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PROGRAMME

4–8 AUGUST, 2025

Location: House of Science, University of Latvia (Jelgavas Street 3, Riga)
Auditorium: Gamma, 1st floor. 

August 4

13.00–13.45Registration
13.45–14.00Opening of Summer School
Chair: Sanita Reinsone
Welcome speeches: Prof. Indra Karapetjana, Vice-Dean for Studies of the University of Latvia, Faculty of Humanities; PhD Anda Baklāne, Head of Digital Research Services at the National Library of Latvia
14.00–15.30Open Lecture 1
Fragments from the Past: the Computational Study of Missing Records
Gabor Mihaly Toth
Chair: Sanita Reinsone
(Opening & the first keynote on YouTube)
15.30–16.00Coffee break
16.00–16.45Pre-workshop session
Haralds Matulis
17.00–19.00Reception and networking
7th floor, UL House of Science
August 5
9.00–9.30Registration
9.30–11.00Open Lecture 2
Reading Code That Reads Text: An Introduction to Python
Daniel Ihrmark
Chair: Haralds Matulis
(Recording on YouTube)
11.00–11.30Coffee break
11.30–13.00Workshop 1
Reading Code That Reads Text: An Introduction to Python
Daniel Ihrmark
13.00–14.00Lunch break
14.00–15.30Workshop 2
Unlock every doc! Using Transkribus
Annemieke Romein
15.30–16.00Coffee break
16.00–17.30Workshop 2
Unlock every doc! Using Transkribus
Annemieke Romein
17.30–18.15Coffee break & Reflection session
Haralds Matulis
18.30–Social Programme
Guided tour at the National Library of Latvia with Anda Baklāne. Meeting point: near the House of Science
August 6
9.00–9.30Registration
9.30–11.00Workshop 3
Network Analysis for Humanists
Giovanni Pietro Vitali
Introduction: Sanita Reinsone
11.00–11.30Coffee break
11.30–13.00Workshop 3
Network Analysis for Humanists
Giovanni Pietro Vitali
13.00–14.00Lunch break
14.00–15.30Open Lecture 3
Numbers and Networks: Between Quantitative History and Digital Humanities
Claire Lemercier
Chair: Ieva Weaver
15.30–16.15Coffee break & Reflection session
Haralds Matulis
16.30–Social Programme
Walking tour “Āgenskalns Then and Now” (starting point: near House of Science)
On Wednesday, August 6th at 5:00 PM, BSSDH 2025 participants and lecturers will have the opportunity to take part in a slightly educational and somewhat entertaining walk through the parks and wooden buildings of Āgenskalns, a historic district of Riga. The approximately 90-minute walk, led by the Summer School organizers, historian Jānis Tomaševskis, and the National Library of Latvia researcher Anda Baklāne, will end at the historic Āgenskalns Market, where everyone will have the opportunity to taste various local and foreign drinks and dishes, as well as to chat with other participants and lecturers in a relaxed atmosphere.

August 7
9.00–9.30Registration
9.30–11.00Open Lecture 4
New Approaches in Using LLMs for Historical Newspapers Research
Sarah Oberbichler
Chair: Anda Baklāne
11.00–11.30Coffee break
11.30–13.00Workshop 4
Using LLMs in Humanities Research via API
Valdis Saulespurēns & Anda Baklāne
13.00–14.00Lunch break
14.00–15.30Workshop 4
Using LLMs in Humanities Research via API
Valdis Saulespurēns & Anda Baklāne
15.30–16.00Coffee break
16.00–17.30Workshop 4
Using LLMs in Humanities Research via API
Valdis Saulespurēns & Anda Baklāne
17.30–18.15Coffee break & Reflection Session
Haralds Matulis
August 8
9.00–9.30Registration
9.30–11.00Workshop 5
Digital Mapping for Humanists
Giovanni Pietro Vitali
11.00–11.30Coffee break
11.30–13.00Workshop 5
Digital Mapping for Humanists
Giovanni Pietro Vitali
13.05–14.00Post-workshop session and Summer School Closing
Haralds Matulis, Sanita Reinsone
14.00....Goodbyes & Until Next Time