We are delighted to announce the start of a new AHRC-funded project: ‘Transatlantic Perspectives on the Use of Data Science in Museums and Heritage’.
Current developments in data science have been employed across the commercial world but they also offer a wealth of possibilities for improving visitor experience in cultural institutions. This project will create a network to investigate the use of advanced data science in realising the full potential of museums' existing visitor data (e.g. visitor numbers, social media comments) in order to understand and improve visitor engagement.
Our multidisciplinary network comprises academics from the departments of History, Psychology, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at Royal Holloway, University of London, in combination with a diverse team of British and American museums, heritage organisations and technology companies:
- Sussex Past runs a variety of heritage sites and museums including Fishbourne Roman Palace, Lewes Castle and Anne of Cleves House.
- Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia, US) is the world's largest living history museum, with over forty sites and two art museums.
- Historic Royal Palaces runs six of the UK's most iconic palaces, including the Tower of London and Hampton Court.
- The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, US) is one of America's oldest and most respected science museums.
- The JORVIK Group comprises five heritage attractions in the city of York, including the world-famous JORVIK Viking Centre.
- Royal Holloway Art Collections boasts a world-class selection of Victorian art.
- Mechdyne is a leading innovator in visualisation, 3D, VR and machine learning in commercial contexts.
- Smartify is an SME with an app that allows museum visitors to receive detailed information using AR, and museums to receive the data analytics generated.
The network is led by Dr Hannah Platts, and its activities will run from February to October 2019. Please contact hannah.platts@rhul.ac.uk for more information.
