ESCALATOR

Growing a community of practice around digital and computational research in humanities and social sciences

Anelda van der Walt

anelda@talarify.co.za

DH-IGNITE WC

8 March 2023

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Nomalungelo Maphanga

noma@talarify.co.za

Background

• Various DH and CSS initiatives in South Africa
• Many still quite isolated
• Beginners still unsure how to get started
• Few DH and CSS training materials based on South African context
• Ad hoc training, networking, and funding opportunities bring people together then lose them again
• ESCALATOR wants to provide a space where people can go in between/after events to develop longer term collaborations and partnerships
• Wants to build on and highlight what already exists, and fill the gap

Activities

doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4736572

Three pillars upon which ESCALATOR is built

And….

Champions Initiative

A nine-track programme providing opportunities for researchers, postgraduate students, and professional staff at different stages of growth to enhance their skills and networks.

Explorer

Embarker

Enhancer

Enabler

Educator

Empower

Executive

Exchanger

Engager

A hybrid event to catalyze a growth in digital and computational skills and networks within humanities and social sciences in South Africa

DH-IGNITE: Connect

• Meet peers

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• Find mentors

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• Identify new collaborators

DH-IGNITE: Learn

• New opportunities

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• New resources

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• New ideas

DH-IGNITE: Learn

• Skills

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• Networks

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• Confidence

Champions Initiative: Details

Explorer

• Monthly DH Colloquiums
• Recorded
• YouTube playlists
• Discussion & Q&A on Slack

Embarker

• DH-IGNITE fellows
• Details will be released in April 2023

Enhancer

• Bi-weekly Python & R study group
• Other study groups coming

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Enabler

• Moodle course coming soon

Champions Initiative: Details

Educator

• Small grants to develop OER
• Ending 2023
• New opportunities in 2024

Empower

• Ensuring women are explicitly included
• New opportunities in 2023

Executive

• Working with institutions on curriculum development

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Stakeholder map

What is the stakeholder map

• The stakeholder map project aims to collect and share data on Digital Humanities (DH), Computational Social Sciences (CSS) and related activities and initiatives in South Africa.

What is the stakeholder map

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What is the stakeholder map

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What is the purpose of the stakeholder map

• Provide deeper insight into the breadth of activities in this area
• Enhance networking and collaboration
• Support the optimal use of resources.

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Similar projects: DH Africa map

How can you use it for your benefit?

How can you use it for your benefit?

• Collaboration
• Getting assistance
• References for research
• Keeping up to date with what has already been done
• If you want to do research

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How to add your data

• Criteria
• Based in South Africa;
• Affiliated with a South African organisation or research institution; or
• Working on projects related to South Africa or in collaboration with researchers in South Africa.
• Fill in form on Escalator website
• More information at the SADiLaR booth

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Call to action: Join slack workspace

Call to action

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Onboarding - 30 minutes every Tuesday at 10:00

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Course: Coming up

We look forward to collaborating with you

Thanks for your time!