11.12.2024

CfP for International Conference “Data Ethics for Historical Research in a Digital Era: Critical Reflections and Best Practices” in November 2025

Abstracts for the international conference can be submitted until 19th January 2025. The conference seeks to examine the ethical dimensions of data usage within historical research, fostering discussions among scholars that provide practical tools and strategies to navigate these challenges. Contributions from scholars at all career levels in history and historically-orientated disciplines, computer sciences and digital humanities as well as from practitioners in GLAM institutions are welcome.

Ethical concerns arise at every stage of the data lifecycle, from collection to dissemination, and it is necessary to consider them carefully in order to guarantee the fair, equal and non-discriminatory treatment of sensitive data. These challenges create the need for a critical reflection on the ethical implications of the handling of data and technologies in historical research and for actionable solutions. While data ethics, ethical AI, and critiques of data colonialism practices are widely discussed within the data and computer science communities, historical researchers have engaged with these issues more sparingly. A cross-disciplinary dialogue, focused on the unique challenges and needs within historical research, is therefore essential. In particular, there is an urgent need for collaborative efforts to define, seek, and implement shared ethical guidelines and solutions.