DH-IGNITE, a catalyst for new ideas

Anusha Sewchurran
Last updated on Mar 7, 2023 2 min read DH-IGNITE

This post was contributed by Anusha Sewchurran (Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Design, Durban University of Technology).

Anusha represented DUT on the panel discussion titled _A vision for digital and computational research in humanities and social sciences_ at DH-IGNITE KZN 2022.
Anusha represented DUT on the panel discussion titled A vision for digital and computational research in humanities and social sciences at DH-IGNITE KZN 2022.

I was introduced (by chance) to Digital Humanities (DH) a few years ago when I walked into Prof Langa Khumalo’s office at North-West University for an entirely unrelated issue. He generously invited me to a DH event and I could not believe I had missed this discourse. The DH community welcomed me and were generous in sponsoring my students to attend training and DH events.

What was great about DH-IGNITE KZN is that it occurred after the lockdown. Covid-19 really constricted the natural uptake of DH tools and projects suffered. At this event, I met people from my own institution, some known online, others not known. It was great to put a face to a name. I met people from other institutions, two of whom are joining the DUT staff as contact teaching assistants. In addition, we forged some beautiful links to regional institutions.

Where Covid interrupted the conversation, DH-IGNITE got it going again. Meeting new people and reconnecting with colleagues has catalysed new ideas for future projects. The presentations were generous in sharing processes and knowledge, which gives one the courage to take that next step.

It is time to return to the DH trajectory of learning and teaching. I feel very hopeful that I will be able to expose students to DH in the near future.

Learning with peers at DH-IGNITE KZN 2022.
Learning with peers at DH-IGNITE KZN 2022.
dh-ignite events

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