Epistemological challenges of engaging humanities-led cross-disciplinary migration research issues

This paper reflects on the methodological, conceptual and epistemological challenges of engaging in humanities-led cross-disciplinary research on migration. It elaborates on concrete examples as regards tackling migration as a domain that ignites a dialogue between very different disciplines such as sociology, narratology, media-studies, ICT, political science, social psychology, religious studies, economics, human rights, cultural heritage, museum studies, civil society organisations while using data available through research infrastructures, computational social science and digital humanities. As we know, migration accompanies the whole history of civilisations, involving continuous relations and exchanges among cultures, hence translations through different linguistic, economic, political and cultural contexts. Today, migration researchers are obviously using platforms ofall kinds, however, they are also using established research infrastructures such as ESFRI landmarks, projects and high potential areas. If it is true there is to date no dedicated ESFRI project for migration, it is also true this makes it more interesting to see how to really engage in a dialogue between very different disciplines while avoiding just addressing a societal topic from different angles without creating truly integrated knowledge. Migration offers compelling examples for the impact of cultural innovation because it implies transfers of cultures, knowledge and competencies. The epistemological challenges related to humanities-led cross-disciplinary migration issues are based on the aim of contributing to a change in the mindset as regards a culture of inclusion and reflection in target groups active in social infrastructures such as education, life-long learning, healthcare, urban development and regeneration.