The Doctoral Certificate Program in Digital Humanities offers an opportunity to currently enrolled Ph.D. students interested in adding expertise in digital methodologies and techniques to their research portfolio.

Brown University Library’s Center for Digital Scholarship and the Cogut Institute for the Humanities are pleased to partner together to offer the doctoral certificate, which will provide students with a foundation in digital methods and skills for their research, as well as an understanding of the broader theoretical questions that digital approaches to scholarship offer. The certificate is aimed at Ph.D. students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences though Ph.D. students from all disciplines are welcome to apply. Visit the Center for Digital Scholarship’s Doctoral Certificate page for complete information including how to apply.

Fall 2023 workshops that count towards the doctoral certificate:

Copyright and Image Use

When:

• Tuesday, September 19 at 11 – 12 p.m. REGISTER
• Wednesday, October 18 at 12 – 1 p.m. REGISTER
• Thursday, November 9 at 2 – 3 p.m. REGISTER

Where: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Karen Bouchard, Scholarly Resources Librarian, Art & Architecture
Description:
This class will focus on the use of copyrighted images in an academic setting, including teaching, presentations, and publication. We will also discuss how to locate Creative Commons and public domain images and how to obtain permission to publish. Attention will be paid to such topics as dissertations and image use, how to track down copyright owners, and how to make judgment calls based on the principle of fair use.

Critical Digital Humanities and ChatGPT

When:

• Wednesday, October 4 at 4 p.m. REGISTER

Where: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Khanh Vo, Digital Humanities Specialist
Description:
This workshop will examine and explore critical questions in using ChatGPT for Digital Humanities work.

For beginner programmers: using ChatGPT to code Python

When:

• Thursday, October 5 at 1 p.m. REGISTER

Where: Online via Zoom and in-person in the Digital Scholarship Lab (room 137)
Instructor: Patrick Rashleigh, Head of Digital Scholarship Technology Services
Description:
Among many things, ChatGPT can generate Python code from plain-English prompts. This is a game-changer for those of us are just starting out in programming. But of course, there are caveats—many, many caveats. Come by for a deep dive into the promises and pitfalls of using A.I. as a programming partner and teacher.

ArcGIS StoryMaps: The Basics

When: Tuesday, October 10 at 4 – 5 p.m.

Where: Hecker Center (Room 134A), Rockefeller Library 

Instructor: Frank Donnelly, Head of GIS & Data Services 

Description:

This workshop introduces the basic mechanics of ArcGIS StoryMaps, an application for creating interactive map-themed websites. Participants will learn how to create a StoryMap with text, images, video, basic interactive reference maps, and interactive map widgets that guide viewers on map-based tours.

Finding and Managing Data on Marginalized Communities

When:

• Monday, October 16 at 10 a.m. REGISTER

Where: Online via Zoom and in-person in the Digital Scholarship Lab (room 137)
Instructor: Tarika Sankar, Digital Humanities Librarian
Description:
Explore resources and example datasets on marginalized populations as well as ethical considerations for cleaning, analyzing, storing and sharing such data.

A hands-on introduction to GitHub for reproducible research

When: Tuesday, October 17 at 4 – 5:30 p.m.

Where: Digital Studio 

Instructor: Cass Wilkinson Saldaña, Social Science Data Librarian

Description:

No prior experience necessary! This workshop is open to all learners who are curious about best practices in reproducibility and working with research artifacts like datasets, code, and documentation.

In this workshop, you will learn about git and GitHub as key tools for maintaining and sharing files for a research project. We will take an exploratory approach with a mix of digital time and hands-on activities. By the end of the workshop, you will be able to identify the benefits of using version control tools; gain hands-on experience creating a project folder or “repository” on GitHub; and learn how to submit your projects to open science and digital repositories.

This course is intended for undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and staff learners – all are welcome!

Introduction to GIS with QGIS

When: Saturday, October 21 at 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Where: Digital Scholarship Lab (Room 137), Rockefeller Library 

Instructor: Frank Donnelly, Head of GIS & Data Services 

Description: This day-long, hands-on workshop provides a thorough introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) using the free and open source software QGIS. You will learn how to navigate a GIS interface, perform geographic analyses, and create thematic maps. Participants must bring a laptop and install the software prior to the workshop day. For more details visit: https://libguides.brown.edu/gis_data_tutorials/intro_qgis

Recording, editing, and publishing podcasts

When:

• Wednesday, October 25 at 3 p.m. REGISTER

Where: Digital Studio in the Rockefeller Library
Instructor: Patrick Rashleigh, Head of Digital Scholarship Technology Services
Description:
Come to the library’s digital studio to get an introduction to recording, editing, and publishing a podcast in the library’s own recording room (which you are free to book for your own projects). It’s not hard to get started, and in 90 minutes we’ll get you up and running, even if (ESPECIALLY if) you are a complete beginner.

Wikidata for Digital Humanities 

When:

• Monday, November 6 at 1 p.m. REGISTER

Where: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Mairelys Lemus-Rojas
Description:
The Wikidata for Digital Humanities workshop will offer attendees an opportunity to learn about Wikidata — an open platform of structured linked data. This crowdsourced, language-independent knowledge base stores a wide range of subjects and releases its data under an open license, allowing their reuse. The low barrier for interacting with the Wikidata platform makes it a great candidate for linked open data (LOD) representation and facilitates collaboration from the global community of users. This session will provide an overview of Wikidata as well as selected tools and services that can be used to explore, contribute, and export data.

Creating Oral Histories with TheirStory

• November 9 at 3 p.m. REGISTER

Where: Digital Scholarship Lab (room 137) and on Zoom
Instructor:  Tarika Sankar, Digital Humanities Librarian
Description:
An introduction to conducting, recording and transcribing oral history interviews using the platform TheirStory

Writing Data Management & Sharing Plans (DMSPs)

When: TBD Fall 2023

Where: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Andrew Creamer, Open Science Librarian
Description:
In this workshop the Library shares tools and resources to help researchers to write a data management and sharing plan (DMP) for a grant proposal, including using the DMPTool and highlighting local and open resources to support researchers’ storage, documentation and curation, long-term archiving, and dissemination of their research products.

Data Management 101: Tips for Making Your Data F.A.I.R. (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable & Reusable)

When: TBD Fall 2023

Where: Online via Zoom
Instructor: Andrew Creamer, Open Science Librarian

Description:

In this workshop the library will present tips for helping researchers to organize, document, and archive their data and facilitate their data’s discovery, access, reuse, and attribution.

Applying

Please apply to the Digital Humanities Doctoral Certificate Program using UFunds. To access the application, log in to UFunds, and select Doctoral Certificates, then Digital Humanities. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. (Deadlines in UFunds are administrative: a new application cycle will open as soon as the previous one comes to end.)   

The applicant’s home department DGS approval is required. Please note that the program is open only to Ph.D. students currently enrolled at Brown University. For more information, please contact Professors Ashley Champagne and Tara Nummedal.

Please refer to the John Hay Library website for any changes to our hours and our holiday schedule.

August 31 – September 1, 2023

The first floor of the John Hay Library is open to the public from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Only the exhibit in the Willis Reading Room is on display.  The Special Collections Reading Room is closed.

September 5, 2023

The first floor of the John Hay Library is open to the public from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Only the exhibit in the Willis Reading Room is on display.  The Special Collections Reading Room is open for limited hours by appointment only.  Please see Visiting the Brown University Special Collections for information about scheduling a reading room appointment.

September 6 – December 21, 2023

The Hay is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Public spaces include the Harriette Hemmasi Exhibition Gallery and the Willis Reading Room.

Exhibitions

Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Portrait of Mass Incarceration, September 28, 2023 – July 19, 2024, Harriette Hemmasi Exhibition Gallery

Contextualizing Taíno Collections, May 3, 2023 – May 4, 2024, Willis Reading Room

Gildor Family Special Collections Reading Room

September 6 – December 21

The special collections reading room is open by reservation only. Please see Visiting the Brown University Special Collections for information about scheduling a reading room appointment.

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. – noon, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 p.m. –  6 p.m.

Willis Reading Room

September 6 – December 21

The Willis Reading Room is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m and Wednesday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m..  

It is accessible to the Brown community via card swipe only: 

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 5 p.m. – midnight
• Wednesday: 6 p.m. – midnight
• Sunday: noon – midnight

Student Lounge

The student lounge is available to students:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9 a.m. – midnight
• Wednesday: 9 a.m. – midnight
• Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday: noon – midnight

Classroom Requests

Please place requests for classes through the Brown University Library Instruction Request Form.  Some class sessions may be held in the Special Collections Reading Room, depending on the room schedule, size of the class, and staff availability.

• The Bruhn Room (2nd floor) is available for classes of 14 students or less.
• The Bopp Seminar Room (3rd floor) will be available beginning September 15.  This room is suitable for classes of 18 students or less. 

Third Floor

The third floor of the John Hay Library will be open to students and faculty utilizing the Bopp Seminar Room for scheduled classes beginning September 15.

The Anne S. K. Brown Military Gallery remains closed to the public for the fall semester.