When does big data become big hype? A critical reflection of computational methods for the humanities and social sciences
The computer scientists are coming, and it would seem that no branch of the academy can avoid their nerdy gaze. Be it algorithmic poetry, computational journalism, or the philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, at every turn there are computational methods and theoretical perspectives popping up. This burgeoning interest in the intersection of computer science with the humanities and social sciences is not without healthy scepticism, and for good reason given the unrealised expectations of Artificial Intelligence in the 1970s. In this talk I will explore recent developments in computer science and offer a pragmatic perspective on the utility of these technologies for humanities and social science research.
Dr Daniel Angus is a computational social scientist who specializes in the design, development and application of advanced computational methods for the study of communicative practices. Dr Angus is a co-inventor of the Discursis software technology which has been used to assist analyses of the dynamics of topical exchange in health, education, media, and political conversational contexts.
About Research Seminar and Workshop Series
School of Communication and Arts Research Seminar Series
The research seminar and workshop series occur each semester, each with a different topic and guest speaker from UQ or otherwise.
Friday, 11 March Online via Zoom | Research Seminar - Tuning In with the Stethoscope in the Nineteenth Century | Dr Melissa Dickson (University of Birmingham) |
Friday, 25 March Hybrid | Dr Chris Hay | |
Friday, 8 April Online via Zoom | Invention and reinvention in the landscape symbolism of Joachim Patinir | Michael Levy |
Friday, 29 April Online via Zoom | Negotiating balance of cultures among Chinese Australians to facilitate ageing well | A/Prof Shuang Liu |
Friday, 13 May Hybrid | Redefining crisis in museums: insider’s perspectives on digital engagement | Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao, Craig Middleton (National Museum of Australia), and Lisa Enright |
Friday, 3 June Hybrid: Online via Zoom and in person at the | A journey through the Australian environmental movement ecosystem | Dr Robyn Gulliver |
Friday, 10 June Online via Zoom | TBA | Dr Alex Bevan |