AI for Humanists Session and Data Physicalization

Before the session

1. Read this brief article about the project (formerly called “BERT for Humanists,” referring to the LLM named BERT): “Cornell initiative empowers humanists to leverage AI” (2023)
2. Review the AI for Humanists website, with particular attention to:
   • Glossary
   • Skim the list of example project descriptions. Feel free to read a paper or two if they interest you.
   • Review sample prompts for generative AI systems.

3. Bring two questions for David, either about the AI for Humanists project, his practice as an information science scholar engaging humanities questions, or your broader questions about the ethics of engaging AI after your discussion during the SDH AI session.

4. OPTIONAL: On the second day of SDH, I read a brief passage about words from poet Joy Harjo. Tomorrow I will offer a little bit of space if any of you would like to share your own quote: about words, writing, language, or something else that gets you thinking about words not just as objects to calculate, but something broader. It could also be a memorable quote from our readings or discussions if you’d prefer. But again, this is completely optional. 🙂

During the session

Hour one: AI for Humanists with Professor David Mimno

Hour two: Data Physicalization

Examples in our session

• Dear Data
• dh+lib special issue on data physicalization and the Play with Your Data zine
• Nadya Collazo-Llorens works
• Footpath for the People?’ A Data Quilt & Companion Zine about the Appalachian Trail by Claudia Berger

Example list from Research Data Librarian Gabby Evergreen:

• List of data physicalizations, historical to present
• The tempestry project
• Tatiana Kalainoff “Rezoning, at what cost?” (this piece was exhibited at 2024 Data Through Design, a fantastic annual exhibit of artists using datasets from the NYC Open Data portal – I’d recommend looking through some of their exhibits for some more inspiration!)
• Quinn Dombrowski’s data textiles
• Erica Lord, The Code we Carry: Beadwork as DNA Data
• Data quilts from Nancy Smith and myself