[Buddha-l] CFP: Cultural Heritage--Environment, Ecology and Inter-Asian Interactions (Nalanda, Jan. 2014)

[Jo]

X-posted. I see that the new Nalanda U. startup has acquired a few bigtime
sponsors, like the 

IIAS in the Netherlands. 

Joanna

 

From: ACSAA [mailto:acsaa-bounces at acsaa.us] On Behalf Of Cathleen A Cummings
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 8:19 AM
To: acsaa at acsaa.us
Subject: [ACSAA] CFP: Cultural Heritage--Environment, Ecology and
Inter-Asian Interactions (Nalanda, Jan. 2014)

 

Call for Papers:  Cultural Heritage--Environment, Ecology and Inter-Asian
Interactions
Nalanda University & International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)
Rajgir, Bihar, India, 6-8 January 2014
 
In Asia, the notion of 'heritage' is often associated with the construction
of post-independence nation-state models, the definition of national
'traditions', and the idea of a pre/post-colonial historical national
continuity. As a result discussions about 'heritage' are often
state-dominated, leaving little room for regional and trans-regional views
especially where it concerns inter-Asian interactions. These interactions as
well as the establishment of particular (sacred) sites were often the direct
product of environmental or ecological conditions which would furthermore
often also assure their continuation and/or conservation over long periods
of time.  However, over time not only environmental/ecological conditions
would change but also geopolitical ones introducing different visitors and
even 'owners' to particular sites, changing their cultural, social and
political significance. 

This conference welcomes papers that investigate the role
environmental/ecological and historical factors have played in the changing
significance of sites in Asia and/or how these factors (continue to)
influence the maintenance and conservation of these sites. In relation to
this the conference is also interested in how intangible forms of heritage
(folklore, customs, or particular rituals) have similarly been influenced
and/or affected.

It particularly welcomes papers that introduce an inter-Asian perspective
either with respect to the (changing) significance of these sites or in
relation to the maintenance and conservation of them as cultural heritage.
The conference is open to scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds
including (art) history, archaeology, cultural studies, ecology &
environment studies and social sciences as well as practitioners ranging
from conservationists to managers and activists.

Keynotes
.         Rick Asher (Department of Art History, University of Minnesota)
.         Robin Coningham (Department of Archaeology, Durham University)
.         Engseng Ho (Cultural Anthropology, History and Duke Islamic
Studies Center; Duke University)
.         Akira Matsui (Center for Archaeological Operations, Nara National
Research Institute for Cultural Properties)
.         Mike Robinson (Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural
Heritage, University of Birmingham)
 
Location
This two-day conference will be jointly organized by the new Nalanda
University and the Netherlands based International Institute for Asian
Studies (IIAS). Rajgir (Bihar) promises to be an exceptionally interesting
location for this conference given its proximity to the ancient site of
Nalanda University (a prime example of inter-Asian connections) as well as
many other important historical and religious sites such as Bodh Gaya, where
Buddhism finds it origin. The conference program will include a full-day of
sightseeing. The location for the conference will be the newly built
Convention Centre that is equipped with all modern facilities.
 
Accommodation and Transportation
Accommodation will be provided to all presenters in a convenient four-star
hotel. To non-presenters accommodation will be made available at the same
hotel at a special rate. Rajgir is easily connected by rail and bus to the
airports of Gaya and Patna which have frequent connections with the
international airports of Delhi and Kolkata. The conference organizers will
gladly assist with travel queries and will make sure local transportation
from and to the conference venue, hotels, bus and train station is provided
for.  Conference participation is free of charge. For further details please
see: http://www.nalandauniv.edu.in/conference.html
 
Abstract
Please submit your abstract of no more than 250 words before 31 July 2013.
Please also include a summary of no more than a 150 words of your current
affiliation, research interests and key publications. Presenters may be
requested to be discussants and/or chairpersons in other sessions.
Presentations will be thirty minutes with fifteen minutes of questions of
answers. The presentation of photographic or video-material is not only
possible but also highly encouraged. Suggestions for documentary screenings
or musical performances that could be included in the evening program are
also highly welcome. Please submit your abstract, inquiries and/or
suggestions to: conferences at nalandauniv.in

Organization
Nalanda University was in existence for nearly 800 years from the fifth till
the twelfth century CE and attracted scholars from countries as diverse as
China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Tibet and even Turkey. It was one
of the oldest universities in the world.  The newly founded Nalanda
University is an international university unlike any in India. It has been
mandated to be an international institution for the pursuit of intellectual,
philosophical, historical and spiritual studies. It aims to bring together
the brightest and most dedicated students from countries across the world
irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability or socio-economic
background. It is a non-state, non-profit, secular, self-governing
international institution and will, eventually, consist of seven different
schools, among which are schools dedicated to Historical Studies and one
that focuses on Ecology & Environment Studies.
 
The International Institute for Asian Studies(IIAS), established in 1993, is
principally a research and exchange platform based in Leiden, the
Netherlands. It encourages the multidisciplinary and comparative study of
Asia and as such actively promotes (inter)national cooperation. IIAS acts as
an international mediator, bringing together academic and non-academic
partners including cultural, social and policy organizations.

The research at IIAS is carried out under the aegis of three programmatic
clusters of which Asian Heritages is one. It explores the notion of heritage
as it evolved from a Europe-originated concept associated with  architecture
and monumental archaeology to incorporate a broader diversity of cultural
forms and values, including the so-called 'intangible' heritages and the
importance of cultural heritage in identity construction.
 

----------
Dr. Cathleen Cummings
ACSAA webmaster
http://www.acsaa.us /  webmaster at acsaa.us
Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Art History
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
HB103, 900 13th Street South
Birmingham AL 35294
cathleen at uab.edu / 205 934 7909

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