About

The Jaya Prakash Narayan (JPN) National Centre of Excellence in the Humanities was established in October 2022 at IIT Indore by the Ministry of Education to initiate research, academics and outreach activities focusing on two areas namely- Digital Humanities and Environmental Humanities. The centre will function as a nodal place that fosters collaborative initiatives at the intersections of language, literature and technology and will model the highest standards of digital scholarship. In doing so, the centre will offer scholars a unique environment for extending the boundaries of traditional research using digital technologies.

“If Humanities is about the nouns: ideas and interpretation, Digital Humanities is about the nouns and the verbs: ideating, building, interpreting. DH in India is nascent but a vibrant field with young PhD scholars and researchers experimenting, exploring and discovering intersectionalities between Humanities, Technology and society. JPN Centre facilitates and supports cutting edge research questions through its academic programmes, research projects and outreach activities“

Professor Nirmala Menon

Convener JPN Centre of Excellence in the Humanities

Mission

JPN centre’s mission is to facilitate cutting-edge research, education, and public engagement to cultivate a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, and practitioners who leverage digital tools, methodologies, and critical thinking to explore, interpret, and shape the digital landscape. Through research project partnerships and inclusive outreach, we aim to create knowledge and contribute to the global scholarship in these areas. By developing new academic programmes in the emerging disciplines we aim to equip the next generation of scholars and students with the knowledge and training to innovate and imagine digital scholarship and society for tomorrow.

Vision

To be a pioneering hub of innovation and collaboration in the field of Digital and Environmental Humanities, fostering interdisciplinary research, pedagogy and outreach initiatives at the intersections of Technology and the Humanities.

“The Environmental Humanities (EH) is an incredibly huge and untapped resource in targeting the sustainable development agenda. The deeper understanding of humanistic, historic, cultural, philosophical, ethical, social, aesthetic and just ways for “the environment” is what we aim as the Core EH Team of the JPN National Centre”

Professor Pritee Sharma

Co-Convener JPN Centre of Excellence in the Humanities