robinboast

New ASCA Research Group: Data Drive

Organizers: Prof. Robin Boast, Dr. Jan Hein Hoogstad, and Prof. Sander van Maas

Note: This text is work-in-progress and will periodically be updated as the project advances. The most up-to-date version can be found here: https://gist.github.com/datadrive/5049600

In 'The Age of the World Picture' (1938), Martin Heidegger argues that modern science and technology rest in their entirety on computation. Importantly, he warns that these ever-growing numbers and increasingly complex calculations come with a uncontrollable, and all-encompassing shadow. According to Heidegger, however, this shadow does not only designate a loss of control, it also announces the coming of a new era :

"Everyday opinion sees in the shadow only the lack of light, if not light's complete denial. In truth, however, the shadow is a manifest, though impenetrable, testimony emitting of light. In keeping with this concept of shadow, we experience the inc

robinboast

New ASCA Research Group: Data Drive

Organizers: Prof. Robin Boast, Dr. Jan Hein Hoogstad, and Prof. Sander van Maas

Note: This text is work-in-progress and will periodically be updated as the project advances. The most up-to-date version can be found here: https://gist.github.com/datadrive/5049600

In 'The Age of the World Picture' (1938), Martin Heidegger argues that modern science and technology rest in their entirety on computation. Importantly, he warns that these ever-growing numbers and increasingly complex calculations come with a uncontrollable, and all-encompassing shadow. According to Heidegger, however, this shadow does not only designate a loss of control, it also announces the coming of a new era :

"Everyday opinion sees in the shadow only the lack of light, if not light's complete denial. In truth, however, the shadow is a manifest, though impenetrable, testimony emitting of light. In keeping with this concept of shadow, we experience the inc

robinboast

Coding the Humanities

Vision

Students and scholars in the humanities generally rely on prefabricated tools to guide and instruct their research and are reluctant to engage with computers and technology through coding. [This remains a major distinction between the humanities and the sciences. The sciences design, create and maintain their own relevant digital research enviornments and tools, while the humanities make do with prefabricated, and often inappropriate, tools] At the moment, there are no broadly available academic programming courses aimed at humanities scholars. [However, coding skills are needed more now than ever, and In the future, they will] become increasingly important: to understand the various technologically mediated objects that we are studying, to the actual practice of our research, and to meet an ever-growing demand in the public and private sector for academics who can read and write code.

At the same time there is a development towards online academic education. Currently thi