On the Road towards Arts and Humanities e-Infrastructure in Germany

1. On the Road towards Arts and Humanitiese-Infrastructure in Germany Dr. Heike Neuroth Göttingen State & University Library Max Planck Digital Library Berlin neuroth@sub.uni-goettingen.de

2. ToC • Introduction • eHum - National eHumanities Infrastructure project[German Research Foundation, DFG] • Example NEH/ODH (USA) • Outlook

3. Digital Humanities: text, image, multimedia, artefacts, data archives …; wide range of heterogeneous data types/formats (e.g. letters, newspapers, photographs, maps, surveys, field maps) eScience for the Humanities: - intensive computing technologies and methods in humanities research - eScience is designed to manage and analyse the data deluge brought on by the new digital age in ways that are suitable for the humanities - Computer-based collaborations, tools … Humanists use: digitisation, visualisation, tools (information management, data integration, textual/statistical analysis, text mining) Introduction: eScience & Humanities Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

4. Existing Resources and Data: most of it is still non-digital, incomplete, missing, fragmented, partial and disparate data; complex multimedia formats … Technology: Expensive, steep learning curve, too little interaction/cooperation with ICT experts „Traditional Humanists“ do not use computer-based analytical tools, most software was not developed for humanities scholarship; they still work in isolation, use traditional methods, lack computing skills and are not interdisciplinary eScience for the Humanities has to satisfy different needs compared to other sciences (different type of data, different type of research, etc.) the potential of Grid/eScience technology and infrastructure is not yet fully used in the humanities But … Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

5. National Project: eHum • Developing Germany’s eInfrastructure for the humanities, DFG project • Conceptualizing in 2008 • analysis of over 30 initiatives, organizations, projects (e.g. Digital Humanities, European Resource observatory for the Humanities and Social Sciences, JISC e-Infrastructure-Programme 2006-2009 …) • Goals and main objectives • to explore the current provision of Germany’s eInfrastructure for the humanities • to help define its future development Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

6. National Project: eHum • Overall objectives • to create a strategy for the development of a research infrastructure within the humanities in Germany • to develop a roadmap for the building of collaboration and partnerships between institutions and organizations for a German competence centre for e-Humanities • Specific objectives • to analyze national and international merges in the field of eHumanities • to gather information about current international activities • to creates overviews of such organizations to promote collaboration and synergies at German level Roadmap State-of-the-Art study Expert workshop Concept (Draft) International conference Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

7. Vision for a National eHumanities Infrastructure Germany’s infrastructure should provide researchers access to systems, services, networks and resources discovery of new resources trustworthiness of integrity, authenticity and quality of resources, services accessibility of output (now and in future) access to multiple data sources training, education • Germany’s infrastructure must enable knowledge transfer • to track outputs • to protect individuals work and privacy • to protect intellectual property and rights management • to preserve, curate research (data, publication) • Germany’s infrastructure should enable researchers • to collaborate and communicate • to exploit the power of information technologies • to support innovation and experimentation • to share research outputs • to engage with industry • to explore new research terrain • to develop new research methodologies (e.g. based on text mining) Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

8. Principal Themes Use business opportunities Stimulate the development of new tools and products Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

9. National Endowment of the Humanities: Office of Digital Humanities • Since 2008 the ODH is chaired by Brett Bobley (an office within the NEH) helping to coordinate the NEH‘S efforts in digital scholarship • ODH also facilitates conversations with other funding bodies both in the U.S. and abroad • Goal: support projects that analyse or use digital technologies in the humanities. • $2 Million budget of NEH 2009, activities: • „Humanities High Performance Computing“ (HHPC) Initiative • workshop on „Supercomputing“, focused on the new technological opportunities in the field of humanities • training opportunities for supercomputing (e.g. Tera-Grid User-Portal) Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

11. ODH mission: „Our primary mission is to help coordinate the NEH's efforts in the area of digital scholarship.” „The ODH Staff works to promote and coordinate digital humanities programs and outreach on an NEH-wide basis.“

12. Outlook: eScience & eHumanities • need to create a controlled environment to develop skills necessary for e-science • more interaction between humanists and ICT experts, customisation to the needs of humanists • vital need for e-infrastructure before the data grid will meet potential, need for enhanced, context sensitive search capabilities; need for detailed and enhanced metadata, disciplinary knowledge base (theory/ models/ methods; best practices) Virtual Research Environment (VRE): Grid+ Web 2.0 A human eHumanities Infrastructure: • opportunities for interchange and experiment • creation of knowledge base • development of knowledge statement • building viable partnerships and a suitable community Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example •Outlook

13. Thank you for your attention! Questions, comments? Dr. Heike Neuroth Göttingen State & University Library Max Planck Digital Library Berlin neuroth@sub.uni-goettingen.de