The Computational Humanities Lab focuses on the interplay between world history and cultural evolution on the one hand, and the digital humanities and digital infrastructure on the other. The assumption underpinning the work is that trends over longer timescales impact the world today in major, and often poorly misunderstood, ways. In order to study these trends, a computational approach is warranted.
This overall vision underpins the research agenda of Professor Pieter François and his many Oxford-based and worldwide collaborators.
Specifically, the Lab currently focuses on the following research areas:
- Building digital infrastructures to study world history and conduct deep driver analyses to understand the world today
- Integrate multilinguality within digital infrastructures
- Analyse the role religious tolerance plays in creating resilient and cohesive societies
- Build bridges with the policy world to ensure the uptake of insights generated by the Lab
The Computational Humanities Lab is closely integrated with the World History Lab at the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion.
The CHL Team
CHL Projects
Seshat Global History Databank
The Seshat project is a flagship project for the study of world history and cultural evolution. It contains a vast global historical dataset to study change over long timescales and the data has been used in numerous publications pertaining to the evolution of social complexity, warfare, and religion. Professor Pieter François is the Founding and Executive Director of the project. Since 2011 the project has been funded by numerous grants.
Data/Culture. Building Sustainable Scholarly Communities around Arts and Humanities datasets and software
This AHRC-funded project (2023-2028) focuses on the mechanisms to build sustainable communities around Arts and Humanities datasets and software. A major focus in on linking up Arts and Humanities scholars with research software engineers and augmenting the digital skills of the Arts and Humanities scholars.
(Past Project) Freedom of Religion or Belief Leadership Network
The Freedom of Religion or Belief Leadership Network (FoRBLN) is an FCDO-funded project (£5.6; Principal Investigator Professor Pieter François) advancing the understanding of the role FoRB plays in creating resilient and cohesive societies, and raising awareness of FoRB in policy circles.
News
Collaborate
For inquiries on how to collaborate with the Lab, please contact: pieter.francois@anthro.ox.ac.uk.