Dr. Daniyar Karabaev: Digital Humanities in Kyrgyzstan: Practices, Challenges, and Emerging Projects

Dr. Daniyar Karabaev: Digital Humanities in Kyrgyzstan: Practices, Challenges, and Emerging Projects

The second seminar of the seminar series "Digital History in/of Central Asia and the South Caucasus" will be held on March 12, 14:00 CET | 17:00 Yerevan & Tbilisi | 18:00 Tashkent & Almaty | 19:00 Bishkek online in Zoom.

Topic: Digital Humanities in Kyrgyzstan: Practices, Challenges, and Emerging Projects.

Invited expert: Dr. Daniyar Karabaev, American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Language: English.

Registration and Zoom-link: https://fau.zoom-x.de/meeting/register/SkVB__FPTnedWLpt4KhNxA

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Digital Humanities has become an established field within global humanities research, bringing computational methods and digital tools into the study of history, culture, and society. In Kyrgyzstan, however, the systematic use of digital methods in the humanities is a relatively recent development. This presentation offers an overview of the current state of Digital Humanities and digital history in Kyrgyzstan, with particular attention to academic teaching, research practices, and institutional initiatives.

Drawing on experiences from the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), the talk introduces the development of formal coursework in Digital Humanities, including the country’s first introductory course in the field and discusses how digital methods are integrated into disciplines such as history, anthropology, folklore studies, and Manas studies. The presentation also highlights selected projects, including the digital analysis of contemporary Manas narratives, digital mapping of historical and cultural heritage sites, and ongoing efforts to digitize manuscript and oral collections.

By situating these initiatives within broader international Digital Humanities debates, the presentation reflects on conceptual challenges, methodological choices, and future directions for digital scholarship in Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing the role of interdisciplinary collaboration and open-access digital resources. All interested parties are most welcome to this talk.