Open Research and Digital Humanities

Date: Wednesday 12 March 

Time: 13.00 to 14.00 

Location: Palmer 103 and online 

The Digital Humanities CoP and Hub, in collaboration with the Open and Robust Research at Reading (ORRR) network, invite you to a lunchtime event on the theme of Open Research and Digital Humanities.  

The event will include a guest talk by Dr Christopher Ohge, Senior Lecturer in Digital Approaches to Literature at the School of Advanced Study and member of the School of Advanced Study’s Digital Humanities Research Hub.  

Title: Responsible Computing in Scholarly Publication 

Abstract: This talk will review the importance of responsible computing, including Open Research practices, in Digital Humanities research. He will draw on three recent initiatives – his work on the Herman Melville Electronic Library, a digital edition of an anti-slavery anthology, and coordinating the Digital Humanities Climate Coalition Toolkit – to highlight the challenges and opportunities of responsible approaches. Using these examples, Dr Ohge will show how minimal computing strategies in particular can both increase sustainability and make a statement to promote environmentally conscious digital research. 

Dr Ohge will be joined for questions by Dr Dawn Kanter (Digital Humanities Officer), Dr Anna Tsakalaki (ORRR network lead), Evangeline Gowie (UKRN Open Research Coordinator), and Dr Robert Darby (Research Data Manager), in a panel chaired by Dr Mara Oliva (Digital Humanities Academic Champion). 

Our events are open to all researchers, staff, and PGRs from any subject – we welcome interdisciplinary collaboration! 

Tea/coffee will be available for those attending in person.  

Programme 

More about the DH CoP and Hub 

Digital Humanities (DH) is the critical study of the intersection between digital technologies, disciplines in the Arts and Humanities, and scholarly communication. The DH Community of Practice (CoP) and the DH Hub work together in supporting researchers to build knowledge and skills in DH, to develop and undertake DH research projects, and to maintain digital research outcomes. You can read more about the CoP here and about the Hub here. 

More about the ORRR Network 

Open and Robust Research at Reading (ORRR) is a network of colleagues interested in making research accessible to everyone. 

Open access publishing is just the tip of the iceberg that is ‘open research’, which aims to make all stages of the research lifecycle (e.g. data, methodologies) transparent, collaborative and robust. The network aims to overcome silos to provide a space where colleagues from all departments can ask questions and share expertise in the growing (but challenging!) area of open research. 

The network hosts monthly events, a Teams channel with spaces for different interests and newsletters detailing open research support and activity within the university. Members contribute by speaking at events, sharing resources on Teams or opening discussions around challenges they are facing or have overcome. The Network is supported by the University’s Open Research Action Plan (2024-29) and draws heavily on activities and projects in collaboration with the UK Reproducibility Network (Why open research at Reading?). It is facilitated by Anna Tsakalaki, the Reproducibility Local Network Lead, Evangeline Gowie, the Open Research Coordinator, and Etienne Roesch, the Institutional Lead for Reading. 

Scheduled events: 

In 2025, there is a range of scheduled events to participate in: 

• Monthly meetings of the Open Research practices in Qualitative methods special interest group. 
• Invited internal and external talks on applied use of different Open Research practices on real projects. 
• Discussions around application of specific OR methodologies and implications for researchers 
• Practical support on how-to by peers 

Join the Open Research network to find out more about what is on offer and participate in events!