A brand new analysis centre on the National University of Singapore (NUS) is bringing collectively information science, AI and computational strategies with deep insights from social sciences and humanities to raised perceive advanced social phenomena and develop options to urgent societal challenges. By combining technological innovation with human perception, the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH) goals to generate analysis that improves lives, strengthens establishments, preserves cultural data, and shapes extra inclusive and resilient societies in Singapore and past.
Officially launched as we speak, CSSH is the primary in Singapore to systematically deliver collectively computational social science and the humanities inside a single centre to bridge analysis, coverage and real-world purposes.
The Centre attracts on experience throughout disciplines together with computing, new media, linguistics, geography, public coverage and healthcare, amongst others. This interdisciplinary basis allows CSSH to look at how digital applied sciences intersect with social methods, equivalent to assessing the societal implications of AI-enabled platforms, utilizing digital instruments to assist protect Singapore’s cultural heritage, and strengthening digital literacy in susceptible communities.
NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) Professor Liu Bin stated, “Rapid advances in digital technologies and AI are transforming our world. But technological breakthroughs are only as valuable as the difference they make to peoples’ lives. CSSH reflects NUS’ commitment to ensuring that innovation translates to tangible improvements in how we live, work and build stronger communities. By integrating computational methods with social science and humanities, the Centre will help translate research insights into policies and practices that deliver real-world impact.”
She added that the Centre enhances Singapore’s broader push for progressive, accountable harnessing of expertise and AI which emphasises that progress must be not solely technically superior, however trusted, inclusive and grounded in actual social wants.
Driving real-world influence by interdisciplinary innovation
CSSH is led by Co-Directors Professor Atreyi Kankanhalli from the NUS School of Computing and Professor Peter Millican from the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The Centre helps each seed funding for rising concepts and bigger initiatives, all designed to generate real-world influence.
Prof Kankanhalli stated, “What distinguishes CSSH is our ability to study human behaviour, institutions and societies at a scale and depth that was not previously possible. By combining computational methods with rich domain expertise in the social sciences and humanities, we can uncover patterns, test ideas, and generate evidence that directly informs policy and practice. Our goal is not just to analyse social problems, but to help shape systems that work better for people.”
Since starting operations within the second half of 2024, CSSH has launched into greater than 50 interdisciplinary initiatives involving 105 researchers from throughout NUS and their exterior collaborators. The initiatives exhibit the breadth of its work – from AI-enabled evaluation of social media impacts to digital preservation of historic archives.
Amongst the most important analysis initiatives at present being undertaken by CSSH is one titled “Computational Social Simulations for Aiding Policy Design”, led by Prof Kankanhalli. In this five-year undertaking, researchers from NUS and three different native universities are collaborating to develop an AI-driven social simulation platform for policymakers to assist check and refine coverage interventions earlier than they’re rolled out.
Using giant language fashions (LLMs), the platform will mannequin numerous public personas to allow policymakers to conduct swift preliminary testing of coverage concepts. The simulations will complement conventional analysis strategies by decreasing the frequency of expensive, time-consuming large-scale surveys and subject research throughout early coverage improvement, whereas retaining real-world validation and group engagement at crucial determination factors. CSSH Deputy Director Associate Professor Dandan Qiao from the NUS School of Computing can also be contributing her experience to the undertaking.
Another undertaking titled “The Jawi AI Project”, led by NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Associate Professor Miguel Escobar Varela, harnesses AI to allow large-scale transliteration and evaluation of Jawi texts. Early Malay-language newspapers in Singapore, revealed between 1870 and 1970 had been written in Jawi, a script few can learn as we speak.
In collaboration with the National Library Board (NLB), the workforce comprising native and overseas consultants is remodeling 1000’s of archived pages into searchable Malay textual content, considerably increasing the vary of supplies obtainable at NLB’s digitised archives. Assoc Prof Escobar Varela, who can also be Deputy Director at CSSH, famous that the undertaking might considerably broaden analysis into Malay-language journalism and public debate within the area, broadening how Singapore’s historical past is known and taught.
Prof Millican highlighted {that a} core mission of CSSH is to interrupt down the partitions between disciplines. By connecting humanities and social science researchers with computing and information science consultants, the Centre fosters collaborations that neither subject might obtain alone. “Many of today’s biggest challenges demand both deep specialist insight and serious technical firepower”, he defined, “whether they involve untangling complex social issues, tackling health crises, anticipating future problems, or building the tools to address these. CSSH provides a natural home for such interdisciplinary conversations.”
He added that the Centre seems ahead to creating extra initiatives addressing societal challenges to which computational insights could make the best distinction. Focus areas embody AI and rising applied sciences, sustainability and environmental coverage, inhabitants traits and demographic change, public well being and social care, and the preservation and understanding of historical past and cultural heritage.