Human AI and Digital Society
Digital society has taken off due to rapid developments in data collection and artificial intelligence. This interdisciplinary research theme aims to make the development of AI models serve human well-being.
Core themes in Humanities
Six core themes
We closely cooperate at national level with the social sciences, law and economic sciences, allowing us to operate more decisively across university and discipline boundaries.
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Cultural Heritage and Identity
Cultural heritage has a fundamental impact on daily life, giving deeper meaning to the ordinary, providing a greater sense of temporality, and contributing to the existence of (sub)groups and individual identities. -
Digital Citizenship
Digital technologies are fundamentally changing how we organise democratic governance and legal systems. Our digital and networked world offers innovative new tools and unprecedented access to information and ... -
Empowering Language
Empowering Language unites language and literature researchers committed to building a society that fosters strong language and literacy skills, that allows people to express themselves, expand their horizons, learn ... -
Health Humanities
Creative approaches are necessary to manage the care needs of aging societies and to address rising rates of mental distress and chronic disease. The expertise of humanities researchers is especially useful for ... -
Climate Change
Climate Change researchers are developing a platform that connects collaborators in the environmental humanities field, makes their work visible and encourages new collaborations. This platform integrates research, ...
The history of meatless eating
According to historian Peter van Dam, it is essential to ‘ground ourselves in the past’ precisely in this climate crisis. ‘From a critical connection with our environment, we can investigate what people did and did not want to do with a view to sustainability, who they took into account, why they took action.'
Why humanities matter
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Impact story: Creativity & GenAI
GenAI offers unprecedented opportunities for content creation, but what are its risks and ethical issues? UvA researchers investigate this from a wide range of perspectives and disciplines. -
New research priority area: Shaping Interfaces Between Science and the Public
The new research priority area (RPA) Shaping Interfaces Between Science and the Public will be launched, which aims to establish a Public Methodology Centre to strengthen the relationship between science, citizen ... -
Unique reconstructions: view the history of UvA buildings in 3D
What did the building of the new University Library look like in the past when it was still a hospital? How did the Oudemanhuispoort come into existence? And what used to be hidden behind the pyramid of the BG5 ... -
Border closures during COVID briefly reduced support for immigrants and the EU
The sudden closure of internal European borders during the COVID-19 crisis had not only practical consequences, but also changed how people thought about immigration and Europe. Recent research from the University of ...
Interfaculty research priority areas
In addition to the core themes, humanities researchers also participate in the interfaculty research priority areas of the University of Amsterdam.
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Decolonial Futures
The Decolonial Futures Research Priority Area establishes collaborations on decolonial research across the Humanities, Law, and Behavioural and Social Science Faculties. The RPA understands ‘coloniality’ as a form of ... -
Global Digital Cultures
Global Digital Cultures constitutes a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community for comparing and analysing the profound changes brought about by digitisation around the globe. -
Amsterdam Centre for European Studies
ACES is the University of Amsterdam's centre for research, events and public debate about Europe, the EU, its policies, cultural and socio-economic trends -
Brain & Cognition
Cognition is a broad area of study that encompasses observation, thought and action, as well as emotion, consciousness and movement. In short, all the mental faculties that allow humans to interact normally with ... -
Energy transition through the lens of Sustainable Development Goals
Energy transition through the lens of Sustainable Development Goals (ENLENS) is one of the interfaculty research priority areas of the University of Amsterdam. -
Artificial Intelligence for Health Decision-Making
This research initiative aims at strengthening the responsible development and application of AI in healthcare. Designated a UvA Research Priority Area, it brings together UvA researchers from the fields of Science, ... -
Organizational Ethics
Organizational Ethics is one of the UvA Research Priority Areas. A multi-disciplinary team of researchers from across law, humanities and the social and behavioral sciences collaborates to understand structural ... -
Shaping Interfaces Between Science and the Public
This research priority area aims to establish a Public Methodology Centre to strengthen the relationship between science, citizen science, social debate and various professional practices.