On the Road towards Arts and Humanities

e-Infrastructure in Germany

Dr. Heike NeurothGöttingen State & University LibraryMax Planck Digital Library Berlinneuroth@sub.uni-goettingen.de

ToC

• Introduction• eHum - National eHumanities Infrastructure

project[German Research Foundation, DFG]

• Example NEH/ODH (USA)• Outlook

Introduction: eScience & Humanities

• 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)

Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example • Outlook

But …• 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

Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example • Outlook

• 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

National Project: eHum

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

Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example • Outlook

State-of-the-Art study

Expert workshop

Concept (Draft) International

conference Roadmap

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 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)

• 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)

Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example • Outlook

Principal Themes

TrainingAndSkills

QualityAssurance

CoordinationCulturechange

ResearchAnd

Development

Interoperabilityand

Standards

Outreachand

TechnologyTransfer

E-HumanitiesInfrastructure

Benefit from interoperable systems

Recognize international interoperability

Acknowledge the private sector

Interoperate with existing resources

Require solutions to foresee problems(complexity, technological advances, changes)

For information professionals and researchers

Include standards, workflows, models, audits and reviews

Depend on national investment

Ensure the clarity of rolesand responsibilities

Digital preservation methods and processes as an integral part of academic life

Use business opportunities Stimulate the development of new toolsand products

Intro • National eHum Infrastructure • Example • Outlook

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

Name of Programme

What is supported? Who may apply? Duration Amount „Slogan“

„Digital Humanities Start- up Grant“

innovations, e.g.:

- development of standards

- innovative uses of technologies for public programming and education

- digital tools /digital publishing

- U.S. non-profit Organisations - State/local governmental agencies

- Native American Organisations

- U.S. Citizens

?

- Level I Grants: $5,000 - $25,000 outright funding

- Level II Grants:$25,001- $50,000 outright funding

„Innovation is the key“

„Digital Humanities Challenge Grant“

long-term improvements in the Humanities, e.g.:

- establish endowments

- maintenance of archives, databases, infrastructure etc.

- material that preserve collections, etc.

- U.S. non-profit Organisations working in the field of humanities

68 months- $30.000 - 1 Mio („matching-grant: NEH gives you 1$ for each 3$ you raise)

„These are all about infrastructure“

„Institutes for Advanced topics in

the Digital Humanities“

- training programs in humanities computing

- collaboration between scholars of different disciplines, students, etc.

- U.S. non-profit Organisations 1 to 3 years

- $50.000 - $250.000 (outright/federal matching-funds)

„(…)bring together humanities scholars and digital technology specialists (…)“

„Digital Humanities Workshops for K-

12 Educators“

- workshops for K-12 educators (that have experience in the use of new technology in their teaching)

- U.S. non-profit Organisations12 to 18 months

- single institutions: $30.000 (outright- funds)

- regional/ multi-institutional programs: $100.000

„(…) use digital resources to strengthen the teaching of the humanities“

„NEH/DOE Grant Program for

HHPC“

computationally intense research, e.g.:

- mining of large textual databases

- morphological/ geographical analysis

- visualization

- U.S. non-profit Organisations employing humanists with intense computational research work

account with 100.000-500.000 CPU-hours

- 100.000-500.000 CPU-hours to be spend at the Supercomputers of the Department of Energy (DOE)

- travel-/lodging costs: up to $4.000/ person; 2 persons/ project

„The goal (…) is to provide opportunities for humanities scholars whose research requires high performance computing (…)“

„Fellowships at Digital Humanities

Centers“

- various projects emerging in a collaboration between a scholar and a Digital Humanities Center

- digital humanities center affiliating with an U.S institution of higher education

- U.S. non-profit Organisations

6 to 12 months

- scholar: $4.200/ month

- center: $4.200/ month

- (max: $100,800/ 12 months)

„support innovative collaboration on outstanding digital research projects“

„Advancing Knowledge: The IMLS/NEH Digital

Partnership“

projects in collaboration with public cultural organisations (museums, libraries, etc.):

- use of (existing) collections in a digital environment

- developing standards

- U.S. non-profit Organisations

- in collaboration with public cultural Organisation (museum, Llbrary)

2 years- $50.000-$350.000 „outright funds“/ „federal matching funds“

„…explore new ways to share, examine or interpret humanities collections in a digital environment“

„JISC/NEH Transatlantic Digitization

Collaboration Grants“

- digitization projects

- projects dealing with the environment of Infrastructure

- U.S. non-profit Organisations

- in UK: Higher und Further Education Institutions

1 year - $100.000-$240.000

„Collaboration between U.S. and English institutions is a key requirement for this grant category“

Name of Programme

What is supported? Who may apply? Duration Amount „Slogan“

„Digital Humanities Start- up Grant“

innovations, e.g.:

- development of standards

- innovative uses of technologies for public programming and education

- digital tools /digital publishing

- U.S. non-profit Organisations - State/local governmental agencies

- Native American Organisations

- U.S. Citizens

?

- Level I Grants: $5,000 - $25,000 outright funding

- Level II Grants:$25,001- $50,000 outright funding

„Innovation is the key“

„Digital Humanities Challenge Grant“

long-term improvements in the Humanities, e.g.:

- establish endowments

- maintenance of archives, databases, infrastructure etc.

- material that preserve collections, etc.

- U.S. non-profit Organisations working in the field of humanities

68 months- $30.000 - 1 Mio („matching-grant: NEH gives you 1$ for each 3$ you raise)

„These are all about infrastructure“

„Institutes for Advanced topics in

the Digital Humanities“

- training programs in humanities computing

- collaboration between scholars of different disciplines, students, etc.

- U.S. non-profit Organisations 1 to 3 years

- $50.000 - $250.000 (outright/federal matching-funds)

„(…)bring together humanities scholars and digital technology specialists (…)“

„Digital Humanities Workshops for K-

12 Educators“

- workshops for K-12 educators (that have experience in the use of new technology in their teaching)

- U.S. non-profit Organisations12 to 18 months

- single institutions: $30.000 (outright- funds)

- regional/ multi-institutional programs: $100.000

„(…) use digital resources to strengthen the teaching of the humanities“

„NEH/DOE Grant Program for

HHPC“

computationally intense research, e.g.:

- mining of large textual databases

- morphological/ geographical analysis

- visualization

- U.S. non-profit Organisations employing humanists with intense computational research work

account with 100.000-500.000 CPU-hours

- 100.000-500.000 CPU-hours to be spend at the Supercomputers of the Department of Energy (DOE)

- travel-/lodging costs: up to $4.000/ person; 2 persons/ project

„The goal (…) is to provide opportunities for humanities scholars whose research requires high performance computing (…)“

„Fellowships at Digital Humanities

Centers“

- various projects emerging in a collaboration between a scholar and a Digital Humanities Center

- digital humanities center affiliating with an U.S institution of higher education

- U.S. non-profit Organisations

6 to 12 months

- scholar: $4.200/ month

- center: $4.200/ month

- (max: $100,800/ 12 months)

„support innovative collaboration on outstanding digital research projects“

„Advancing Knowledge: The IMLS/NEH Digital

Partnership“

projects in collaboration with public cultural organisations (museums, libraries, etc.):

- use of (existing) collections in a digital environment

- developing standards

- U.S. non-profit Organisations

- in collaboration with public cultural Organisation (museum, Llbrary)

2 years- $50.000-$350.000 „outright funds“/ „federal matching funds“

„…explore new ways to share, examine or interpret humanities collections in a digital environment“

„JISC/NEH Transatlantic Digitization

Collaboration Grants“

- digitization projects

- projects dealing with the environment of Infrastructure

- U.S. non-profit Organisations

- in UK: Higher und Further Education Institutions

1 year - $100.000-$240.000

„Collaboration between U.S. and English institutions is a key requirement for this grant category“

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.“

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

Thank you for your attention!

Questions, comments?

Dr. Heike NeurothGöttingen State & University LibraryMax Planck Digital Library Berlinneuroth@sub.uni-goettingen.de