By Zada Komara

(Jan. 25, 2016) — The University of Kentucky Appalachian Center, Appalachian Studies Program, and the Graduate Appalachian Research Community are now accepting abstracts for the 2016 UK Appalachian Research Symposium and Arts Showcase. 

The symposium features diverse undergraduate and graduate student research, performances, art, and other projects from across the Appalachian region. Work must be original, produced within the past three years, and related to Appalachia. This year’s symposium theme is "Difference and Affinity: Representing Appalachia," and reflects on diversity and commonalities of the Appalachian experience.

Registration is free for both presenting and non-presenting attendees. 

The deadline for submitting an abstract is midnight, January 31. Submissions must be made online by simply clicking on the abstract submission link at https://appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu/app-symposium. 

The seventh annual Appalachian Research Symposium and Arts Showcase will be held March 5 and 6 at the UK College of Law Courtroom at 620 South Limestone in Lexington. Proximate pay parking is located in the South Limestone Parking Garage.  Symposium organizers are strongly committed to making the conference as affordable as possible for student presenters; please contact Symposium Chair Kathryn Engle at ksen223@g.uky.edu if you would like to room with a local student or faculty member during the symposium.

Tom Hansell, co-director of University Documentary Film Services at Appalachian State University, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Mr. Hansell will also be screening his documentary “After Coal” about economic transitions post-coal in Appalachia and South Wales, and a panel discussion will follow.

Those interested in attending the symposium but not presenting may also register online at https://appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu/non-presenter-registration. 

For more information, contact Zada Komara, president of the Graduate Appalachian Research Community at zko222@g.uky.edu.