In 2002, funding from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland spurred the creation of the Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA). By 2005, the organization had defined its mission as a “network of national funding agencies and the European Science Foundation…committed to leading and developing funding opportunities for humanities researchers in Europe…and sharing management practices and outcomes.”

Visitors can find a list of the member countries under the Network of Funders tab. Visitors interested in
learning what topics of humanities research have been aided by HERA should check out the News tab on the menu near the top of any page. There visitors will find Research Policy News, Research News, and Newsfeeds. Some newsfeeds of note here include International Conference on Translating E-Literature, Radio Show on Vienna Housing, and Memory Work and Civil Society.

Please click here to access.

Bringing together the cultural heritage of Europe is no small task, and the European Network of Excellence in Open Cultural Heritage (EPOCH) is certainly up to the challenge. This network of over 100 European cultural institutions was created “to improve the quality and effectiveness of the use of information and community technology for cultural heritage.” On the homepage, visitors can view the “Highlights” section, which includes materials from conferences on digital heritage activities and new interactive exhibits from member institutions. The “Multimedia” area is a real gem, and it includes 3D downloadable models of various cities and a number of other pictures created used the ARC 3D WebService tool. Also, the site includes research papers that document their work in social media and digital distributive technologies.

Please click here to access.

1. Thank God It’s Over [An FP Photo Essay]

Before we say goodbye to 2010, a look back at the year’s achievements and disasters, natural and otherwise.

2. Headlines We Love [A Special FP Collection]

Our Favorite 50 from 2010.

3. Who Says Foreign Policy Can’t Look Good?

FP had a pretty good year when it came to art. We celebrate the brilliant designers and photographers who translate ideas (and occasional wonkiness) into things of beauty.

4. The Year in FP

In global politics, it was a year of highs and lows. Our readers were mostly interested in the lows.

5. “I Promise to Give Dmitry a Chance…” - By Joshua E. Keating

New Year’s resolutions for world leaders.

6. Next Year’s Wars

The 16 brewing conflicts to watch for in 2011.

7. The Serpent King

How a notorious Malaysian wildlife smuggler was brought to justice — and what it tells us about stopping the world’s most profitable black market.
Plus: Scenes from the illegal wildlife trade.

8. The Shah’s Nuclear Dreams - By Abbas Milani

The secret history of Iran’s 50-year quest for the bomb.

9. The Limbo State - By Thomas De Waal [An FP Dispatch]

A dangerous drift in postwar Abkhazia.

Plus: Scenes of life in Europe’s “blank spot on the map.”

1. Bad Exes

Meet the world’s worst retired leaders.

2. The Japan Syndrome

China’s teetering on the verge of its own lost decade, and a meltdown in Beijing would make Japan’s economic malaise look like child’s play. - By Ethan Devine

3. Plus: It’s the Chinese, Stupid [An FP Photo Essay]

Are Democrats so afraid of getting crushed in the midterm elections that they’ve turned to demonizing China?

4. From Rabble-Rousing to Rubble [An FP Photo Essay]

In Jaffna, Sri Lanka, the Tamil community is slowly rising again.

5. The Son Also Rises

Now that Kim Jong Un has made his bid to be North Korea’s next ruler, FP looks at the world’s autocrats-in-training who are waiting to take over their fathers’ regimes. 

6. Europe’s Wanderers [An FP Slide Show]

Kicked out of France and unwanted in the countries to which they are forced to return, the Roma are a part of a new Europe that everyone would rather ignore.

7. Could Alan Greenspan go to jail for the financial meltdown? [An FP Explainer By Joshua E. Keating]
8. Our Man in Sanaa

Why the big problem in Yemen isn’t al Qaeda. It’s Yemen’s president. - By Ellen Knickmeyer

9. Addicted to Drones

Is the allure of war by remote control destroying American power? - By Micah Zenko

1. The Economic Crisis and its Humanitarian Impact on Europe [pdf]

The economic crisis that continues to affect countries across the world has taken a hard toll on humanitarian organizations in Europe. In October 2009, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released this 20-page report on just that subject.

2. Women’s Parliamentary Radio [iTunes]

The function of Women’s Parliamentary Radio is to report “fairly and accurately on policy issues of concern to women and their families.”

3. UC Davis: Institute of Transportation Studies [pdf]

With over 60 affiliated faculty and researchers and a $6 million annual budget, the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) at UC Davis contributes to “public discourse on key transportation issues.” Transportation scholars and others will find a cornucopia of research reports, conference updates, and news items on the site.

[Source: The Scout Report, Volume 15, Number 46, November 20, 2009]

Created through a novel partnership between The European Library and libraries like the National Library of Portugal and the National Library of Italy, DIGIMAP brings together thousands of historically important maps. On the DIGIMAP homepage, visitors can get things started by clicking on a selection within the “From Our Collections” area. This area features a rotating selection of their maps which cover the past seven centuries and extend to all corners of Europe. Visitor can also use the drop-down menu in the right-hand corner to view the site in a number of languages, including German, Dutch, Estonian, and French. Moving on, visitors can browse this collection by author, date, place, or contributing institution. Finally, the site is rounded out by a “News” area which provides press releases and other information on the DIGIMAP project. Please click here to access.

1. Trade and Hard Times
2. PREVIEW-U.S. aims to mend rich-poor climate split in Paris
3. Report blames Europe and U.S. for food crisis
4. NGOs Cry Foul over Rich-Country ‘Land Grab’ in Developing World
5. U.S. appeals in anti-dumping compliance case at WTO
6. Europe and U.S. bear special responsibility for food crisis, new report finds

1. Trade-Us: Green Groups Say E-Waste Bill Is Too Lax
2. India: Cheapest Car Rides on Govt Subsidies
3. Politics-Us: Lobbyist Ranks Swell with Advent of Climate Bill
4. U.S.: Green Groups Hail Plan to Slash Transport Emissions
5. Trade-Russia: ‘‘Africa Should Shake off Mineral Dependency’’
6. Malawi: Separating the ‘‘Ultra-Poor’’ from the Poor - Why?
7. Zimbabwe/South Africa: Protecting Migrant Farmworker Rights
8. Europe: Help the Economy, Hurt the Environment

1. Documenting the Southeast Asian American Experience [pdf]This comprehensive website on the Southeast Asian American Experience from the UC Irvine Libraries offers 1,500 images and 4,000 pages of text. Visitors to the site can get an introduction to the Southeast Asian American experience by clicking on “Read” on the left hand side of the page, with sections that include: “Definition of Terms”, “Explore Key Topics”, “Explore Ethnic Groups”, and “Additional Readings”. The “Find” section allows the visitor to search by Broad Topic, Ethnic Group, Format, and Keyword. Optional Subtopics are also available for more detailed searching in Broad Topic and Ethnic Group. Visitors should not miss doing an open search for Paintings, accessed in the Format section, to view almost 100 sobering and beautiful paintings that were done in or about refugee camps.
2. The International Centre For The Study of Radicalisation And Political Violence [pdf]The online presence of ICSR, the multi-institutional and multi-national effort to combat radicalization and political violence highlights their pragmatic approach to this growing worldwide problem. The “About Us” section is written in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, and explains that the ICSR aims to achieve their goals through the use of research, “outcome driven dialogue”, leadership opportunities, and non-partisanship, “by bringing together the world’s most innovative thinkers from academia, politics, and business.” The “Publications” tab offers “Papers” and “Newsletters”, as well as the ability to sign up for the free bimonthly newsletter. Each paper, as well as the archived newsletters, is available as a PDF. A paragraph describing each paper is extremely helpful for those topics with which visitors might be unfamiliar. Under the “Projects” tab is a list of four projects which ICSR believes are the most effective for countering radicalization and political violence. Online radicalization and recruitment, radicalization and de-radicalization in prisons, opportunities for young leaders from Israel and the Arab world, and comparing radicalization pathways in North America and Europe.

[Source: The Scout Report, Volume 15, Number 19, May 15, 2009]