Why do we need a shared digital lab?
The humanities – such as history, cultural theory, linguistics, folklore studies, and ethnology – are rapidly digitizing. People’s daily cultural communication and everyday life are increasingly taking place in digital environments. Research objects, whether historical sources or cultural phenomena, are also more frequently available in digital form.
This brings with it an increasing volume of data and a growing need for new tools. Emerging fields such as digital humanities, computational humanities, and cultural data analysis are using data more efficiently, applying techniques like language models, visualization, and machine learning.
Why is a shared digital infrastructure necessary?
Many memory institutions (e.g., archives, museums, libraries) and research organizations manage valuable humanities data. However, much of this data is scattered, hard to find, or underutilized. To better unlock the potential hidden in the data for researchers, educators, creatives, and entrepreneurs, a shared digital humanities lab for Estonian humanities research is being developed. This lab will combine the expertise and databases of various institutions, creating a strong collaborative platform that supports research, education, and creative work.
What is the purpose of the planned digital infrastructure?
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Creating a shared platform
Information about existing and research-generated collections of Estonian humanities data will be consolidated. This will help make the data easier to find, use, and link. -
Sharing knowledge and skills
The platform will provide guides and learning materials on humanities data analysis – for both beginners and advanced users. New materials will be created as needed. -
Offering digital lab services for humanities data
In collaboration with researchers and data managers, services will be developed to support data analysis, visualization, and application in various fields – from scientific research to education and cultural projects.