1. Grand challengesGrand challenges
The Arts and Humanities e-Science initiative in
the UK
Tobias BlankeTobias Blankeaa
, Stuart Dunn, Stuart Dunnaa
and Craig Bellamyand Craig Bellamybb
aa
Arts and Humanities e-Science Support Centre -Arts and Humanities e-Science Support Centre - bb
Arts and Humanities Data Service - King’s College LondonArts and Humanities Data Service - King’s College London
IntroductionIntroduction
Virtual Research EnvironmentsVirtual Research Environments
There have been several JISC funded Virtual Research Environments (VREs)There have been several JISC funded Virtual Research Environments (VREs)
covering specific domains of interest in the Arts and Humanities. In Oxford, theycovering specific domains of interest in the Arts and Humanities. In Oxford, they
worked on a project to ‘Build a Virtual Research Environment for theworked on a project to ‘Build a Virtual Research Environment for the
Humanities’, while in Hull and East Anglia a VRE gave researchers theHumanities’, while in Hull and East Anglia a VRE gave researchers the
opportunity to exchange ideas about the ‘Political Discourse from 1500-1800’.opportunity to exchange ideas about the ‘Political Discourse from 1500-1800’.
The pictures describe the ‘Silchester Excavation’ VRE where an archaeologicalThe pictures describe the ‘Silchester Excavation’ VRE where an archaeological
excavation is served by wireless technology to directly enter data into aexcavation is served by wireless technology to directly enter data into a
distributed multimedia database called ‘Integrated Archaeological Database’.distributed multimedia database called ‘Integrated Archaeological Database’.
Virtual WorkbenchVirtual Workbench
Virtual workbenches generally offer easy access toVirtual workbenches generally offer easy access to
large data sets as well as the tools to work withlarge data sets as well as the tools to work with
these data sets. They have been successfullythese data sets. They have been successfully
applied in many areas of e-Science. Two EPSRCapplied in many areas of e-Science. Two EPSRC
funded demonstrators offered first insights on howfunded demonstrators offered first insights on how
this approach can work in the arts and humanities.this approach can work in the arts and humanities.
In Oxford at the Centre of the Study of AncientIn Oxford at the Centre of the Study of Ancient
Documents, an environment to work together onDocuments, an environment to work together on
distributed manuscripts has been built. The picturesdistributed manuscripts has been built. The pictures
are taken from another EPSRC funded demonstratorare taken from another EPSRC funded demonstrator
in Sheffield. Here, a novel Java 2000 based imagein Sheffield. Here, a novel Java 2000 based image
viewer for manuscripts was developed that works onviewer for manuscripts was developed that works on
top of Data Grids like SRB and was successfullytop of Data Grids like SRB and was successfully
used in Access Grid session to discuss the Froissartused in Access Grid session to discuss the Froissart
Chronicles, records of the 100 year war betweenChronicles, records of the 100 year war between
England and France.England and France.
Only recently, arts and humanities research in the UK hasOnly recently, arts and humanities research in the UK has
brought forward its own specific e-Science agenda, whichbrought forward its own specific e-Science agenda, which
differs in significant aspects from the one in otherdiffers in significant aspects from the one in other
disciplines. This poster outlines this research context ofdisciplines. This poster outlines this research context of
the AHRC-JISC-EPSRC arts and humanities e-Sciencethe AHRC-JISC-EPSRC arts and humanities e-Science
programme and describes some of its early activities. It isprogramme and describes some of its early activities. It is
an attempt to position the specific research needs of artsan attempt to position the specific research needs of arts
and humanities within the e-Science framework and toand humanities within the e-Science framework and to
show how the early arts and humanities e-Scienceshow how the early arts and humanities e-Science
programme is approaching a mapping of e-Scienceprogramme is approaching a mapping of e-Science
methods on to arts and humanities.methods on to arts and humanities.
The first set of relatively small-scale scoping activities areThe first set of relatively small-scale scoping activities are
presented here. They included attempts to build virtualpresented here. They included attempts to build virtual
research environments for specific research subjects in theresearch environments for specific research subjects in the
arts and humanities, user requirements gathering studies,arts and humanities, user requirements gathering studies,
proof-of-concept demonstrators, and planning workshops.proof-of-concept demonstrators, and planning workshops.
Not all activities are represented, but we tried to developNot all activities are represented, but we tried to develop
common agenda items such as e-Science empoweredcommon agenda items such as e-Science empowered
collaboration in arts.collaboration in arts.
The arts and humanities initiative in the UK started off byThe arts and humanities initiative in the UK started off by
organizing expert seminars that scoped out e-Scienceorganizing expert seminars that scoped out e-Science
requirements for disciplines as dislike as archaeology andrequirements for disciplines as dislike as archaeology and
library and information science. The ‘grand challenges’ forlibrary and information science. The ‘grand challenges’ for
the arts and humanities e-Science programme werethe arts and humanities e-Science programme were
identified and included:identified and included:
• DataData
• Multimedia archives of human reports (Shoa Archives)Multimedia archives of human reports (Shoa Archives)
• SemanticsSemantics
• ComputationalComputational
• Retrieval and delivery of information of semi-structuredRetrieval and delivery of information of semi-structured
information in heterogeneous formatsinformation in heterogeneous formats
• Fuzzy matchingFuzzy matching
• Automated annotationAutomated annotation
• PeoplePeople
• Global collaboration in a virtual spaceGlobal collaboration in a virtual space
• Open AccessOpen Access
Results and ConclusionResults and Conclusion
The activities within the UK's arts and humanities e-Science community show that there are specific needs that need to beThe activities within the UK's arts and humanities e-Science community show that there are specific needs that need to be
addressed to make e-Science work within these disciplines. All projects agree that the data relevant to humanist research isaddressed to make e-Science work within these disciplines. All projects agree that the data relevant to humanist research is
particularly fussy and inconsistent, as it is not automatically produced, but is the result of human effort. Data in arts andparticularly fussy and inconsistent, as it is not automatically produced, but is the result of human effort. Data in arts and
humanities is discursive and not just a simple collection of facts. It is fragile and its presentation often difficult, as e.g. data inhumanities is discursive and not just a simple collection of facts. It is fragile and its presentation often difficult, as e.g. data in
performing arts that only exists as an event. However, with projects like the Shoa archives, more data like this can be expected inperforming arts that only exists as an event. However, with projects like the Shoa archives, more data like this can be expected in
the future, and the technologies to make such data available to a larger public need to be examined.the future, and the technologies to make such data available to a larger public need to be examined.
The arts and humanities e-Science initiative will significantly widen its scope and activities with the new major funding andThe arts and humanities e-Science initiative will significantly widen its scope and activities with the new major funding and
research opportunities starting in September 2007. EPSRC, AHRC, and JISC have committed to fund several major researchresearch opportunities starting in September 2007. EPSRC, AHRC, and JISC have committed to fund several major research
projects beyond the existing workshops and small-scale demonstrators, as well as studentships to support PhD work in the field.projects beyond the existing workshops and small-scale demonstrators, as well as studentships to support PhD work in the field.
These are the three
axes that describe
together e-Science. E-
Science is not just
about technology, but
most importantly
about people working
with technology and
other people. Source:
Mike Miniter from the
NeSC ICEAGE team
Collaboration in ArtsCollaboration in Arts
The Arts have a long-standing tradition of working with computing experts toThe Arts have a long-standing tradition of working with computing experts to
create new forms of arts and arts research. You see pictures taken from ancreate new forms of arts and arts research. You see pictures taken from an
AHRC funded workshop ‘Performance, Place, Space’ in Bristol using AccessAHRC funded workshop ‘Performance, Place, Space’ in Bristol using Access
Grid and Memetic technology to create and semantically annotateGrid and Memetic technology to create and semantically annotate
performances. Another AHRC funded workshop in Birmingham ‘Building theperformances. Another AHRC funded workshop in Birmingham ‘Building the
Wireframe’ investigated how to use e-Science methodologies to create futureWireframe’ investigated how to use e-Science methodologies to create future
forms of visual arts. In Newcastle ‘Associated Motion Capture User Categories’,forms of visual arts. In Newcastle ‘Associated Motion Capture User Categories’,
an EPSRC funded demonstrator, showed how to integrate motion capturean EPSRC funded demonstrator, showed how to integrate motion capture
technologies into a Grid environment.technologies into a Grid environment.
Managing the data delugeManaging the data deluge
Much arts and humanities research concerns the changes stemming from the recent transformation of analogue forms of dataMuch arts and humanities research concerns the changes stemming from the recent transformation of analogue forms of data
into a new digital format, either by digitising old data sets or by new data sets created in digital format. The rightmost pictureinto a new digital format, either by digitising old data sets or by new data sets created in digital format. The rightmost picture
shows the recent growth of data sets at the Arts and Humanities Data Service in the UK. Two AHRC funded workshopsshows the recent growth of data sets at the Arts and Humanities Data Service in the UK. Two AHRC funded workshops
investigated how these new data sets can be made useful to arts and humanities research. In Belfast, in a workshop aboutinvestigated how these new data sets can be made useful to arts and humanities research. In Belfast, in a workshop about
GIS in the arts and humanities, explored how to use ‘place’ to connect disparate humanities data set. At University CollegeGIS in the arts and humanities, explored how to use ‘place’ to connect disparate humanities data set. At University College
London, the workshop ‘Research e-Science Analysis of Census Holdings’ described how fuzzy matching and probabilisticLondon, the workshop ‘Research e-Science Analysis of Census Holdings’ described how fuzzy matching and probabilistic
indexing can be applied to help research humanities data that is inherently context-sensitive and often incomplete.indexing can be applied to help research humanities data that is inherently context-sensitive and often incomplete.
Source http://www.shef.ac.uk/hri/
projects/projectpages/ virtualvellum.html
Source http://www.semanticgrid.org/
presentations/ahm_piccini.ppt
Source http://bvreh.humanities.ox.ac.uk/
files/VREOxford.ppt
Source Paul Ell’s presentation at the AHRC
GIS workshop in Belfast