By Ellie Wnek
Although separated by thousands of miles, an ocean and most of continental Europe, the Appalachian-Carpathian International Conference will bring scholars together to discuss important issues that affect both Appalachian and Carpathian mountain communities.
The 2019 conference will take place in Brasov and Petrosani, Romania, Oct. 7-11, 2019. The conference is titled "Making Place: Transitional and Post-Industrial Development in Mountain Communities." The program committee is currently accepting proposals for plenary and concurrent sessions. Topics range from cultural preservation and folklore to sustainable agriculture and forestry to community development and economic diversification.
Possible formats include:
- individual scholarly research papers or sessions;
- films, documentaries, videos and musical performances;
- roundtable conversations on contemporary issues;
- literary readings, plays and poetry recitations; and
- photographic exhibitions and art installations.
The deadline to submit proposals is April 1. All proposals must be emailed to AppalachiansCarpathians2019@gmail.com. For more information on proposal submission details and the conference logistics, visit this website.
"This is a great opportunity for students and faculty from UK to network with an interdisciplinary group of scholars and consider the Appalachian region within a global context," said Kathryn Engle, associate director of the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program. "The UK Appalachian Center has been a leader in conversations about global mountain regions, hosting international scholars and facilitating conferences and exchanges."
The conference is supported by numerous organizations including the UK Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program, the Transylvania University of Brasov, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission, Radford University and distinguished Appalachian studies scholars from the United States.
The event will address experiences that mountain communities shares around the globe. Ann Kingsolver, former director of the UK Appalachian Center, recently co-edited a book that explores this topic titled “Global Mountain Regions: Conversations Toward the Future.” To learn more, visit www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=809240.
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion two years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety and the Chronicle of Higher Education judged us a “Great College to Work for.” We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for three straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.