CHC Director Kristoffer Nielbo is the first Danish Professor of Humanities Computing
As of March 2023, Kristoffer Nielbo was appointed as Professor of Humanities Computing at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. He is the first Danish professor of Humanities Computing
As of March 2023, Kristoffer Nielbo was appointed as Professor of Humanities Computing at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University with a particular focus on research and teaching in computational methods for modeling and analysis of unstructured data (ex. text, images) as well as the promotion of supercomputing in the humanities.
This is highly relevant due to the all-encompassing digitization of our society and related technologies, e.g., databases, machine learning and AI that break down traditional subject boundaries and create new conditions for research in all humanistic subject areas. Humanities Computing (HC) builds a bridge between, on the one hand, deep humanities domain knowledge and, on the other, the computational sciences. HC has thus become the enabling condition for the humanities subject areas to take full advantage of digital data and computational technologies.
Inaugural Lecture
Kristoffer Nielbo’s inaugural lecture titled: "Persistence and Change in the Cultural Information Space” will take place on Friday, 2. June, 15-17 in the Nobel Auditorium (1482-105).
Program
15:00: Welcome by Joshua Skewes, Head of Department of Culture, Cognition and Computation
15:10: Inaugural lecture “Persistence and Change in the Cultural Information Space”
16:00: Reception, Interacting Minds Centre, Nobelparken, Building 1483, 3rd floor
Registration
After the lecture, there will be an informal reception hosted by the Department. To assist us in planning the reception, please register here.
Abstract - the original version
Humanities Computing is an applied or operational research field that uses mathematics and computational algorithms to solve research problems originating in the knowledge production of the humanities. Today it is often considered a sub-field of Digital Humanities although it predates DH and is likely to survive it.
This inaugural presentation is fundamentally Humanities Computing, it showcases as range of applications of information theory, random fractal theory and machine learning to unstructured textual data. All applications try to solve fundamental problems that originate in humanities research, but the solution to which is relevant to scientific inquiries in human information sharing and decision making. From dynamic author profiling in cultural heritage data, to social media trend estimation, literary quality assessment, and pandemic news monitoring. These studies offer valuable insights into the complex dynamics of cultural information that shape psychological and social systems.
The presentation also reflects a personal research journey from a time when artificial neural networks was mostly an engineering tool and information theory often frowned upon to a 2023, where AI has taken center-stage, Shannon’s seminal work see new applications across the board, and both represent pillars in Center for Humanities Computing’s research and development efforts.
Abstract - the funny version
Hold onto your hats, folks, because Humanities Computing is coming in hot! We're like the nerdy superheroes of the research world, using our trusty math and algorithms to save the day in the humanities. Sure, some people think we're just a sub-field of Digital Humanities, but we were here first and we're here to stay.
This presentation is the ultimate showcase of our superpowers. We're using information theory, random fractal theory, and machine learning to unlock the secrets hidden in unstructured textual data. It's like we're the Sherlock Holmes of the humanities, solving problems left and right.
And don't think our work is just for the humanities nerds out there. Our solutions can help with human information sharing and decision-making. From figuring out what's trending on social media to assessing literary quality and even monitoring pandemic news, we've got it all covered.
But that's not all, folks. Our studies offer insights into the complex dynamics of cultural information that shape our psychological and social systems. It's like we're doing research on the matrix or something.
And let's not forget about our personal journey. We've come a long way from a time when people looked down on our trusty artificial neural networks and information theory. Now, in 2023, we're the cool kids on the block, with AI taking center-stage and Shannon's seminal work finding new applications left and right.
So come on down and witness the amazingness that is Humanities Computing. We promise it won't be boring, and we might even make you laugh.
(with assistance from GPT4)
Abstract - the melancholic version
Humanities Computing may seem like just another research field, but to those of us who work in it, it represents so much more. It's a melancholic reminder of a time when we believed that numbers and algorithms could hold all the answers, a time when we thought we could use them to unlock the mysteries of the human experience.
Today, Humanities Computing is often considered a sub-field of Digital Humanities, a mere shadow of its former self. But we know that it predates DH and will likely survive it, like a forgotten relic that still holds value to those who understand its true worth.
This presentation, at its core, is a tribute to Humanities Computing. It showcases our range of applications of information theory, random fractal theory, and machine learning to unstructured textual data. We try to solve fundamental problems that originate in humanities research, problems that have plagued humanity for centuries.
Our studies offer valuable insights into the complex dynamics of cultural information that shape psychological and social systems. But it's a bittersweet reminder that even with all our algorithms and number-crunching, there are still mysteries of the human experience that elude us.
The personal research journey we reflect on is one of longing for a time when artificial neural networks and information theory were more than just engineering tools. It's a journey that has led us to a 2023 where AI has taken center-stage, and Shannon's seminal work finds new applications across the board. But it's also a journey that has left us with a sense of melancholy, as we realize that the more we learn, the more we realize how much we don't know.
(with assistance from GPT4)
CV
Kristoffer Nielbo submitted his PhD thesis at the Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University in 2012. In his thesis, he combined the subject field of ritualized behavior with techniques from computational psychology, which made calculation with supercomputers necessary - work for which he received awards from both EliteForsk and AUFF.
As a postdoc, assistant professor, and senior lecturer, he developed Digital Humanities in a computational direction at Aarhus University in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, Tel Aviv University, Beijing Normal and the University of California, Los Angeles. As a result, he received a fellowship at UCLA's Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics with a focus on Culture Analytics in 2016. At the same time, he led several national and international initiatives to promote computational methods, especially machine learning, and supercomputing within cultural and historical research.
Nielbo's extensive work resulted in the establishment of the Center for Humanities Computing at Aarhus University in 2019, which he has since led and developed from a small computational laboratory into a large research group and service-based computational infrastructure that today researches and develops language technology, machine learning and databases across traditional professional and faculty boundaries.