As the (En)coding Heritage Network reaches the conclusion of its activities, we would like to take this moment to reflect on our journey and express gratitude to the community that made it all possible. Founded in 2020 under the aegis of TORCH, the network aimed to unite scholars from the humanities, social sciences, and applied sciences to explore the potential of new visual computing technologies. Through tools like 3D mapping, photogrammetry, and virtual and augmented reality, we sought to redefine how material objects, visual art and sites are studied, and chart new paths for engaging with and safeguarding our shared cultural heritage.
Over the course of three years, we hosted a range of activities. These include the 2021 conference on 'Digital Approaches to Art History and Cultural Heritage', which brought together over 100 participants to explore topics such as digital visual studies and virtual reconstruction. Our seminar series featured 15 international speakers addressing cutting-edge projects. The new course 'Digital Cultural Heritage' which we devised and delivered at the 2020, 2021, 2022 Oxford Digital Humanities Summer School offered hands-on training in 3D modeling, virtual reality creation, and immersive technologies. The Immers-eXpo event series, organized in collaboration with the Oxford X-Reality Hub, showcased academic and industry advancements. The Immers-Ed Hackathon highlighted the power of immersive technologies to tackle challenges in cultural heritage, education, and healthcare. Through these initiatives, we nurtured a global community of over 350 members.
As the network was funded in HT 2020, as the pandemic was spreading around the world, health restrictions had a significant impact on the types of events that we could organise. In 2020 and 2021, we were restricted to digital events. Moving to an online format, although not allowing for the personal connection of in-person interactions, opened up new opportunities. It enabled our network to reach a global audience. Our online conference was attended by over 100 people from around the world, while 44 individuals from 11 countries participated in our Global Hackathon.
None of this would have been possible without the support of TORCH, which hosted and funded our activities, enabling us to develop a vibrant interdisciplinary network that not only propelled the field of digital cultural heritage forward but also generated lasting momentum at Oxford for future innovation and collaboration in this area. (En)coding Heritage reached across departments, bringing together researchers from backgrounds as diverse as Classics, Engineering, Internet Institute, Medicine, Geography, Oriental Studies, History, Art History etc., all united by the same interests. It enabled new conversations to take place across disciplines, for collaborations to emerge, and for a community to take shape in Oxford around the use of immersive technologies for the study of art and heritage. We remain deeply grateful to TORCH for allowing the fertile ground upon which this community could take roots and blossom at Oxford.
As we bid farewell, we hope the collaborations and innovations sparked by this network will continue to inspire future endeavors in cultural heritage and beyond. We will continue our activities through the Oxford X-Reality Hub and welcome interested members of the community to reach out to us via the website.
You can read our second year report here.
