CDCS Annual Report 2023

CDCS Annual Report 2023

We are delighted to be sharing the fourth annual report of the Centre for Data, Culture & Society, which documents our activities supporting data-led and digital research over the last academic year. While last year's report celebrated our journey since launch, this year, our gaze is firmly fixed on the future.  

This year has been a period of significant change for CDCS. One of the most notable changes has been our integration into the 'innovation platform' within Edinburgh Futures Institute, offering an enriched context for our work. We've not only found a new home within EFI but also bid farewell to our founding Director, Melissa Terras, as her term came to an end. This transitional phase has provided us with a unique opportunity to assess our accomplishments to date and chart our course for the future. 

Despite these strategic shifts, we have maintained our commitment to our mission; to empower researchers through building capacity for data-led and applied digital research across the arts, humanities and social sciences. The past year witnessed the inauguration of the Rapid Prototyping Sandpit, a standout initiative that extended support to fifteen data-led projects as they embarked on their next technical phases. CDCS's expansive and diverse training program continued to benefit hundreds of researchers, further solidifying its position as a vital resource within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. In June, the CDCS Summer School entered its third iteration, expanding substantially from the previous year with participation from researchers across Scotland. Notable events this year included our third annual lecture, featuring author and activist Nanjala Nyabola, and the 2023 Digital Research Prizes award ceremony. We continue to see data-led research growing and thriving around us and are proud of the role we are playing in stimulating and supporting our community. 

Our annual report signifies not just a reflection on the past but a focus on the promising future that lies ahead. Read it for yourself here.