Proposals, Award Nominations for 2020 Appalachian Studies Association Conference Now Open

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2019) — Proposals and award nominations for the 2020 Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) conference are now open through Oct. 7. The conference will take place March 12-15, 2020, on the University of Kentucky campus.

The 2020 program committee openly invites proposals for panels, papers, posters, performances, roundtables or workshops. Proposals will be judged by whether they discuss a relevant topic and current approach for the Appalachian region, the clarity of their proposal and whether it contributes to providing a multiplicity of perspectives and content.  All proposal submissions require an abstract or summary, participant contact information, a notice of any special requirements and a short biography for each participant. All proposals must be submitted online through the ASA website by Oct. 7.

For more information about the conference or proposal and award nomination submissions, please see the Call For Participation.

Students and faculty affiliated with the University of Kentucky’s Appalachian Center, College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate Appalachian Research Community (GARC) are partnering with the ASA to host its 43rd annual conference on the UK campus this spring. The conference, titled “Appalachian Understories: Growing Hope and Resilience from Commonwealth to Global Commons,” will engage in conversations about Appalachian forests, black Appalachians, women, gender and sexuality, health and healing, and hope spots. Oral history, film-making, literature, music, photography and other art forms will be among the featured “understories” exploration methods.

Free for all UK students to attend, the conference serves as a light to shine over the often-overlooked Appalachian region and showcase the talented individuals from the region.

ASA, the premier Appalachian Studies nonprofit professional organization in the world, promotes and engages dialogue, research, scholarship, education, creative expression and action among a diverse and inclusive group of scholars, educators, practitioners, grassroots activists, students, individuals, groups and institutions. ASA's mission is driven by its commitment to foster quality of life, democratic participation and appreciation of Appalachian experiences regionally, nationally and internationally.

The University of Kentucky Appalachian Center contributes to UK's land-grant mission by fostering a community-university partnership for research, learning and engagement throughout the Appalachian regions.