1. 1 e-Arts and Humanities Scoping an e-Science Agenda Sheila Anderson Arts and Humanities Data Service Arts and Humanities e-Science Support Centre King’s College London

2. 2 e-Science in the arts and humanities: Starting definition e-Science is about an enabling infrastructure – tools, technologies, computing power etc. – supporting research For the arts and humanities: the development and deployment of a networked infrastructure and culture through which resources – be they processing power, data, expertise, or person power – can be shared in a secure environment, and in which new forms of collaboration can emerge, and new and advanced methodologies explored

3. 3 Scoping Survey: Aims and Objectives Raise awareness and understanding of e- science, and how e-science might relate to and support the different disciplines within the arts and humanities Enable scholars engaging with ICT in their research practice to find about and take advantage of the outputs and tools arising from the e-science and e-social science programmes Assist the AHRC in the development of an arts and humanities e-Science research agenda

4. 4 The Scoping Survey Scoping survey methodology – Identify, collate and analyse information on e- science technologies, projects and outputs – Consult the community to discuss the key elements of an e-science agenda to support their research practice – series of expert seminars – Create an on-line information base for consultation by arts and humanities scholars with information on projects (both science and arts and humanities) and tools

5. 5 Outputs Summaries of projects and tools, and an overview report From each seminar: discipline based report; discussion paper, presentations Final report drawing out common themes and priorities and outlining an agenda Searchable database for project and tools information - maintained and updated by AHeSSC

6. 6 Expert Seminars: from the community; for the community Framed around research practice Exchange ideas and knowledge Identify use of ICT in research practice and ‘grand challenges and opportunities’ Identify e-Science potential Identify priority areas for research and practice Recommendations for future action –Priorities for research –Priorities for tools development

7. 7 Some Fundamental Principles Truly be an arts and humanities agenda Re-imagine the concept of ‘e-Science’ and challenge existing e-Science technologies Must come from, and be embedded in, research practice and research needs BUT be innovative and push barriers Be sensitive to those less engaged Inclusive – capable of embedding in everyday research practice Be about empowerment and democratisation Enable new forms of collaborations across domains and sectors International, scalable, sustainable

8. 8 What would an agenda look like?? It would understand and involve users –Methodologies of use must better inform creation, curation, management, access, tools development –User friendly, easy to install and use tools –Cross domain and cross-sector –Empowering and open –Respecting IPR and copyright –Deep log analysis, anthropological studies etc. to understand user behaviours

9. 9 What would an agenda look like?? It would address content needs: –Massive digitisation programme –Existing, highly dispersed content joined up through the grid and appropriate tools – ontology connectors –Deep mining using different methods for connecting; data and text mining –Community engagement, folksonomies –Non-textual searching for sound, video; geo-temporal –Large scale images, moving images, sound, etc. managed and accessed through the grid –Capture the creative process, making and research –Annotation, collation, visualisation, simulation –Content from across disciplines

10. 10 What would an agenda look like?? It would enable collaboration: –Strong possibilities – from text to performance –Access grid, VRO, Virtual communities –New forms of research characterised by democratisation and openness – open critical editions? –New forms of collaboration – across disciplines and domains and including shared curation –Shared creation, curation, analysis of shared content –Dynamic, interactive BUT secure and trusted –Authorisation and authentication built into systems –Push the access grid further for collaborative research and teaching

11. 11 What would an agenda look like?? Characterised by innovation and experimentation It would push methodological barriers: –Visualisation –Simulation –Geo spatial and geo-temporal –Creative process –Annotation and text analysis, image analysis It would need support: –Institutional –Cluster computing rather than grid? –Training –Desk top tools

12. 12 More Information www.ahessc.ac.uk http://www.ahds.ac.uk/e-science/e-science- scoping-study.htm