We are an interdisciplinary group that applies advanced computational techniques and AI to explore cultural and societal aspects of humanity across space and time. We currently focus on the following research lines, which are continuously evolving together through collaboration and shared projects:
Computational Archaeology: Automate the detection, mapping, and protection of archaeological sites and features, towards the reconstruction of ancient societies by examining aspects such as urban development, economic networks, human mobility, and ancient agricultural practices.
Computational Archival History: Process, classify, and analyze historical archives to provide access to vast, underutilized digitized data, enabling deeper insights into historical events, societal changes, and document preservation.
Computational Linguistics: Model natural language and develop computational approaches to address linguistic questions, aiming to unravel language as a cultural expression and its relationship with both past and present societies.
Cultural Heritage and Museums: Preserve, interpret, and promote cultural heritage, improving access and engagement with museum collections as well as fostering knowledge transfer to society.
As technology advances, the potential for Computational Humanities continues to grow, transforming the way we understand human behavior, history, and culture. At a time when resources for the humanities are increasingly limited, the BSC recognizes its importance in society, and the transformative potential of technology in this field, leading the transition towards an integrated approach. Our Computational Humanities group stands at the forefront of this shift, demonstrating how technology not only enriches traditional humanities research but also ensures that the humanities remain essential for addressing contemporary challenges and shaping future policy making in environmental strategies, economic models, urban planning or heritage preservation.
Objectives
- Developing and applying computational methods to humanities research.
- Lead state-of-the-art computational applications to the humanities.
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to integrate technology into humanities studies.
- Producing research outputs that influence policymaking in areas like environmental strategies, economic models, urban planning, and heritage preservation.