The importance of humanities interfaces for research and its social futures.

This paper reflects upon humanities 'interfaces' between academia and society via an analysis of two recent Australian policy moments. First, I reflect on the inaugural Engagement and Impact (E & I) Assessment of university research, undertaken in 2018 by the Australian Research Council (ARC). The EI 2018 points to the rich contribution of humanities interfaces to social function of contemporary research and the pivotal role that communication and media studies play. Second, I discuss the effort over the past 10–15 years to conceptualise and fashion an e-research infrastructure for humanities and social sciences research. Despite leadership in e-research infrastructure in sciences Australia lagged in addressing requirements of humanities and social science. Both cases show the stakes in digital humanities interfaces, which are vital to research and its social futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]