TheDigital Humanities Lunchtalks – a joint online event series of the Data Science Center (DSC) of the University of Bremen, the Library and Information System (BIS) of the University of Oldenburg as well as the State and University Library Bremen (SuUB) – took place from the 4th to 8th of May 2026. The series aimed at connecting researchers and service providers from Bremen and Oldenburg and highlighting current developments in the field of digital humanities.
The event series was part of a collaboration within the Northwest Alliance and was aimed at both researchers in the digital humanities and those in the humanities interested in incorporating or further deepening their understanding of digital methods in their work.
Insights Into Current Projects and Methods
During the five day event, researchers and DH-Services from Bremen and Oldenburg presented various perspectives on digital humanities research – from database design as a humanities method to the use of AI in colonialism research.
The event kicked off with the session on „Digital Humanities in the Northwest Alliance: Support and Training for Researchers“ with contributions by Jonas Kaiser (BIS Oldenburg), Nele Fuchs (DSC) and Manfred Nölte (SuUB), who co-organized the event series. The presentation focused on support and training services for researchers as well as existing structures supporting the data- and method-oriented work in the humanities.
Further talks included:
- Kinder- und Jugendliteratur in the making – Ein Onlinekommentar zu Michael Endes “Die unendliche Geschichte” | Prof. Dr. Thomas Boyken & Sarah Gaber (Uni Oldenburg)
- From Spreadsheets to Networks: Database Design as Humanities Methodology | Prof. Dr. Julia Borst & Liam Hurwitz(Uni Bremen)
- Digital Humanities Methods and Approaches in Language Documentation and Description | Prof. Dr. phil. Alena Witzlack-Makarevich(Uni Bremen)
- Kolonialismus mit KI-Methoden erforschen - die Zusammenarbeit im Projekt ProSaDi | Vincent de Boer (Uni Oldenburg)
Strengthening Collaboration in the Northwest Alliance
The Lunchtalks served as a prime example of how the collaboration between Bremen and Oldenburg within the Northwest Alliance strengthens the exchange of digital methods, data literacy and research practices. In the digital humanities in particular, innovative approaches often emerge at the intersection of academic disciplines, infrasturcture, and methodological expertise.
The open online-format with short presentations and discussions thereafter provided the opportunity for low-barrier exchange, new conncetions and joint perspectives across institutional boundaries.
For the DSC, this series provided an opportunity to highlight its own services in the field of digital humanities and data-related support, and to further expand its collaboration with researchers and service providers in the region.
We thank all parties involved for the exciting insights and discussion and are looking forward to the continuation of the exchange within the Northwest Alliance.
Supporting Links:
https://www.uni-bremen.de/data-science-center/digital-humanities-lunchtalks
https://uol.de/bis
https://www.suub.uni-bremen.de/
If you have any questions, please contact:
Nele Fuchs
Data Science Support for Humanities
Tel. +49 (421) 218 - 59853
E-Mail: n.fuchs@uni-bremen.de
