Towards a Model of Openness in Digital Cultural Heritage

My keynote for the Network Detroit conference (detroitdh.org):

Encouraged by exciting advances in digital technology, the issue of openness has swept into almost every corner of the scholarly world in recent years. Research, publication, teaching, public engagement, and even the very fabric of scholarly ethics - have all been touched by this discussion. The domain of cultural heritage is hardly immune from the debate. Disciplines such as History, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Classics along with cultural heritage institutions such as libraries, archives, and museums are all wrestling with how openness within a digital space impacts their core identity and unique professional practice.

If one thing has emerged from this discussion, it is that there is no universal set of practices that can be homogeneously applied to all fields, disciplines, and types of institutions that address the challenge of openness. Each domain demands an approach that is clearly and thoughtfully tailored to its unique professional circumstances.

It is within this context that this talk will parse the idea of openness, exploring the issue both broadly and within the unique context of praxis in digital cultural heritage. In order to maximize its value to scholars, professional practitioners, and institutions, the talk will also suggest a series of thoughtful strategies that can be leveraged in order to better embrace a more open approach to work within digital cultural heritage.

Transcript

1. TOWARDS A MODEL OF OPENNESS IN DIGITAL CULTURAL HERITAGE Dr. Ethan Watrall Department of Anthropology MATRIX: Center for Digital Humanities & Social Sciences Michigan State University @captain_primate
2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz @captain_primate | #detroitDH
3. www.nih.gov @captain_primate | #detroitDH
4. www.plos.org @captain_primate | #detroitDH
5. www.whitehouse.gov/open @captain_primate | #detroitDH
6. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.dia.org
7. HOLD UP THERE, SON...WHAT EXACTLY IS “OPENNESS” @captain_primate | #detroitDH
8. OPEN SCHOLARSHIP CULTURE ACEESS DATA PUBLICATION LEARNING SOURCE @captain_primate | #detroitDH
9. The principle that knowledge should be spread freely. Its growth should come from developing, altering, or enriching already existing works on the basis of sharing and collaboration without restriction “OPENNESS” @captain_primate | #detroitDH
10. vs FREE AS IN SPEECH FREE AS IN BEER @captain_primate | #detroitDH
11. FREE AS IN BEER (GRATIS) @captain_primate | #detroitDH
12. FREE AS IN SPEECH (LIBRE) @captain_primate | #detroitDH
13. SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE POINT OF THIS TALK? @captain_primate | #detroitDH
14.  SUGGEST A SERIES OF STRATEGIES FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE SCHOLARS AND INSTITUTIONS TO EMBRACE A MORE OPEN PERSPECTIVE  WHAT IS OPEN SCHOLARSHIP (AND WHAT IS AT STAKE)? @captain_primate | #detroitDH
15.  SUGGEST A SERIES OF STRATEGIES FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE SCHOLARS AND INSTITUTIONS TO EMBRACE A MORE OPEN PERSPECTIVE  WHAT IS OPEN SCHOLARSHIP (AND WHAT IS AT STAKE)? @captain_primate | #detroitDH SERIES OF STRATEGIES
16. I’m going to wander all over the place MY EXPERIENCES... FROM THE TRENCHES @captain_primate | #detroitDH
17. I’m going to wander a little... @captain_primate | #detroitDH
18. @captain_primate | #detroitDH THIS TALK ME YOU GUYS
19. GONNA BE LOTS OF ARCHAEOLOGY you heard the man, ARCHAEOLOGY @captain_primate | #detroitDH
20. REALLY, WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT OPENNESS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
21. OPEN IS AN ISSUE OF @captain_primate | #detroitDH SUSTAINABILITY
22. CLOSED & GATED SYSTEMS CREATE A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE AND LOSS DRACONIAN PRICING BY FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES MAKES SCHOLARLY ACCESS TO RESEARCH INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT IN RESEARCH, THE RATE OF DISCOVERY IS ACCELERATED BY OPEN ACCESS TO DATA @captain_primate | #detroitDH
23. CLOSED & GATED SYSTEMS CREATE A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE AND LOSS DRACONIAN PRICING BY FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES MAKES SCHOLARLY ACCESS TO RESEARCH INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT IN RESEARCH, THE RATE OF DISCOVERY IS ACCELERATED BY OPEN ACCESS TO DATA @captain_primate | #detroitDH
24. CLOSED & GATED SYSTEMS CREATE A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE AND LOSS DRACONIAN PRICING BY FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES MAKES SCHOLARLY ACCESS TO RESEARCH INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT IN RESEARCH, THE RATE OF DISCOVERY IS ACCELERATED BY OPEN ACCESS TO DATA @captain_primate | #detroitDH
25. CLOSED & GATED SYSTEMS CREATE A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE AND LOSS DRACONIAN PRICING BY FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES MAKES SCHOLARLY ACCESS TO RESEARCH INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT IN RESEARCH, THE RATE OF DISCOVERY IS ACCELERATED BY OPEN ACCESS TO DATA @captain_primate | #detroitDH
26. OPEN IS AN ISSUE OF @captain_primate | #detroitDH PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
27. OPENNESS ENCOURAGES PROPER ATTRIBUTION, RECOGNIZES CONTRIBUTIONS, & MITIGATES THEFT/ABUSE MAKES THE RESULTS OF (MOSTLY) PUBLICLY FUNDED WORK PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PROVIDES ACCESS TO THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE GET ACCESS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
28. OPENNESS ENCOURAGES PROPER ATTRIBUTION, RECOGNIZES CONTRIBUTIONS, & MITIGATES THEFT/ABUSE MAKES THE RESULTS OF (MOSTLY) PUBLICLY FUNDED WORK PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PROVIDES ACCESS TO THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE GET ACCESS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
29. OPENNESS ENCOURAGES PROPER ATTRIBUTION, RECOGNIZES CONTRIBUTIONS, & MITIGATES THEFT/ABUSE MAKES THE RESULTS OF (MOSTLY) PUBLICLY FUNDED WORK PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PROVIDES ACCESS TO THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE GET ACCESS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
30. OPENNESS ENCOURAGES PROPER ATTRIBUTION, RECOGNIZES CONTRIBUTIONS, & MITIGATES THEFT/ABUSE MAKES THE RESULTS OF (MOSTLY) PUBLICLY FUNDED WORK PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PROVIDES ACCESS TO THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE GET ACCESS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
31. OPEN IS AN ISSUE OF @captain_primate | #detroitDH BETTER SCHOLARSHIP
32. ALLOWS FOR THE AGGREGATION OR FEDERATION OF BODIES OF SILOED DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE FACILITATES THE USE, RE-USE, AND NOVEL TRANSFORMATION OF DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE ENCOURAGES DISCOVERY & FACILITATES INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION @captain_primate | #detroitDH
33. ALLOWS FOR THE AGGREGATION OR FEDERATION OF BODIES OF SILOED DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE FACILITATES THE USE, RE-USE, AND NOVEL TRANSFORMATION OF DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE ENCOURAGES DISCOVERY & FACILITATES INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION @captain_primate | #detroitDH
34. ALLOWS FOR THE AGGREGATION OR FEDERATION OF BODIES OF SILOED DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE FACILITATES THE USE, RE-USE, AND NOVEL TRANSFORMATION OF DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE ENCOURAGES DISCOVERY & FACILITATES INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION @captain_primate | #detroitDH
35. ALLOWS FOR THE AGGREGATION OR FEDERATION OF BODIES OF SILOED DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE FACILITATES THE USE, RE-USE, AND NOVEL TRANSFORMATION OF DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE ENCOURAGES DISCOVERY & FACILITATES INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION @captain_primate | #detroitDH
36. TECHNICAL ISSUES & CHALLENGES  @captain_primate | #detroitDH  SCHOLARLY CULTURE & INSTITUTIONAL POLICY STRATEGIES:
37. TECHNICAL ISSUES & CHALLENGES  @captain_primate | #detroitDH  SCHOLARLY CULTURE & INSTITUTIONAL POLICY STRATEGIES:
38. BUILD FOR (AND ON) THE OPEN WEB @captain_primate | #detroitDH
39. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
40. = BAD @captain_primate | #detroitDH
41. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
42. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
43. CAMPUS AS MUSEUM msu.seum.matrix.msu.edu @captain_primate | #DetroitDH msu.seum msu.seum.matrix.msu.edu
44. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
45. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
46. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
47. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
48. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
49. @captain_primate | #detroitDH twitter.com/clmorgan/status/383270478053265408
50. BE MINDFUL @captain_primate | #detroitDH
51. TECHNICAL ISSUES & CHALLENGES  @captain_primate | #detroitDH  SCHOLARLY CULTURE & INSTITUTIONAL POLICY STRATEGIES:
52. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
53. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
54. @captain_primate | #detroitDH SCHOLARS: PUBLISH YOUR RESEARCH DATA ON THE OPEN WEB INSTITUTIONS: RELEASE COLLECTIONS DATA ON THE OPEN WEB
55. DOWNLOAD @captain_primate | #detroitDH
56. @captain_primate | #detroitDH dp.la/info/developers/download/
57. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.penn.museum/collections/data.php
58. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.github.com
59. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.cooperhewitt.org/collections/data
60. API @captain_primate | #detroitDH (APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE)
61. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.powerhousemuseum.com
62. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.europeana.eu
63. LOD LINKED OPEN DATA @captain_primate | #detroitDH
65. @captain_primate | #detroitDH opencontext.org
66. ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY GIVE AWAY ONE’S PRECIOUS DATA @captain_primate | #detroitDH
67. GOLD STAR OF ACADEMIC PUBLICATION @captain_primate | #detroitDH
68. @captain_primate | #detroitDH @up_joad | openarchaeologydata.metajnl.com
69. @captain_primate | #detroitDH @up_joad | openarchaeologydata.metajnl.com
70. USEFUL AND USABLE @captain_primate | #detroitDH
71. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.creativecommons.org
72. LICENSES HAVE IMPLICATIONS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
73. ARCHAEOLOGY 2.0 new approaches to communication & collaboration edited by Eric C. Kansa, Sarah Whitcher Kansa, & Ethan Watrall @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.escholarship.org/uc/item/1r6137tb UCLA Cotsen Institute Press 2011 Available for free through UC eScholarship Open-Access scholarly publishing services Online reading & downloadable PDF First volume in the new Cotsen Digital Archaeology series
74. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.escholarship.org/uc/item/1r6137tb
75. @captain_primate | #detroitDH saa.org
76. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.mukurtu.org
77.  TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE LABELS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE LICENSES  @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.mukurtu.org | www.localcontexts.org
78. TK (Traditional Knowledge) license options for Indigenous creators, custodians and beneficiaries to manage their community-owned and generated cultural content with third-parties and external- community users. TK LICENSE @captain_primate | #detroitDH http://www.localcontexts.org/tk/license
79. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.localcontexts.org/tk/license
80. TK Labels are an informational strategy to help non- community users of traditional knowledge understand the importance and significance of the material, even when it is in the public domain and appears as though it can be shared and used by everyone. TK LABELS @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.localcontexts.org/#labels
81. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.localcontexts.org/tk/label
82. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.localcontexts.org/tk/label
83. @captain_primate | #detroitDH www.localcontexts.org/tk/label
84. EXPOSE YOUR SCHOLARLY PROCESS (ITERATE OPENLY) @captain_primate | #detroitDH
85. YES, THIS OFTEN REALLY HARD
86. @captain_primate | #detroitDH SOMETIMES, THIS STUFF TERRIFYING IS DOWNRIGHT
87. Remember kids, perfect is the enemy of good (Voltaire) @captain_primate | #detroitDH
88. @captain_primate | #detroitDH PUT YOUR WORK HERE
89. @captain_primate | #detroitDH HISTORY CLASSICS ENGLISH ANTHROPOLOGY PHILOSOPHY COMPUTER SCIENCE LINGUISTICS
90. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
91. @captain_primate | #detroitDH
92. SOME FINAL THOUGHTS @captain_primate | #detroitDH
93. SILOS = BAD (a grain solo, just in case you didn’t know) @captain_primate | #detroitDH
94. open SCHOLARSHIP scares me! we’re not about sharing knowledge, dagnabbit @captain_primate | #detroitDH
95. OPENNESS ISN’T BINARY @captain_primate | #detroitDH
96. OPENNESS ISN’T BINARY OPEN OR CLOSED @captain_primate | #detroitDH
97. EXISTS ALONG A SPECTRUM @captain_primate | #detroitDH
98. CLOSED IS NOT ALWAYS BAD @captain_primate | #detroitDH
99. OPEN BY DEFAULT
100. Dude, open is the bomb ! Trust me! EVANGELIZE @captain_primate | #detroitDH
101. FIN Dr. Ethan Watrall Department of Anthropology MATRIX: The Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Michigan State University @captain_primate (THE END)