17 Apr 2023 - 18 Apr 2023 All day Sidgwick Site, Cambridge

Description

We are delighted to present a new format of the established Data Schools programme, organised by Cambridge Digital Humanities. For two days in Cambridge University, students will learn new methods and theories in Digital Humanities from leading academics and practitioners in the field. They will also have the possibility to visit the Library and some special collections at the University of Cambridge.

We aim to bring together participants from the wider Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector and academia to explore the methods used to create, visualise and analyse digital archives and collections.

At the Data School you will learn by doing during in-person sessions and other activities. The school is intensive, but resources will be available to students to go over what they learned in the taught sessions. We encourage anyone working with cultural heritage data to apply!


Structure

In this instance, the curriculum will be structured around the digital collections and archives pipeline, covering the general principles and applied practices involved in the generation, exploration, visualisation, analysis and preservation of digital collections and archives.

On the first day, sessions are focused on image data collection, analysis, and visualisation, from the process of digitisation to some of the most dazzling ways of presenting these materials, like online content curation and 3D models (TBC).

The second day will focus on textual data, including text collection and wrangling, as well as analysis and visualisation using specialised tools, such as OpenRefine and dedicated Python libraries.

Students will learn from leading researchers working on projects at the forefront of tackling those issues, in practical ways as well as critically addressing theoretical assumptions about these practices, equipping them with tools, methods, and ideas to face the challenges GLAM institutions are facing in the ever-changing digital environment.

Participants will also have the opportunity to have horizontal discussions and networking with peers and researchers from Cambridge University.

We will visit the Digital Content Unit at Cambridge University Library, have hands-on exercises with teachers available on-site to help, and go out for dinner.


Modules will cover the following content:

  • Principles of Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) Imaging
  • Managing 3D Content (TBC)
  • Working with digital images at scale
  • Machine vision – a critical introduction
  • Digital Research Design and the Project Lifecycle
  • Collecting and Wrangling Textual Data
  • Text Analysis and Visualisation

Full programme and module descriptions coming soon. Note that content and timings may be subject to change.


Who can apply?

The school welcomes applications from all backgrounds. You might be in galleries, museums, archives, libraries, higher education, research – or a different sector entirely. Anyone who works with cultural heritage data is welcome to apply.

No previous experience in coding is required and there are no specific academic requirements, however the course content is broadly suitable for those with an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience. The School is taught in English. You will need to bring your own laptop to participate and have the ability to download free, open software for use during the school.

We are committed to facilitate participation by women, black and minority ethnic candidates as they have historically been under-represented in the technology and data science sector. We also welcome applications from outside the UK, assuming they can travel to Cambridge for the two days of the Data School. Sessions will not be streamed or recorded and therefore live attendance is required.


When and Where?

The school will be held in person in Cambridge, UK: 17 – 18 April 2023. Sessions will take place between 09:30 and 17:00 daily in the central University buildings on Sidgwick Site:

You will need to book your own travel and accommodation for the school. You can look for accommodation on the following sites:

Participants will also be invited to join us for an informal meal at a local restaurant on the evening of 17 April – please note this will be an additional cost and more information will be provided to registered participants closer to the School.


Teaching team

Teaching will be by University of Cambridge staff and industry professionals and will include:

  • Huw Jones (Library Digital Humanities Coordinator, Cambridge University Library)
  • Maciej Pawlikowski (Head of the Digital Content Unit at the Cambridge University Library)
  • Dr Andrea Kocsis (Assistant Professor in History and Data Science at Northeastern University London & CDH Methods Fellow)
  • Dr Anne Alexander (Director of Learning, CDH)
  • Dr Irving Huerta (Convenor of the Cambridge Data Schools, CDH)

Fees

£250 per person

This fee covers around 11-12 hours of sessions, access to online teaching resources, space for discussions with top practitioners and peers, troubleshooting sessions, and catering (refreshments and one lunch sandwich buffet per day). Participants need to bring a laptop with them to the Data School on which they have the right to install software. We will not provide any equipment but WiFi will be available in the university premises.

Cambridge Digital Humanities is committed to democratising access to digital methods and tools, and is offering subsidised participation fees to encourage applications from those who do not normally have access to this type of training. There are limited concessionary places (five) for the unemployed, community or unfunded project researchers. We will select applications for concessionary places and bursaries based on a combination of factors including expanding the diversity of the Data School cohort and evidence of the benefits which attendance will bring to the individual applicant and/or their organisations or community. In addition, a small number of full bursaries (two) are available to those who can demonstrate financial need. You can apply for concessionary and bursary places on the application form, but we may not be able to give concessions to everyone who applies.

Please note that in the event of the Data School being cancelled by us, we will refund your registration fee, but we will not be liable for any other costs you have incurred – travel, accommodation, visas etc. We suggest taking out insurance that will cover you in the event of a cancellation. Please see our Terms and Conditions for details of refund policies for Data School tuition fees.


How to apply

Fill in the application form

Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis until all the places are filled, so we encourage you to fill out your application as soon as possible. You will hear whether or not your application was successful in no more than two weeks after you have submitted it. Payment needs to be made seven days after your application is accepted.

Contact: dataschool@cdh.cam.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Cambridge Digital Humanities is committed to democratising access to digital methods and tools and is offering the following subsidised participation fees to encourage applications from those who do not normally have access to this type of training. The fees include all teaching costs.

  • Standard rate: £245
  • Small organisations/university staff/staff journalists: £145
  • Students/unemployed/community or unfunded projects/freelance journalists/participants resident in the Global South: £45

In addition, a small number of bursaries are available to those who can demonstrate financial need.

While we encourage applications from everyone, we particularly welcome applications from women and black and minority ethnic candidates as they have historically been under-represented in the technology and data science sector.

Because most members of the University of Cambridge are eligible to attend our existing teaching programme, they are not able to apply for the Social Data School.

If you think there is a valid reason for an exception to this rule, please contact dataschool@cdh.cam.ac.uk.

Upcoming Events

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Closed Event, Data School
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Workshop

23 Apr 2024

textile – digital

AI Cafe
Drop-in Clinic, Information Session
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Data School

9 Sep 2024 - 13 Sep 2024

CDH | Social Data School: September 2024

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN THE ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Tel: +44 1223 766886
Email enquiries@crassh.cam.ac.uk