?

Activity summary

The purpose of this activity is to bridge the divide between the oft disparate areas of humanities and digital research. This will include:

  • Sharing infrastructure and expertise,
  • Building resources to support researchers of varying interest and experience to use digital capabilities in their research.

Why is this important?

  • The application of digital tools in research is increasing, including within humanities, arts and social sciences (HASS).
  • Digital data within HASS is often non-numerical (e.g. in architecture, dance, heritage) yet exists in vast quantities.
  • The objective is to engage HASS researchers in a range of digital technologies and provide the relevant training programs and support framework, so that they can be applied to their specific research projects.

This activity aligns with FAVeR’s mission statement because it:

  • Supports capacity and capability building for all organisations.
  • Simplifies access to critical eResearch services and infrastructure.

FAVeR is leading this activity because it:

  • Provides a forum for collective Victorian thinking.
  • Advocates for our research communities.
  • Promotes collaboration across member organisations.
  • Strengthens the relationship between research and infrastructure across Victoria.

Previous Work

A brief meeting was held between humanities researchers and FAVeR representatives in late 2019. This meeting was convened based on a briefing document circulated to all FAVeR members and confirmed that there are humanities researchers interested in the use of digital approaches. Importantly, it also confirmed these researchers are interested in developing their expertise in a collaborative, cross-state model.

An event was run to raise awareness by showcasing the various digital approaches and tools that HASS researchers are using and how they have been applied to address specific research questions. Participants (presenters and audience members alike) gained exposure to new digital methodologies, a better understanding of how digital tools can address specific research questions, and new opportunities for research collaborations, sharing of ideas and communities of practice

Current activities

  • A working group has been convened to establish a new series of lunchtime showcase events to demonstrate the application of digital tools in research.
  • Subsequent workshops and training events will follow the showcase to enable researchers to learn how to use the digital tools.
  • Visit the Events page to see the list of upcoming events.

Further participation

If you would like to be involved with or make a contribution to this project, please contact the Project Champions – Christopher Adda and Kay Steel