Leif Isaksen

Professor Leif Isaksen is a leading scholar in Digital Humanities and Ancient History at the University of Exeter, holding a chair in the Department of Classics, Ancient History, Religion and Theology. He also serves as Theme Lead for Humanities, Heritage and the Creative Industries at the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI). With a background in archaeology and a focus on

• Spatial-temporal representation in humanities
• Intelligent systems for historical data
• Digital skills development in arts and humanities

, his work bridges classical scholarship and computational innovation.

His research includes Pelagios Network projects like Recogito and Peripleo, which revolutionized semantic annotation and geospatial analysis of ancient texts. He directed the Cluny Hill Dig and co-founded initiatives like Hot Source! and DISKAH to democratize digital humanities skills.

Key professional roles include:

• Executive Board Chair of ADHO (2019-2021)
• Co-Director of Web Science CDT at Southampton
• Active leadership in CAA, EADH, and ISHMap

Scientific honors include fellowships at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and former affiliations with the Alan Turing Institute and Society of Antiquaries of London. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 4: Quality Education.