The UNESCO Chair in Digital Futures will aim to advance digital inclusion for disadvantaged and lesser-known languages by addressing gaps in language data, technologies and policy. Its work will focus on developing resources that enable languages with limited digital representation to be documented and used online. It will include supporting digital fonts, keyboards and language datasets, while translating research into practical guidance for policymakers and communities.
The establishment of the UNESCO Chair in Digital Futures at Stanford University, led by SILICON Director Thomas S. Mullaney, creates a unique platform to advance UNESCO’s multilingualism and linguistic diversity initiatives. Building on SILICON’s expertise in Digital Language Inclusion, the Chair will contribute to the implementation of the UNESCO’s Recommendation concerning the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace, and to the objectives of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), generating research, tools and strategies that help guide Member States and stakeholders in policy development.
The real promise of this Chair extends far beyond Stanford. Above all, it is about strengthening a global network of remarkable people doing the hard, sustained work of building a more linguistically inclusive digital future. If we succeed, this Chair will amplify their work, connect their efforts and help bring their knowledge to global conversations.
Thomas MullaneyUNESCO Chair in Digital Futures, Stanford University
The establishment of this new UNESCO Chair builds on a strong collaboration with Stanford University, combining Stanford’s academic expertise with UNESCO’s programmatic experience to advance multilingualism and linguistic diversity. This collaboration includes the placement of Stanford interns at UNESCO, who support research, data analysis and strategic planning for the World Atlas of Languages.
With their support, UNESCO and Stanford are also jointly developing a series of policy briefs on key issues related to multilingualism and linguistic diversity in the digital age. These and other knowledge products aim to provide Member States and stakeholders with practical guidance for developing policies and programmes that promote linguistic inclusion in emergency alert systems, and strengthening information integrity in crises and conflicts.
At a time when digital technologies are reshaping the ways languages are used, preserved and shared, advancing multilingualism and digital inclusion has never been more important. We look forward to seeing the Chair bring its expertise and innovation to further strengthen UNESCO’s work and advance digital inclusion for low-resourced languages.
Guilherme CanelaDirector for Division for Digital Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation
Through this Chair, Stanford can enhance digital inclusion for disadvantaged and lesser-known languages by developing innovative technologies, research platforms, and data-driven solutions. It will also foster international collaboration by connecting with UNESCO’s global network of nearly 1,000 Chairs, enabling cross-institutional projects, knowledge sharing, and pilot programmes that support linguistic diversity on a global scale.
