# CHAM – Centre for the Humanities

> multi-university Portuguese research unit

**Wikidata**: [Q111668148](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111668148)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cham-centre-for-the-humanities

## Summary
CHAM – Centre for the Humanities is a multi-university Portuguese research unit operated jointly by the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of the Azores. Classified specifically as a research institute, its primary purpose is to generate new knowledge in the humanities rather than provide undergraduate education or grant degrees. The unit is headquartered in Lisbon and maintains a bilingual digital presence to support its academic inquiry.

## Key Facts
- **Affiliation**: Jointly operated by the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of the Azores
- **Classification**: Defined formally as a research institute, distinct from scientific societies or think tanks
- **Location**: Physically located in Lisbon, Portugal
- **Website**: https://cham.fcsh.unl.pt (available in Portuguese and English)
- **Aliases**: Also known as Centro de História de Além-Mar and CHAM – NOVA FCSH
- **Short Name**: CHAM
- **ROR ID**: 00byekp78
- **VIAF ID**: 145758109
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: no2002101092
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 981007599242705171
- **Portuguese National Library Authority ID**: 228148
- **Rossio ID**: agentes/c_9becc4f7
- **Yale Lux ID**: group/3e72f6e9-de5d-4ca6-bb47-4ded07367733
- **CANTIC ID**: 981058520846106706
- **University of Barcelona Authority ID**: 981058520846106706
- **NL CR AUT ID**: kn20110615007
- **Wikimedia Commons**: Maintains a category titled "CHAM – Centro de Humanidades"
- **Branding**: Uses two distinct logo variations (dark-on-light and light-on-dark) hosted on Wikimedia Commons

## FAQs
### What universities constitute the CHAM research unit?
CHAM is a multi-university entity that is part of both the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of the Azores.

### Is CHAM a university or a teaching institution?
No, CHAM is a research institute, meaning its sole purpose is conducting research. Unlike universities, it does not combine teaching with research or typically grant degrees.

### Where is CHAM based?
The research unit is located in Lisbon, Portugal, while serving its partner universities.

### How is CHAM identified in international library systems?
CHAM is cataloged under numerous global authority IDs, including the Library of Congress (no2002101092), VIAF (145758109), and ROR (00byekp78), ensuring its recognition across academic databases.

## Why It Matters
CHAM represents the critical infrastructure of a research institute applied to the humanities. By existing as a dedicated unit free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention, CHAM allows scholars to concentrate resources purely on investigation. This structure accelerates the discovery of new historical and cultural knowledge, distinguishing itself from think tanks that focus primarily on policy or scientific societies that are membership-based. Its multi-university model combines the talents of the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of the Azores, fostering a collaborative environment for tackling complex humanistic problems. In a global landscape where innovation depends on deep inquiry, CHAM provides the necessary space for long-term, high-risk research that advances understanding of the human experience.

## Notable For
- **Multi-University Structure**: Distinguished by its governance spanning two separate academic institutions (NOVA FCSH and University of the Azores).
- **Exclusive Research Focus**: Operates solely as a research institute, differentiating it from hybrid organizations that also manage undergraduate education.
- **Bilingual Accessibility**: Provides its research output and official information in both Portuguese and English.
- **Comprehensive Cataloging**: Holds unique identifiers in a wide array of international systems, from the National Library of Israel to the Yale Lux system.
- **Digital Branding**: Utilizes optimized logo assets for both dark and light backgrounds, ensuring visual consistency across digital platforms.

## Body
### Organizational Structure and Affiliation
CHAM – Centre for the Humanities functions as a collaborative research unit integrating two major academic partners. It is formally a part of the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities, which contributes to its alias "CHAM – NOVA FCSH." Additionally, it operates under the umbrella of the University of the Azores. This multi-university structure allows the entity to draw upon a broader base of academic resources than a single-institution center might possess.

### Classification and Purpose
The entity is explicitly classified as an instance of a research institute. This designation dictates that CHAM's primary organizational purpose is the generation of new knowledge through systematic investigation. It is operationally distinct from related entities such as scientific societies, which are membership organizations, and think tanks, which typically pursue policy-oriented goals. As a research institute, CHAM does not engage in undergraduate education or degree granting, distinguishing it from the universities it is affiliated with.

### Identification and Authority Records
CHAM maintains a robust digital presence across global library and knowledge organization systems. These standardized identifiers facilitate the discovery and citation of the institute's work.

*   **Global Identifiers**: The unit is registered with the Research Organization Registry (ROR) as 00byekp78 and the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) as 145758109.
*   **National Library Records**: It is cataloged in the Library of Congress (no2002101092), the National Library of Israel (981007599242705171), and the Portuguese National Library (228148).
*   **Academic Systems**: The entity appears in the Rossio repository (agentes/c_9becc4f7), the Yale Lux system (group/3e72f6e9-de5d-4ca6-bb47-4ded07367733), and the University of Barcelona authority records (981058520846106706).
*   **Other IDs**: It also holds the CANTIC ID 981058520846106706 and the NL CR AUT ID kn20110615007.

### Location and Digital Presence
Geographically, CHAM is situated in Lisbon, Portugal. Its digital headquarters is located at https://cham.fcsh.unl.pt, a resource designed to accommodate speakers of both Portuguese and English. The institute maintains a visual identity through logos hosted on Wikimedia Commons, with specific variants created for dark-on-light and light-on-dark color schemes. It also manages a specific category on Wikimedia Commons titled "CHAM – Centro de Humanidades" to aggregate related media.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.fcsh.unl.pt/investigacao/unidades-de-investigacao/)
2. [Source](https://cham.fcsh.unl.pt/cham.php)
3. ROR release v1.64
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
5. [Source](http://vocabs.rossio.fcsh.unl.pt)