The

Forum, organized by Oriental Forum of Zhejiang University and West Lake Forum was held on Zijingang Campus on 11th June.

With the progressive information technology revolutions, we enter a big data age and thus humanities and social sciences are confronted with new opportunities and challenges, which not only brings about new changes in the object of arts studies, but promotes the innovation in the methods of art studies, ushering in the opportunities for the development of arts. The Forum aims at exploring the significance and challenges of big data on arts research, related issues in the studies of humanities and social sciences and their tranformations in the big data age, highlighting how arts promote the transformation of thinking modes and research methods and analyzing the demands of arts teachers and researchers for big data and how to overcome the problems in big data application at present.

Professor Wu Chaohui, Executive President of Zhejiang University made a keynote speech on “Interdisciplinary studies of big data and humanities and social sciences: trends and thinking”, which reviewed a profile of big data and technological development, research method revolutions, trends for the interdisciplinary studies of big data and humanities and social sciences. Professor Wu also offered his thoughts on promoting the interdisciplinary studies of arts and sciences, discipline construction and research transformations. Besides, Professor Zhou Honggeng from School of Management made a speech on “Studies on big data”, Professor Chen Xin from School of Humanities on “Big data in historical thinking”, Professor Yang Liuyong from College of Economics on “Big data and finance”, Professor Wang Fudi from School of Public Health on “Big data and human health—revolutions in medicine and public health”, Professor Wei Lu from College of Media and International Culture on “Studies on news communication in big data age”. They exchanged views on the successful application of big data on arts, the needs of arts on big data technology and methods, the significance of arts on big data technology and application, etc.

The Forum, chaired by Professor Luo Weidong, Vice President of Zhejiang University, was the first of its kind in arousing the awareness of students and teachers on the significance of big data, creating an atmosphere of studying and applying new data technologies and methods, promoting the interaction and cooperation between the scholars from information science and humanties and social sciences.