Network Analysis in the Humanities

May 6-8, 2026. Tartu, Estonia

The workshop introduces participants to the application of network theory in the humanities, with a particular emphasis on linguistics, as well as literary and cultural studies. The first day begins with an introductory lecture that offers a conceptual and methodological overview of the field, outlining key concepts, models, and research questions. This is followed by presentations from experts who demonstrate how network-based approaches can be applied to different kinds of data and research problems. The second and third day of the workshop are dedicated to the transfer of practical skills. Participants will learn essential techniques for data preparation, incl visualizing networks in ways that support exploration, interpretation, and scholarly communication.

The program also includes hands-on workshops on data preparation, data visualisation and using network metrics to describe networks and nodes. Participants will also be introduced to the use of Gephi, one of the most widely used network visualization tools, which offers a broad range of methods for highlighting important structural properties of networks.

The 3-day workshop is aimed for PhD and MA students as well as academic staff from Estonian universities. It’s possible to gain 2 ECTS for participating at the event (requires additional reading, the reading list will be added shortly).

Preliminary timetable:

Day 1 – Introduction, Possibilities, Examples (Ülikooli 18-139)
10.30-11.00 Welcome. Coffee + getting to know the participants.
11.00-12.30 General Introduction to Network Theory and History (Thiago D. Oliveira)
12.30-14.00 Lunch break (lunch not provided)
14.00-14.30 Research presentation (Botond Szemes)
14.30-15.00 Research presentation (Prof. Maciej Eder)
15.00-15.30 Coffee break
15.30-17.00 Key note speech (Matteo Romanello)
19.00 Dinner for all lecturers & participants

Day 2- Creating Networks (Jakobi 2-428)
9.30-12.00 Workshop on Data preparation. From where the data comes (SPARQL, TEI XML, Excel, etc.), how to clean and prepare it. What’s behind a network, network types. Hands on workshop. (Matteo Romanello)
12.00-13.30 Lunch break (lunch not provided)
13.30-15.00 Workshop on Network visualization: Gephi – different setups, possibilities – different prepared datasets (results of the morning session?). Time to play with it. Hands on workshop. Part I. (Prof. Maciej Eder)
15.00-15.30 Coffee break
15.30-17.00 Workshop, part II (Prof. Maciej Eder)

Day 3 – Calculation and Consultation (Jakobi 2-106)
9.30-12.30 Consultation (students’ ideas, difficulties). (Matteo Romanello, Botond Szemes, Thiago D. Oliveira, Prof. Maciej Eder)
12.30-14.00 Lunch break (lunch not provided)
14.00-15.30 Workshop on using network metrics to describe networks and nodes. Compare networks, find similar nodes in different networks. Data visualization of network metrics (form networks to graphs). Hands on workshop, part I. (Botond Szemes)
15.30-16.00 Coffee break
16.00-17.00 Workshop, part II (Botond Szemes)

Additional information: loone.vilumaa@ut.ee

Participants coming from outside of Tartu will be offered accommodation. Additionally, coffee breaks and the joint dinner are covered by the organisers of the event. Lunches are not provided.

The event has been organised with the support of the Estonian Doctoral School, co-funded by the European Union. The event is co-organised by DigiTS (Center for Digital Text Scholarship, funded by the European Union) operating at the University of Tartu Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics and the University of Tartu Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Department of Classical Studies. The organisers include Prof. Liina Lindström and Prof. Janika Päll.