The University’s office of China programs and department of modern and classical languages have joined efforts to bring the 2015 Asian Studies Development Program’s (ASDP) National Conference to the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, March 19-21.

Submitting proposals for research, panels

Dr. Weirong Schaefer, ASDP conference chair and MSU’s Asian arts and letters coordinator, said having the conference nearby is a unique and inexpensive opportunity for the University’s graduate students and faculty to present research and be involved in panels.

Those interested in presenting or taking part in panel or roundtable discussions should submit their proposals by Dec. 1, following the ASDP guidelines.

What is the conference?

The ASDP National Conference is an annual event that provides an opportunity for ASDP alumni and other interested college and university faculty members to share research related to Asian cultures and societies, as well as strategies for effectively infusing Asian content into undergraduate humanities, social science, business and science curricula.

2015’s theme: Rethinking Asian Studies

The upcoming year’s theme will be “Rethinking Asian Studies: Taking Asia as Method,” focusing on how to enable Asian perspectives to take on a greater role in informing and shaping our critical engagement with both the historical and contemporary dynamics of Asia.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Pheng Cheah, will bring his expertise as a professor of rhetoric for the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, for his presentation titled, “Asia as Question:  Rethinking Asian Studies in Contemporary Globalization.”

Register for the conference

Students and faculty may register to attend the event. For faculty, early registration is $200 if registered by March 1, and late registration is $225. Students’ registration is $75. A round-trip shuttle service from Springfield to Branson will be offered for an additional $25.