Building bridges rather than walls – Information Centre – Research & Innovation

Researchers in the EU-funded CROSSCULT job produced software program programs that enable people to improved take pleasure in Europe’s shared history at well-known exhibitions and archaeological internet sites throughout the European Union.

According to job communications coordinator Luc Vandenabeele of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technological know-how, CROSSCULT had two principal objectives. The initial was to digitally improve visitor ordeals for the duration of excursions of EU historic exhibitions, these as the Montegrotto Terme archaeological internet site in close proximity to Padua, Italy. The next was to develop occasions that would encourage each a improved understanding of European history and improve how people expertise the occasions. “We aimed to maximize historic recognition by connecting unique venues and viewpoints, and by exhibiting the connections amongst historic phenomena in unique eras,” he states.

Sharing by connecting

CROSSCULT’s initial motion was to acquire an on the internet platform for building Android programs certain to exhibitions and their pilot tasks. The app for the Nationwide Gallery in London, for instance, gives museum maps, makes it possible for people to “like” sure museum is effective, and indicates other is effective that the user may well like based mostly on prior input. These mobile programs, accessible via Google Perform, enable visitors to tailor their electronic ordeals to their individual preferences.

Another CrossCult-produced Android app, “Cultural Connections”, draws parallels amongst ancient and modern moments. For instance, the app informs end users that areas of Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece were being united for above 400 a long time for the duration of the Roman Empire, and points out that less than the European Union, they have only been united considering that 1986. The app then asks the user to react by sharing his or her feelings.

When setting up the pilot tasks related with the apps, scientists began with the core principle that history has no absolute truths, but fairly several interpretations and contrasting viewpoints that stimulate personal reflection.
The initial pilot job was an art exhibition at London’s Nationwide Gallery held on 25-29 June 2018. The pilot’s app aids people navigate the Gallery’s is effective and poses queries intended to stimulate the contemplation of their cultural and historic significance.

The next job produced an additional app that explored the therapeutic use of drinking water in antiquity. The app allowed end users to digitally discover ancient spas in close proximity to Lugo, in Spain Chaves, in Portugal Montegrotto, in Italy and the Epidaurus archaeological internet site in Greece.

A smaller sized location was the aim of the 3rd pilot: the Tripolis Archaeological Museum in Greece. “Visitors went further than the standard degree of historic presentation, these as the type of a statue or its design date,” Vandenabeele states. “Instead, they went into deeper stages of reflection, these as above the social aspects of daily life in antiquity.”

The fourth and final pilot allowed end users to investigate the cultural heritage of the metropolitan areas of Valetta in Malta and Luxembourg Town and Belval in Luxembourg. The app for this pilot, entitled “CrossCult: Cities”, employed on the internet maps to lead people on walking excursions and pointed out internet sites of cultural and historic significance.

Far better historic appreciation

The final effects from CROSSCULT, which finished in late February 2019, consist of financial rewards for participating municipalities. Researchers produced software program and apps that educators, vacationer operators, and nearby governments can use to improve their companies. In addition, the software program platform continues to be accessible as a toolkit that cultural heritage experts can use to acquire their individual customised programs.

“CROSSCULT was an amazing journey,” Vandenabeele states. “It enabled the humanities and technology to sign up for forces to guidance reflections on history and an understanding of our popular European past.”