Digital Studio
The Digital Studio provides services, expertise, equipment and collaborative spaces for Faculty of Arts researchers and industry partners working in the digital humanities, arts and social sciences (HASS).
The Digital Studio is home to a growing number of exciting programs and research projects at the intersection of social sciences, humanities and the digital world. From online heritage to data mining, we provide space, advice and equipment for the cutting edge of digital research.
Current Programs
Research Projects
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Deep Mapping: Creating a Dynamic Web Application Museum "Soft Power" Map
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Creative Convergence: Enhancing impact in regional theatre for young people
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Investigating Actual and Perceived Videotext Complexity in Second Language Video Comprehension
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Melbourne History Workshop
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Theatre and Dance Platform
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Visualising Special Music Collections
Assistant Dean, Digital Studio
Professor Rachel Fensham
Professor Rachel Fensham is a dance and theatre scholar with a history of research development in the digital humanities. She is Lead Chief Investigator (CI) on the ARC Linkage project, "Creative Convergence: Enhancing Impact in Regional Theatre for Young People" (2015-2018) and CI on the LIEF project for AusStage 6 which has developed an interoperable Theatre and Dance Platform at the University of Melbourne. She established the Digital Humanities Incubator (Melbourne, 2014-5) and in the UK, she launched the Digital Dance Archives and Move Research. Forthcoming publications include editing a section on "Making and Assembling" for the Routledge Handbook of Interdisciplinary Research and a long article on issues in dance research for a forthcoming Methuen Handbook. With Professor Peter M. Boenisch, she is co-editor of the Palgrave book series, "New World Choreographies" which has just launched its seventh title.
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Digital Studio staff
Digital Studio Project Officer
Tom Vasey
Email: tjvasey@unimelb.edu.auTom is a professional who has worked primarily in museums and libraries. He has a particular interest in how digital technologies are transforming the ways people discover and interact with cultural collections.
He began his career promoting cultural collections, initially at Museum Victoria and then at the Australian War Memorial. More recently Tom has been working with the archives and heritage collections at Newcastle Library, leading on digitisation projects, the development of an online collections discovery platform, and the management of digital born acquisitions.
Working in the Digital Studio, Tom is interested to further explore how digital technologies can remake encounters with cultural collections; expanding access and reforming discovery behaviours.
Digital Studio Admin Assistant (Casual)
Nat Cutter
Email: nat.cutter@unimelb.edu.auNat is a current PhD candidate in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, researching the experiences and impact of English expatriates in seventeenth-century North Africa. He is interested in cross-cultural engagement, social networks, evangelicalism, millennialism, diplomacy, and piracy.
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Digital Studio Research Fellows
Dr Natalia Grincheva
Dr Grincheva is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Research Unit of Public Cultures at The University of Melbourne. She pursues her career in the field of digital humanities focusing on development of new computational methods to study contemporary museums as important players in creative economy. Her first book, Branding the Global Guggenheim: Cultural Diplomacy in the Neoliberal Age, explores franchising museum practices as new avenues for contemporary institutional diplomacy and global museum PR. The second monograph forthcoming in 2018, Museum Diplomacy in the Digital Age, will contribute to the 'Museum Meanings' Routledge series. It will explore online museum spaces as sites of social activism and digital diplomacy through several case studies of the largest museums in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Dr Tyne Daile Sumner
Tyne is a researcher and teacher in English and Theatre Studies. Her research interests include 20th Century American literature, surveillance, confession, privacy, media, and Digital Humanities. Tyne is currently the Engagement Consultant for the new Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Data Enhanced Virtual Laboratory (HASS DEVL) project. The aim of this national project is to bring together data, digital research tools, and services to enhance the skills and output of the HASS research community. Tyne is also a Senior Research Community Coordinator for Research Platform Services, where she supports the open-source web-publishing platform Omeka and runs trainings, events, and workshops in the Digital Humanities space. In this role, Tyne recently co-edited The Digital Research Skills Cookbook: An Introduction to the Research Bazaar Community. Tyne's key digital projects in 2018 include the creation of 'Surveilit,' an interactive online database exploring the relationship between surveillance and literature as well as DigiCom, an SSAF Grant-funded project that will explore the 'Tech Journey' of 5 PhD candidates who are using digital tools in their research. Get in touch with Tyne if you’d like to know more about Omeka trainings, the HASS DEVL or the Digital Research Skills Cookbook. She’s also on Twitter at @tynedaile.
Dr Daniel Russo-Batterham
From 2011 to 2013, Dr Daniel Russo-Batterham worked as a researcher at the Centre d’Études Supérieures de la Renaissance in Tours, France, while completing a Master of Music. In April 2018, he graduated from his PhD at the University of Melbourne where he examined seventeenth-century lute songs, with a particular focus on the relationship between text and music. Following graduation, Daniel participated in the 2018 Digital Studio internship program, where he used digital tools to examine Australian and French trench literature from the First World War. He has been using python and associated technologies to analyse music and text for the past five years and continues to be involved with a broad range of Digital Humanities projects in Australia and France. Daniel is currently collaborating with the Grainger Museum and the Rare Music Collection to create interactive online resources that offer unique insights into the musical materials held at the University of Melbourne as part of the project Visualising Special Music Collections
Mr Emad Alghamdi
Emad Alghamdi is a PhD student in the School of Languages and Linguistics. His research focuses on understanding videotext complexity for language learners. Before starting his PhD, Alghamdi completed an MA in English (TESOL) and an MS in Educational Technology in the USA. He founded KAUx, a MOOC platform, and led several educational technology projects in Saudi Arabia. His research interests are in Videotext Complexity, Multimodality, NLP, and Machin Learning.
Mr Andrew Fuhrmann
Andrew Fuhrmann is a Research Fellow for AusStage, LIEF17. His research interests include digital collections for the performing arts, poetics and contemporary dance and performance analysis.
Mr James Lesh
James is a PhD Candidate in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies. His thesis examines the place of urban conservation in the twentieth-century Australian city. He is interested in the relationship between cities, heritage, people and technology. He is the Digital Project Officer for the Melbourne History Workshop project.
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Informatics Support staff
Social and Cultural Informatics Platform (SCIP)
- Dr Mitchell Harrop partners and consults on many of the Digital Studio projects and is especially active in the Melbourne History Workshop
- Greg D'Arcy
- Geordie Zhang
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e-Teaching staff
Meredith Hinze (Manager, eLearning /eTeaching)
Email: m.hinze@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 3573
Mitch Buzza (eTeaching Training & Support Officer and LMS Faculty Representative)
Email: mitch.buzza@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9035 7549
Cameron Dunlop (eTeaching Production & Learning Officer)
Email: dunlopc@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9035 3974
Daniel Hayward (eTeaching equipment Loans officer)
Email: arts-equipment@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 1372
Plus two casual production staff. -
Steering Committee members
Steering Committee members
Professor Rachel Fensham
Assistant Dean, Digital StudioMs Donna McRostie
Research and Collections representative (Acting Director, Research and Collections, University Library)Dr Stephen Giugni OAM
Research Platform Services representative (Director, Research Platform Services)Mr Ken Clarke
Engineering representative (Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Melbourne Networked Society Institute (MNSI))Ms Catrionadh Dobson
Business Developments representative (Senior Business Development Manager, Faculty of Arts)Ms Eliette Dupre Husser
Research representative (Research Manager, Faculty of Arts)Associate Professor Paul Gruba
Petascale Campus representative (Academic Convenor, Humanities and Social Sciences)Mr Tom Vasey
Digital Studio Project Officer -
Management User Group members
Ms Marija Grgic
Faculty Teaching representative (Acting Manager Strategy, Planning and Resources Unit)Ms Bernie Farrell
Facilities/OHS representative (Facilities, OHS and Records Manager, Strategy, Planning and Resources)Ms Ailie Smith
eScholarship Research Centre (ESRC) representative (Research Archivist)Mr Lyle Winton
Social and Cultural Informatics Platform (SCIP) representative (SCIP Platform Manager)Dr Tyne Daile Sumner
Digital Chamber researchers representativeMs Meredith Hinze
e-Teaching rep (Manager, eLearning/eTeaching, eTeaching Unit)Mr Tom Vasey
Digital Studio Project Officer
Digital Studio services
| Getting started consultations | ||
|---|---|---|
| General research consultations | ||
| Research data management | ||
| Consultations | ARC grant applications | Data repository services |
| Data storage advice | Data management planning | |
| Research tools and services | ||
| Consultations | Digitisation | Digitisation self service |
| Data forensics | Research communication and collaboration tools | Research knowledge |
| Archiving reference management | ||
| Research profile and impact | ||
| Reports | Research identifiers | |
| Open access | ||
| Consultation and advice | ||
| Training and events | ||
| Workshops | Bespoke information sharing and networking | |
| Other services available in the University | ||
| The Melbourne School of Design's FabLab provides a range of digital fabrication services including 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC milling. For more information please see their Contact us web page. | ||
Frequently asked questions
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For internal users
What Research Data Management services and support can I access in the Digital Studio?
- Personalised advice for the completion of the "Management of Data" section of ARC applications
- Advice on constructing a data management plan, system and tools to facilitate your research
- Advice on storage and organisation of research data
- Advice on coordinating collaborative, large-scale or highly-engaged research activities
- Advice on the use of Data Repository Services
- Data management planning to make the most out of high-value research materials, both physical and digital
- Development and delivery of workshops on department needs on all facets of research information management
- Consultations relating to a range of research data compliance areas, including funding requirements and uses of research data
What research tools, services and advice are offered by the Digital Studio and service partners?
- Consultations on identifying, accessing and using a range of research support software tools
- Digitisation of physical research data via 2D and 3D digitisation services
- Digitisation of physical research data via self-service equipment
- Access to research data stored in old legacy media via digital forensics services
- Development and testing of informatics solutions in archival science and digital humanities
- Consultations on locating and advanced searching of primary and secondary research databases
How can the Digital Studio help me to increase my research profiles and demonstrate the impact of my research?
- Consultation and advice on making research more accessible through digital technology
- By providing bibliographic analysis and other metrics reports
- By providing support in creating and merging research identifiers such as ORICIDs
How can the Digital Studio assist me to meet open access requirements?
- The Digital Studio will provide advice and support on compliance with funder open access mandates and understanding of open access opportunities for publishing research outputs
How can the Digital Studio assist me in understanding copyright and intellectual property?
- The Digital Studio provides consultancy to facilitate non infringing use of scholarly materials for education purposes
- The Digital Studio provides information, education and awareness services on copyright and its relevance to teaching and learning, research and knowledge transfer
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For external users
What infrastructure and equipment are offered by the Digital Studio?
The Digital Studio offers project research space for short- and long-term projects in the digital humanities, multiple collaborative learning spaces, post-production, self-service digitisation and digital forensics laboratories, two immersive screens, spaces to accommodate informal project work, and an exhibition hall dedicated to the display of the studio's research.
What services will the Digital Studio provide to users?
The Digital Studio is supported by staff providing specialist expertise for research work in the digital environment, including the (Library and SCIP) Socio-Informaticians who specialise in supporting Art and Humanities and discipline-based Liaison Librarians. Expertise will be available in innovative sociotechnical methods, practices and protocols for accessing, collecting, managing, re-using and curating digital research data and output of significant academic and research value.
The Faculty of Arts eLearning/eTeaching unit (including the Equipment loans facility) are also permanently located on Level 3 of the studio, at the end closest to the teaching spaces.
Digital Studio staff will offer consultations on topics including:
- compliance with funding requirements
- using a digital repository
- assistance with ARC application requirements
- constructing a data management plan
It will provide advice on:
- the identification, access and use of a range of research support software tools
- digitisation and digital forensics
- how to use data analytics to increase a research profile or demonstrate the impact of research
- open access requirements
- copyright and intellectual property
Digital Workshop (Multi-purpose room)
This room is suitable for collaboration or small lectures/seminars. It seats 20 people around two large tables
- 2 video projectors - one per table (Can show different content or mirror displays, interactive whiteboard stylus available on request)
- White boards (3)
- 12 keypad lockers
- Power supply (4 outlets) for each table
Digital Lab (Conference Facility and Research Laboratory)
This flexible room seats 30 people and is suitable for conferences, lectures, group meetings and collaboration. All tables and chairs can be reconfigured or moved.
- 1 large projection screen, 3 small projection screens (all can show independent content or mirror). 3 smaller projection screens can be activated as interactive whiteboards on request
- Two large screens on trolleys also available
- Power outlets hanging from ceiling
- Two control panels at either end of the room
- Mobile lectern with projector connection
Collaborative spaces with video-conferencing and recording facilities
These rooms are suitable for small meetings and project work. Collaborative Rooms I and II can be combined into one larger room.
All rooms are equipped for video conferencing, using webcams and sound inputs controlled from the PC. Rooms I and III can produce and store video and audio recordings.
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211: Collaborative Room I
Seats 6-10
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212: Collaborative Room II
Seats 4-6
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306: Collaborative Room III
Seats 6-10
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307: Collaborative Room IV
Seats 4-6
An exhibition space with wall and floor projection
- Portable control panel
- Three digital signage players projected on wall (also two LCD screens in e-teaching area)
- Floor projection
- 8-channel audio, can be broken into three zones
- 20 x headphones, can be connected to portable pack or 8-channel audio
Two immersive rooms with 180° screens
Immersive Space I
- Display one single image, or two overlapping
- Connect two laptops
- Two USB extenders to the rack PCs
Immersive Space II
- Display two images side-by-side
- Otherwise same setup as Immersive Space I
Informal project spaces
- 6 sets - 4 powerpoints, 4 USB ports, 2 ethernet ports
- 2 sets - 2 round tables, 4 chairs
- 5 x 2-person couches with 2 small round tables
- 1 x orange couch with powerpoint and USB port
Zeta book scanner
It's easy to scan historical and new books, magazines, files, ring binders, contracts, balance sheets and more. Delivering high-quality data with the highest resolution quickly, the Zeta allows staff and students to output to print, email, USB, ftp or the cloud.
Location and contact details
The Digital Studio is located on the 2nd and 3rd floor, West Wing of the Arts West (Building 148).
Access is from Level 2 of the West Wing of Arts West, during 9.00 am - 5.00 pm or via the lifts in the rear foyer the West Wing of Arts West.
After hours by appointment or prior arrangement.
Office Hours at the Information Hub (Room 3.10)
Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm
Closed Friday
Contact
Email: digital-studio@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +613 9035 7936
Twitter: @digitalstudioUM
How can I access the Digital Studio?
Project space and equipment can be booked by emailing the Digital Studio.
How do I access the Digital Studio's services?
Visit the Digital Studio to discuss the services that are available (enter via level 3), and organise a referral to the most appropriate support services,
or
Book a research consultation with a Socio-Informatician from the Social and Cultural Informatics Platform (SCIP), an Arts Liaison Librarian, expert staff from the University of Melbourne Archives or the eScholarship Research Centre via BookIt.