iesaisties.lv: Citizen Science Platform for Humanities and Arts in Latvia
iesaisties.lv project@iesaistiesLV.png | Credits: esaistiesLV
Diaries in the Pandemic times@iesaistiesLV.png | Credits: esaistiesLV
@iesaistiesLV.png | Credits: esaistiesLV
group pictures@iesaistiesLV.png | Credits: esaistiesLV
Iesaisties.lv, curated and developed by the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (ILFA), is a digital platform for citizen science in the humanities and arts. It provides pathways for users to engage with different initiatives according to their interests and preferences, filtering by topics and types of participation.
Iesaisties.lv aims to foster closer collaboration between humanities scholars and the public, thereby enhancing multi-directional knowledge exchange, collective creativity and engagement-based humanities. Secondary objectives include making humanities data openly accessible, developing digital skills, promoting a culture of participation and encouraging lifelong learning.
The citizen science initiatives represented by Iesaisties.lv are carried out by ILFA in collaboration with different partners, including research organizations, governmental and municipal institutions, media outlets and NGOs. Among the partners are the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sciences of the University of Latvia, Latvian Open Technologies Association, and others.
For over a decade, through Iesaisties.lv numerous citizen science initiatives have been implemented at the crossroads where citizen science meets cultural heritage and digital humanities, among them: (1) Knowledge-sharing initiatives where the general public or specific communities are invited to share insights on specific topics, helping to contextualise and uncover hidden historical narratives. (2) Creative-response initiatives encourage the public to engage with cultural heritage materials in creative ways that deepen their understanding of and interest in these subjects. (3) Crowdsourcing initiatives that encourage the public to put joint efforts in creating datasets necessary for societal good or unlocking cultural history materials by participating in hands-on activities.
Project supported by Latvian Council of Science, project “Towards Development of Open and FAIR Digital Humanities Ecosystem in Latvia” (No. VPP-IZM-DH-2022/1-0002), implemented within the framework of the National Research Programme “Digital Resources of the Humanities”
European Regional Development Fund, project “Empowering knowledge society: interdisciplinary perspectives on public involvement in the production of digital cultural heritage “ No. 1.1.1.1/16/A/040
Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia: Sanita Reinsone (LV), Eva Eglāja-Kristsone (LV), Ginta Pērle-Sīle (LV), Rita Grīnvalde (LV), Ieva Weaver (LV), Uldis Ķirsis (LV), Krišs Salmanis (LV), Sandis Laime (LV), Dace Bula (LV), Elīna Gailīte (LV), Madara Eversone (LV), Justīne Jaudzema (LV), Aigars Lielbārdis (LV), Ilze Ļaksa-Timinska (LV), Signe Raudive (LV), Digne Ūdre (LV), Elvīra Žvarte (LV), Nils Graustiņš (LV), Ainars Brūvelis (LV).
Collaboration with Latvian National Commission for UNESCO (LV), Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sciences of the University of Latvia (LV), Latvian Open Technologies Association (LV), Punctum Magazine (LV), Latvia's Centenary Office (LV).
Sanita Reinsone (LV), head of Iesaisties.lv project and ILFA's Digital Humanities group; humanities researcher with a deep interest in digital humanities, digital cultural heritage, citizen science and participatory research methods; studies also folk narratives, life-writing traditions, and oral history.
Eva Eglāja-Kristsone (LV), Iesaisties.lv coordinator of initiatives in literature (Read Aloud and Literatura.lv) and women's history (Womage.lv). Her scholarly pursuits primarily encompass literary studies, distant reading, and autobiographical and biographical studies, focusing on the phenomena of celebrity and the dynamics of women's activism and agency.
Ginta Pērle-Sīle (LV), Iesaisties.lv project manager; humanities researcher interested in digital humanities focusing on ways for transfer of scientific knowledge and raising awareness of cultural heritage in society; studies folk songs and the history of Latvian folkloristics.
Rita Grīnvalde (LV), a senior researcher and Head of the Archives of Latvian Folklore, ILFA. Her research interests include the history of folklore studies; heritage studies; folk religion; visual ethnography; cultural policy. Grīnvalde is involved in curation of Iesaisties.lv knowledge exchange initiatives.
Ieva Weaver (LV),ethnomusicologist, a researcher at the Archives of Latvian Folklore, ILFA. Her main research interests are Latvian traditional music and its revival and contemporary uses, and the history and culture of Latvian Roma. Weaver is the main coordinator of the citizen science initiative documenting revival and exploration of the archival sound recordings in “Dziedi ar arhīvu” [“Sing with the Archives”] campaign.
Uldis Ķirsis (LV), a skilled developer who has been working with the development of ILFA's digital resources, including Iesaisties.lv citizen science platform since 2014.
Krišs Salmanis (LV), a prominent Latvian contemporary artist, educated at the Art Academy of Latvia and the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, has received several prestigious awards throughout his career. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Salmanis has contributed his design expertise to citizen science digital initiatives in collaboration with the Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art of the University of Latvia
"Iesaisties.lv" is a decade-long citizen science initiative led by the Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art (ILFA) at the University of Latvia. This digital platform fosters public engagement in humanities and arts projects, facilitating collaboration between scholars and citizens while preserving cultural heritage. It offers diverse activities such as transcribing historical manuscripts and creative-response campaigns, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and societal inclusion across age groups and backgrounds. It showcases potential policy impact and community empowerment in cultural preservation through partnerships with NGOs, media, and governmental bodies like UNESCO.