Creating Digital Heritage content; bridging communities and mediating perspectives

In this paper we focus our attention on an often overlooked aspect of digital heritage content, namely by whom how, and with what purpose such content is created. We evaluate digital materials that are anthropological and archaeological in nature, both digitized archives and newly created materials. In our work and efforts to understand and represent different cultural perspectives, we have encountered differences in cultural knowledge systems that have shown the need for cross-cultural consultation and communication as an essential first step in the creation of digital content for new systems of representation and knowledge transfer. Our efforts focus on developing a new educational framework that allows for knowledge exchange at different levels and between different entities, challenging the perpetuating hierarchical relationships between community and experts

Building science of indian temple architecture

Master’s Thesis Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical ConstructionsEvery style of building construction reflects a clearly distinctive basic principle that represents a particular culture and era. In this context the Indian Hindu temple architecture are not only the abode of God and place of worship, but they are also the cradle of knowledge, art, architecture and culture. The practices and traditions of temples exist not only in history but also in present time which greatly influence the socio-cultural life of its people and gives continuity to traditional Indian values. The evolution of Indian temple architecture is marked by a strict adherence to the original ancient models that were derived from religious consideration- and that continued over many centuries. The Hindu religion and its philosophy greatly influenced Hindu temple architecture in its evolutionary process which continues till this date. Therefore this dissertation through archival research and other documentary, literary works and theoretical investigation on ancient treatise and modern research works on the temple architecture of India brings out the concepts that have been adopted since ancient times for the construction of the sacred Hindu temples, the science involved in the construction of the temple structure and the processes involved along with the skill it took to build such edifices. Together these aspects bring out the art, science and philosophy behind the construction of the Hindu temple which is as relevant today as it used to be in the ancient times. A continuity of tradition and a science which has its root in the dawn of human conciousness.Cada tipo de construção reflecte um princípio básico claramente distinto que representa uma cultura e época em particular. Neste contexto a arquitectura dos templos Hindus não figura apenas a casa de Deus e local de culto, mas também o berço do conhecimento, arte, arquitectura e cultura. As práticas e tradições dos templos existem não apenas no passado histórico mas também no presente, o que evidentemente influencia a vida sociocultural da população e dá continuidade aos valores hindus. A evolução da arquitectura dos templos hindus é caracterizada por uma concordância rígida relativamente aos modelos antigos, que resultaram de contemplações religiosas – o que continuou por muitos séculos. A religião Hindu e a sua filosofia influenciaram largamente a arquitectura dos templos Hindu e o seu processo de evolução contínua até aos dias de hoje. Por isso, esta dissertação que teve por base a pesquisa de arquivos e outros documentários, trabalhos literários e investigação teórica de dissertações antigas, assim como pesquisa de trabalhos recentes sobre a arquitectura dos templos na Índia, demonstra os conceitos que têm sido adoptados desde a antiguidade na construção dos tempos sagrados Hindus, a ciência utilizada na construção da estrutura dos templos e os processos envolvidos, assim como a perícia necessária para construir tais edifícios. Em conjunto, estes aspectos revelam a arte, ciência e filosofia subjacente à construção dos templos Hindus, que é tão importante hoje, como o foi na antiguidade. Uma continuidade da tradição e uma ciência que tem a sua origem no despontar da consciência humana.Erasmus Mundus Programm

Science Communication in India: An Assessment

The paper explores science communication through diverse cultures in pre and post independent India. India is known for her early scientific wisdom and scientific heritage. Several sages and scholars have worked on medicinal, mathematical, agricultural, and other sciences, in Indian subcontinent during ancient and medieval periods. They had composed volumes based on self-earned experiences, using various means of communication, like oral communication, Guru-Shishya-Parampara (teacher-pupil tradition) of learning and dissemination of information through interaction. The tradition of oral communication continued through generations, in addition to knowledge creation. Then the modern science communication emerged. Publication of scientific books started in 1800 AD at Shreerampur in English, Bengali and Hindi. The historical perspective of science communication has remained almost untouched by researchers, except an attempt on scientific terminologies by Sharma (1964) and agricultural journalism by Parasar (1980), besides a few more research articles. The author of this paper worked thoroughly on The Origin and Evolution of Science Communication in India with comparative account in other parts of the world and published a book Hindi Vigyan Patrakarita (Hindi Science Journalism) in 1990, the first book on science communication in India, translated in different Indian languages, paving the way for other academics. The paper emphasizes on pioneering developments in various aspects of early and modern science communication and discusses the relevance and need of science communication by pointing out policy measures taken by the state.  Finally, the paper summarizes the role of various individuals India

A ghost village. Spatial cleansing in Wigancice-Żytawskie in the landscape of the Turów mining and power complex, Lower Silesia

The article presents an excerpt of some empirical research undertaken by an anthropologist on local ways of experiencing the operation of the Turów mining and energy complex in the Bogatynia commune in Lower Silesia within the context of an just energy transition. The aim of the reflections contained in this research sample is to present Wigancice Żytawskie – a town once located in the Bogatynia commune in the Zgorzelec poviat as a ghost village that functions in the minds of its former inhabitants and the generations that have followed as a lost and demolished yet remembered place. Wigancice was demolished by the end of the 2oth century due to the expansion of the lignite open pit in the Turów mine and the creation of an external dump, which was considered a threat to the village and its inhabitants. The text draws from Michael Herzfeld’s understanding of the term  ‘spatial cleansing’, which in the case of Wigancice was closely related to the activity of the Turów mining and energy complex. Adopting energy anthropology as a theoretical framework, the anthropologist shows the course and effects of this process in terms of human/non-human assemblage, at the same time asking questions about the special characteristics of human life in areas rich in energy resources and ways of experiencing a landscape changing under the influence of industrialization processes. The author also attempts to recover the stories of the inhabitants of the ghost village, whose fates intertwined with the functioning of the Turów mine and were marked by the experience of loss, dispossession and relocation in the process of industrial transformations in the region.The article presents an excerpt of some empirical research undertaken by an anthropologist on local ways of experiencing the operation of the Turów mining and energy complex in the Bogatynia commune in Lower Silesia within the context of an just energy transition. The aim of the reflections contained in this research sample is to present Wigancice Żytawskie – a town once located in the Bogatynia commune in the Zgorzelec poviat as a ghost village that functions in the minds of its former inhabitants and the generations that have followed as a lost and demolished yet remembered place. Wigancice was demolished by the end of the 2oth century due to the expansion of the lignite open pit in the Turów mine and the creation of an external dump, which was considered a threat to the village and its inhabitants. The text draws from Michael Herzfeld’s understanding of the term  ‘spatial cleansing’, which in the case of Wigancice was closely related to the activity of the Turów mining and energy complex. Adopting energy anthropology as a theoretical framework, the anthropologist shows the course and effects of this process in terms of human/non-human assemblage, at the same time asking questions about the special characteristics of human life in areas rich in energy resources and ways of experiencing a landscape changing under the influence of industrialization processes. The author also attempts to recover the stories of the inhabitants of the ghost village, whose fates intertwined with the functioning of the Turów mine and were marked by the experience of loss, dispossession and relocation in the process of industrial transformations in the region