“Going Digital” – Launch of ALLEA E-Humanities Working Group report

The ALLEA Working Group E-Humanities has launched a report “Going Digital – Creating Change in the Humanities” which is presented on 7 May 2015 in Brussels to representatives of the EU institutions and stakeholders of the European scientific community by the President of ALLEA, Professor Günter Stock, and the chair of the ALLEA Working Group on E-Humanities, Dr Sandra Collins.

The report contains the working group’s key findings and recommendations regarding key innovations and requirements to ensure continued growth and excellence in the Digital Humanities for the EU. It was prepared by eminent experts in the field of E-Humanities, including on aspects of digital archiving, long-term preservation, digital research tools and infrastructures, from ALLEA member academies and with the support of the Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities (DARIAH).

The report’s recommendations include to:

– “take a long-term view”: Sustaining long-term archives of unique and important cultural artefacts is critical for Europe’s leadership in Digital Humanities. Adopting best practice for infrastructures is essential.

– “encourage openness”: Open Access to data and infrastructures enables enhanced research, research integrity and cost-effectiveness. Open Data needs to be adequately funded.

– “support your people”: Training and career progression are essential to prevent the loss of the critical skills needed to retain our competitiveness in Europe. Data management roles need suitable recognition.

In his opening address of the launch event, the ALLEA President underlined the role of the European academies as “a unique pan-European knowledge base that is trusted, non-partisan and long-term. The academies therefore have an important contribution to make to debates regarding sustained digital infrastructures, the achievement of long-term durable digital preservation, and the societal responsibility for preservation of our digital cultural heritage”, said Günter Stock.

Please click here or on the cover image above to download the digital report.

To find out more about ALLEA’s E-Humanities Working Group please click here.