Human Craft in the Age of Digital Technologies

Initiatives activities will begin in 2025. All CHCI members currently running, planning, or seeking to develop a program or research project related to the Initiative theme are encouraged and welcomed to join. Participating centers and institutes will be invited to join all the CHCI-facilitated activities and events hosted over the course of the Initiative. The information below is meant for project and program leaders interested in joining the Initiative.

Areas of Focus

For this Initiative, CHCI invites the participation of centers that are currently running or planning programs and projects that seek to help us think what it is to be human, to create, to know, in a world increasingly dominated by digital technologies.

This includes any project that employs humanities methods to understand and act on a broad range of issues and questions. For instance:

• Artificial intelligence's role in reshaping creative processes and intellectual work
• The ethics and societal effects of algorithms and digital platforms
• How digital disinformation disrupts democratic discourse and knowledge production
• The transformative potential of augmented and virtual reality in shaping human experience
• The impact of big data and data-mining on privacy, human rights, and cultural representation
• The evolving relationship between human authorship and machine-generated content

These are non-exhaustive examples of the kinds of topics that may be explored. We invite participants to help define the boundaries of what these themes encompass when viewed through a humanistic lens, encouraging a wide range of inquiries and interpretations.

Types of Projects and Programs

We welcome a wide variety of projects and programs, from local, short-term efforts to large-scale international partnerships. Projects could involve research, public engagement, or cross-disciplinary collaboration, with an emphasis on innovative approaches to justice and human rights.

Examples include:

• Local Reading Groups or Seminars: A semester-long interdisciplinary reading group exploring how AI reshapes creative writing and journalism, culminating in a public discussion panel.
• Collaborative International Research Partnerships: A multi-year collaboration between universities in different countries analyzing the impact of digital platforms on privacy and freedom of speech.
• Public Humanities Programs: A series of public workshops for local communities on digital literacy, focusing on how to critically navigate online disinformation and privacy concerns.
• Short-Term Symposia or Conferences: A two-day symposium examining the historical evolution of AI, inviting legal scholars, artists, and historians of technology to discuss how it impacts human creativity and rights.
• Digital Humanities Tools Development: A project that develops or tests new digital tools to enhance reading and analysis of literary works using machine learning algorithms.
• Digital Storytelling Projects: A public-facing initiative that uses augmented or virtual reality to bring local history or literature to life, engaging a wider audience in critical conversations about technology's role in shaping narratives.
• Workshops on AI and Ethics: A series of workshops designed for undergraduate students and local community members to discuss the ethical implications of AI in everyday life and decision-making.

This list offers examples of the types of projects that could participate, but we encourage innovative forms of engagement and a broad, inclusive definition of research. Projects that explore new methodologies, technologies, or interdisciplinary collaborations are highly encouraged.

Initiatives Activities and Benefits of Participation

The CHCI Initiatives offer a rich array of activities designed to foster collaboration, amplify impact, and support the advocacy of humanities research on a global scale. As a participant, you will have access to a dynamic platform where you can engage with a global network of scholars, share your work, and collectively advance research and public engagement around critical global themes. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Plenary Online Workshop (Spring 2025)

In the spring of 2025, we will hold a plenary online workshop that convenes all participants in each CHCI Initiative. This virtual gathering offers an invaluable opportunity to engage with fellow scholars and program leaders working on related themes. By bringing together researchers from diverse institutions and regions, this workshop will foster exchange and collaboration on a scale rarely possible in individual projects.

Why participate?

• Cross-pollination of Ideas: By hearing about others' approaches, challenges, and successes, you’ll gain new insights that can inform and strengthen your own work.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Whether you're grappling with methodological questions or looking to scale up your project, this workshop will provide a space for peer support and collective brainstorming.
• Building Relationships: The online setting will facilitate meaningful connections with potential collaborators across the globe, creating a foundation for future partnerships.

2. In-Person Sessions at the Annual Meeting in Berlin (June 2025)

The CHCI Annual Meeting in Berlin will feature dedicated in-person sessions for each Initiative, as well as sessions highlighting the broader impact of the Initiatives program. These sessions will provide space for deeper dialogue, hands-on workshops, and interactive presentations, allowing participants to engage in more intensive discussions and networking.

Why participate?

• Deepening Collaboration: The in-person format offers a unique opportunity to dive deeper into your research themes, establish working groups, and solidify collaborative efforts started in the online workshop.
• Feedback and Visibility: Presenting your project’s progress and challenges to a live audience of peers provides you with actionable feedback and boosts your project's visibility within the international humanities community.
• Networking and Partnerships: Berlin will be the setting for informal and structured networking events, where you can build lasting relationships with scholars, funders, and advocates for humanities research.

3. Feature Your Work on the CHCI Online Platform

As a participating project, your work will be featured on CHCI’s online platform, where we will highlight your progress, events, publications, and outcomes. This will not only amplify your project’s reach but also provide an ongoing space for updates and engagement with a global audience.

Why participate?

• Global Reach: The platform ensures your project’s visibility well beyond your institution, reaching a global network of academics, university administrators, and policymakers.
• Public Engagement: We encourage projects that engage with broader publics, and the platform will serve as a hub to share your work with community leaders, cultural institutions, and the general public.
• Documentation and Advocacy: The platform will also serve as an archive of Initiative outcomes, which can be used to demonstrate the impact of your project to funders and decision-makers.

4. Collective Advocacy for Humanities Research

One of the key goals of the CHCI Initiatives is to leverage the collective expertise and practical experience of participants to advocate for the humanities in new and powerful ways. The Initiatives offer concrete illustrations of how humanities methods and practices play a unique and crucial role in addressing the world’s most pressing global challenges—whether they pertain to digital technologies, social justice, or environmental crises.

Through workshops and collaborative discussions, we will work together to consolidate the outcomes of individual projects into a broader, cohesive narrative that highlights the essential contributions of humanities research. By demonstrating how humanistic inquiry offers critical perspectives, historical depth, and ethical frameworks that are indispensable for tackling complex global issues, the Initiatives will help build a case for increased support from funders, university administrators, policymakers, and the general public.

Why participate?

• Amplifying Your Impact: Beyond advancing your own project, you’ll contribute to a global conversation about the unique role of the humanities in addressing urgent challenges like climate change, AI ethics, and social inequalities.
• Strategic Advocacy: You’ll gain access to tools and strategies for effectively communicating the relevance and impact of humanities research, which can help secure institutional or external funding.
• Influencing Policy and Funding: By participating in this collective effort, your project will be part of a larger advocacy initiative aimed at influencing decision-makers and ensuring continued investment in humanities research.

Joining and Financial Support

We invite all humanities centers and institutes working on projects related to these themes to join this initiative. While many projects may already have their own funding, a limited number of financial support grants are available for those seeking additional resources. Express your interest and join this collaborative network to contribute to and benefit from the collective work of addressing global justice issues through the humanities.

For more information on how to join and on applying for financial support, see this page.