This manifesto aims to provide a structure and policy that outlines our values for the 2023 cohort of DSSRF projects. Our values include openness, collaboration, and the spread of knowledge. By the end of our projects we hope that all these values will be evident. One should begin by clearly articulating the overarching vision and purpose of the project. Explain why the project is important, what it aims to achieve, and how it will contribute to the field of digital humanities.

First and foremost, research is done to spread knowledge and advance understanding of the world. Whether it is a question that leads to further research or just a general understanding of a subject, learning and informing others is imperative. Digital humanities in particular builds upon the idea of reaching a wider group of people other than academia, spreading research and understanding of the world to a larger set of the population. 

To articulate the knowledge we will learn while researching, our projects will be open to the public and accessible. Projects should aim to make their resources, data, tools, and methodologies as openly available as possible to promote transparency, reproducibility, and wider engagement with the research community and the public. Digital humanities automatically makes data easier to understand compared to traditional papers. Using digital tools allows us to cater to a broader audience. The projects will use simple language and any graphics to convey information. It will then be presented on a website to the public.  

In order to compose a well-researched project, we must encourage collaboration.  Collaboration allows for a general balance of information across different subjects.  By embracing partnership, a researcher will be able to inform viewers sufficiently even if that person is not an expert in a certain field because of the guidance provided by collaborators.  We explained earlier that a goal of digital humanities is to spread knowledge to others.  Thus, leaning on others for help should be welcomed, not frowned upon.  Discussing plans for workshops or conferences, among other forms of engagement, is an effective way to collaborate with peers.

Concluding it with a call to action, inviting others to engage with the project. Encourage collaboration, feedback, and participation from others to foster a vibrant and inclusive digital humanities community. Because we are using digital tools, our projects can change and evolve as more information and new perspectives are understood. Keeping all of these values in mind will foster more accurate, open, and educational projects. 

Written by Emilia Blechschmidt ’26, Muhammad Ahmed ’26, Danny Nolan ’25, Omid Mohammadi ’25

Inspired by the Digital Humanities Manifesto 2.0