DRI’s Dr Deborah Thorpe Joins Working Group on Museum Technologies

The working group's research is supported by the Irish Museums Trust, Irish Museums Association (IMA), and Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), and the group will begin meeting in November 2021.

Engaging with critical literature and discussing relevant case studies, the aim of the group is to unpack the social and ethical dimensions of new technologies, to contribute towards improving sectoral practices, and ensure new technologies work to widen access and participation in cultural heritage rather than entrench inequality and exclusion.

Adam Stoneman, of IMMA, who is putting together the group with Gina O’Kelly of the IMA, said the following about the group, and DRI’s role in it:

There is an urgent need for museums and other cultural institutions to think through the implications of digital technologies – the ways in which they can benefit public access and participation, and the ways in which they can cause harm and exclusion. Through its role in providing online access to a wealth of cultural heritage data, DRI is well placed to contribute to these important discussions through this focussed working group.

Deborah is looking forward to joining the group for a rigorous and interesting programme of reading, discussion, and collaboration. She commented: 

I am enthusiastic about this opportunity to contribute my expertise and to represent the collective knowledge and experience of the Digital Repository of Ireland’s team, at the meetings of this new working group. The topics, which include 'Algorithms and AI', 'Social media and platforms, and Digitisation and archives' speak to the work of the DRI as a digital repository, as we digitally preserve; provide sustained online access to; and promote cultural heritage, humanities, and social sciences data. I can’t wait to delve into the suggested reading material, for the upcoming meetings of this ambitious group.

Find out more about DRI's work.

Image: DRI Education and Outreach Manager Dr Deborah Thorpe