[Recorded June 10, 2025]
Discover how cutting-edge AI technology is revolutionizing the study of ancient history. Join us for an illuminating discussion about the groundbreaking work that has helped decipher and translate fragile, burnt ancient Greek scrolls—texts once thought lost forever. Learn how advanced machine learning is unlocking secrets from the past and reshaping the future of historical research.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
Speakers:
Federica Nicolardi, Assistant Professor of Papyrology at University of Naples Federico II
Federica Nicolardi is assistant professor of papyrology at the University of Naples Federico II and a member of the Centro Internazionale per lo Studio dei Papiri Ercolanesi "M. Gigante." Her research primarily focuses on the Herculaneum papyri, with a special emphasis on critical editions and virtual restoration techniques. Nicolardi collaborates with Brent Seales’ project on digital restoration of Herculaneum papyri at the University of Kentucky, supervising the local team imaging all the opened Herculaneum papyri preserved at the National Library of Naples. She is also the lead papyrologist of the Vesuvius Challenge.
Brent Seales, Stanley and Karen Pigman Chair of Heritage Science and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Kentucky.
W. Brent Seales is the Stanley and Karen Pigman Chair of Heritage Science and professor of Computer Science at the University of Kentucky. He is the founder of the Heritage Science research lab (EduceLab) at the University, which applies techniques in machine learning and data science to the digital restoration of damaged materials. Seales also cofounded the Vesuvius Challenge, an international contest with the goal to virtually unwrap Herculaneum scrolls. He has had notable success working with challenging, damaged materials, including the scroll from En-Gedi (Leviticus), the Morgan MS M.910 (The Acts of the Apostles), and PHerc.Paris.3 and 4 (Philodemus / Epicureanism). His breakthrough work on the scroll from En-Gedi received international recognition and was featured in Science Advances, The New York Times, Le Monde, and the Times of London.
Nat Friedman, Investor & Entrepreneur
Nat Friedman is an investor and entrepreneur. In 2023, he launched the Vesuvius Challenge with Daniel Gross and Brent Seales to encourage the community of scientists to decipher the Herculaneum papyri from high-resolution CT scans of the scrolls.
Moderator:
Russell Ihrig, Senior Producer and Manager of Programming, Computer History Museum
Russell Ihrig is a senior producer and manager of programming at CHM. He is the host and producer of the Museum’s Decoding Tech podcast. Prior to joining CHM, he worked for the Cincinnati Art Museum for nine years, where he also produced the Art Palace Podcast.
Catalog Number: 300000095
Acquisition Number: 2025.0080
About The Author
