The Social Sciences and Humanities researchers at Carleton are increasingly becoming bigger users of Data Sciences, as large data sets are opening up new research avenues. With an MA program in Digital Humanities and the Hypertext Laboratory, social science research and technology are becoming more closely connected. With the support of founding Director Dr. Brian Greenspan, members from Arts, Science and Engineering faculties collaborate on projects involving digital text and narrative, game studies, locative media, digital theatre, film and new media studies. One data-intensive project of particular interest is the Augmented Browsing Client (ABC), which is being developed for real and virtual libraries and archives that will combine the benefits of physical stack searches with assisted web browsing, integrating physical and digital information in a seamless, intuitive interface. The project will bring together automated data mining tools, dynamic processing and situational guides in a handheld touchscreen device.
Another proponent of data sciences and the digital humanities is Dr. Michael Dorland in the School of Journalism and Communication. With media becoming more digitized and online-accessible, Dr. Dorland is interested in the implications for teaching and scholarship of the statistically-based concept of data mining and what he sees as any clear equivalent for text-based bodies of knowledge. Along with his colleagues, his work (including applications and aspects of digital visualization) is opening doors for others in the social sciences to explore all the options that large data sets can bring to the table.
Just as Carleton’s social scientists embrace the potential of data sciences, so too are our environmental experts. Researchers from several departments are currently involved in ground-breaking work to improve the way researchers have traditionally gathered, analyzed and interpreted information. Much of this work is carried out through the Geomatics and Cartographic Research Centre under the leadership of Dr. Fraser Taylor. As one of the world’s leading cartographers, Dr. Taylor introduced and continues to develop the new paradigm of cybercartography. His research projects include studies on the preservation of First Nations’ knowledge and languages.