Technology isn’t just for engineers and computer scientists. At UCF, innovation also thrives in the College of Arts and Humanities. The university’s Center for Humanities and Digital Research (CHDR) is blending the arts with technology, creating a space for collaboration and groundbreaking research. The center is building a national model for interdisciplinary work that engages students and connects with the community.

CHDR embodies a philosophy of bridging traditional human creativity with cutting-edge technology, facilitating a space where scholars, students and the community can come together to leverage digital tools for enhanced research and understanding.

This approach aligns with UCF’s mission as Florida’s premier engineering and technology university, emphasizing the role of the humanities in a tech-driven world. UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright underscored the importance of CHDR’s work during the opening of its expanded facilities, highlighting the center as a critical hub for innovation.

“The remarkable potential at the intersection of tradition and technology is where scholars, students and the community come together to push the boundaries of research and understanding,” Cartwright said at the event. “This center will inspire collaboration, bridge disciplines and enrich the student experience and the community we serve. Together, we are building a future that is bold and innovative, but also thoughtful and informed by history.”

Through this lens, CHDR showcases impactful initiatives like the Samuel Johnson Dictionary Project, which not only revitalizes historical scholarship but also connects modern readers to centuries-old linguistic traditions.

This project focuses on digitizing and making accessible Samuel Johnson’s landmark 18th-century dictionary, providing researchers and the public with an invaluable resource for studying the evolution of the English language. It involves the transcription and annotation of Johnson’s work, with volunteers and students contributing by encoding entries, verifying definitions and adding historical context.

Project lead and UCF Professor Beth Young highlights the significance of collaborative efforts, including UCF students’ contributions, in broadening the project’s reach and effectiveness.

“Many of the volunteers, including UCF students, continue to work on the dictionary even after graduating because they find it fun and rewarding,” Young says. “It’s really a diverse group, with people from all over, such as a high school student from San Diego who loved the site and wanted to contribute.”

Through their involvement, volunteers not only enrich their academic journeys but also deepen the collective understanding of language and its historical contexts. Their work helps maintain the relevance of Johnson’s dictionary as a tool for exploring linguistic development, connecting modern readers to centuries-old scholarly traditions while leveraging modern technology to enhance research and accessibility.

CHDR also leads impactful projects like the Veterans Legacy Program, which engages students in preserving and sharing the stories of veterans, and the Florida France Soldiers’ Stories project, which documents the experiences of Floridians who served in World War II. These projects illustrate CHDR’s commitment to enriching research and fostering connections with the community while strengthening ties and empowering students to become active participants in documenting and sharing history.

The center’s recent expansion, made possible through a National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant and the generosity of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, has allowed it to grow both in physical space and in scope. With new equipment and increased staff, CHDR can take on more ambitious projects, further expanding UCF’s reach in digital humanities research.

“The expansion of the center has increased the interdisciplinarity of the college’s research by centralizing our technology expertise and equipment, and it has positioned us as a hub for public outreach,” says Jeffrey Moore, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

In addition to fostering collaboration, CHDR provides opportunities for graduate students, particularly those in UCF’s texts and technology doctoral program, to engage in research that bridges disciplines. Currently, six doctoral students are gaining invaluable experience at the center, working on projects that will help prepare them for future careers in digital humanities, technology and beyond.

By fostering an environment where technology and the humanities intersect, the Center for Humanities and Digital Research serves as a vital space for inspiration, collaboration and exploration. It aims to build a future that is not only bold and innovative but also thoughtful and informed by history.

The ongoing projects at CHDR promise to enhance student experiences and strengthen the university’s role in the community, paving the way for new ideas and partnerships to emerge from this exciting confluence of disciplines. In addition to the Johnson’s Dictionary project, CHDR is actively engaged in work with ELLE – The Endless Learner; People, Religion, Information Networks, and Travel – Migration in the Early Modern World (PRINT), RICHES and more.