JISC

‘Your country needs you’ is the message from a new set of JISC projects which are appealing for everyday experiences of history to help build digital resources for the public, community organisations and researchers.

The five new projects are breaking down the boundaries between universities and the people around them as part of an investment in digital content for all.

Alastair Dunning, programme manager at JISC, said: “Facebook, Flickr and YouTube have radically changed ideas about who can contribute to digital content online. These innovative new projects are helping universities and colleges benefit from the power of their communities to help solve problems collectively, as well as strengthening the bonds between curators and the people who use their resources."

The projects are led by teams in universities and colleges across the UK and are aiming to conclude in the autumn with an exciting suite of innovative resources.

Local history groups are being asked to provide localised contributions to the University of Sussex’s Mass Observation Archive which will inspire and assist people to record the changing history of their communities. 

Meanwhile, scholars and amateur historians will be able make to make greater use of geographical information as a project the University of Edinburgh encourages users to identify streets and places in historical maps.

Climate change research is set to benefit from our past experiences in two projects.  Memories of floods in years gone by are being pooled by the University of Gloucestershire, as part of a resource which will help researchers evaluate flood risks and educate people about the phenomenon. 

Oxford University is also asking the general public to help tap into data to assist scientists undertaking research in global warming.

Finally, an online gallery, which allows those studying art and design to save and exhibit their work, is being opened up to new community learners under the funding at Coleg Harlech in Wales,  allowing people from local organisations and the college to critically evaluate their work and share perceptions of cultural identity.

By working with partners outside their universities, the curators of these resources not only strengthen their organisations’ relationships with the broader general public, but bring out into the expertise and knowledge of external communities in a way that enriches the process of teaching and learning for all.

Find out more about the projects

Explore what JISC is doing to help universities and colleges engage with the communities around them