International Conference on Ladakh High-Mountain Region of Northern India

The high-mountain region of Ladakh in northern India is the topic of an international conference to be held from 17 to 20 April 2013 at Heidelberg University. Approximately 80 scholars and scientists from Germany and abroad are expected to converge to discuss historical, societal and political developments in this region as well as issues of environmental research. The conference is also the 16th Colloquium of the International Association for Ladakh Studies (IALS), being hosted for the first time by Heidelberg University. Conference organisers are the Department of Geography at the South Asia Institute, the Heidelberg Center for Environment and the IALS.

“Even though the presentations initially focus on regional issues, they raise important questions of scientific interest for all high-mountain regions at the same time”, explains Heidelberg Geographer Dr. Juliane Dame. “The development of mountain regions continues to be overlooked in scientific and international political discourses. There is often little interdisciplinary discussion of the variety of topics at the intersection of environment and society.” The event is designed to promote cross-disciplinary academic exchange on Ladakh and its neighbouring regions as well as to tie in young researchers – many from South Asia – and local actors from political and non-governmental organisations.

Conference sessions will address historical perspectives, political developments, cultural change and identity. Other topics include the history of art and architecture as well as climate change, water management and livelihoods. For more information on the conference, entitled “Society and Environment in Ladakh: Historical Perspectives and Recent Dynamics”, go to www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/geo/ials.

Contact:
Dr. Juliane Dame
Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE)
South Asia Institute (SAI)
Phone (06221) 54-8962
ials2013@sai.uni-heidelberg.de

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