CFP: Appalachian/Carpathian International Conference: Making Place: Transitional and Post-Industrial Development in Mountain Communities (Romania, October 7-11, 2019)

Katherine Ledford Announcement
Location
Romania
Subject Fields
American History / Studies, Area Studies, Eastern Europe History / Studies, Environmental History / Studies

We invite participation in an International Conference (Romania, October 7-11, 2019) being supported by the Transilvania University of Brașov; Romanian--U.S. Fulbright Commission; the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies Program; Radford University; and distinguished Appalachian Studies scholars from the U.S.A. The program committee is now accepting a select number of proposals for plenary and concurrent sessions on topics ranging from cultural preservation and folklore, community development, critical representations of mountain cultures in literature and arts, creative place-making, sustainable agriculture and forestry, ecological tourism, economic diversification, and other issues related to mountain life in both the Appalachians and Carpathians.

Formats include:

  • individual scholarly research papers or sessions
  • films, documentaries, videos, and musical performances
  • roundtable conversations on contemporary issues
  • literary readings, plays, and poetry recitations
  • photographic exhibitions, art installations

All U.S. presenters must register for the conference and pay a registration fee of $250 ($200 for students and NGO participants), which will cover the following: roundtrip transportation from Brașov to the Jiu Valley, two nights’ lodging at Hotel Rusu, two dinners at Rusu (Wednesday and Thursday evenings), tour at Petrila mine, tour at Romanian Plumber Museum, and two conference lunches. Although European participants are required to pay a €200 registration fee, Romanian passport holders may attend all plenary and concurrent sessions free of charge.

While conference organizers cannot directly assist with international air travel expenses, some grant monies may be made available through U.S. governmental agencies or non-profit foundations. Hotel, food, and other costs while in Romania will be kept to a minimum by the conference organizers.The program committee is also considering options for non-presenters, i.e., individuals who might be interested in participating in the conference events without officially submitting a paper or session proposal.

All proposals must be e-mailed by April 1, 2019 to: AppalachiansCarpathians2019@gmail.com

Submit your proposal abstract (approx. 300 words) within the text of your email AND as a single-spaced Word attachment. Incomplete, mailed, or faxed submissions cannot be accepted. Applicants will be notified by May 1, 2019, of the committee’s final decision.

The following information is required in the proposal:

  • Proposal Category Individual presentation or group session (enter category in the e-mail subject heading).
  • Type of Presentation Paper/Panel/Roundtable, Film, Reading, or Musical/Dance Performance.
  • Contact Information Name(s), email address(es), and affiliation(s) of ALL participants.
  • Title of your individual paper/presentation OR session Individual papers/presentations will be limited to 20 minutes. If you are proposing a session, include the title of each paper/presentation in the session abstract.
  • Abstract A single-spaced abstract of 300 words describing your individual paper/presentation or session in the body of your e-mail AND attachment as a Word file. For sessions, please submit an abstract from each presenter describing the entire session. All abstracts will be published in the final conference program.
  • Media Please list any equipment needs (computer, projector, DVD player, etc.)

For additional information, please contact: Theresa L. Burriss, PhD., tburriss@radford.edu, Program Committee Co-Chair, Appalachian Studies Faculty of Letters, Radford University, Radford, VA 24142, USA,  AND/OR  Georgeta Moarcas, PhD.getamoarcas@unitbv.ro, Local Program Committee Chair, Transilvania University of Braşov, Braşov, Romania 500030.

Travel Information: Conference participants will fly into Aeroportul Internaţional Henri Coandă Bucureşti, the international airport in Bucharest, Romania (http://www.bucharestairports.ro/otp). Conference organizers can assist with transportation from the airport to Brașov, with participants having the option of boarding a train at the Gara de Nord//Bucharest North Train Station, or reserving a shuttle with M&M Express (https://transferairport.ro/en/), which takes travelers directly to their destination in Brașov. Conference organizers will be happy to offer advice on and assistance with any of the journey. Transportation by bus from Brașov to the Jiu Valley and return trip will be provided by the conference organizers. They will also advise on return trips to Bucharest at the conference conclusion.

Destinations: Brașov: Serving as the formal conference site, Brașov (http://romaniatourism.com/Brașov.html) is the home of Transilvania University (https://www.unitbv.ro/en/), co-sponsor of the 2019 Appalachian-Carpathian Mountain Conference. All conference proceedings will occur in the Aula. Jiu Valley: The fieldtrip for the 2019 conference takes place about four hours from Brașov in the Jiu Valley (https://investinjiuvalley.com/). Participants will visit the Romanian Plumber’s Museum (https://www.facebook.com/theromanianplumbermuseum/) in Petrosani (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro%C8%99ani) and a once-working mine in Petrila (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrila). They will learn about former miners’ efforts to purchase the site and convert it into a museum and exhibition coalmine (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6432808/plotsummary). All participants will lodge at Hotel Rusu (http://www.hotelrusu.ro/en/).

Lodging: Conference participants have a variety of options for lodging in Brașov, from hotels to Airbnb. Also, Transilvania University is offering a limited number of dormitory rooms at no charge. Below are just a few hotel options where Theresa has stayed. The staff at all three were welcoming and helpful. A quick search on any booking site will reveal other possibilities. Please note that Transilvania University is negotiating with several Brașov hotels to secure a reduced conference rate. As soon as this is finalized, conference organizers will share with applicants.

  • Hotel Drachenhaus (https://www.drachenhaus.ro/en-gb): This charming hotel is located right off the Old City Center and is about a 20 minute walk to the conference site at Transilvania University. Please note that most rooms are located up steep stairs, with only two rooms on street-level.
  • Hotel Kolping (http://en.hotel.kolping.ro/): Resembling what Americans are more accustomed to, this lovely hotel looks out over the Old City as it is perched on the mountainside. Elevators take occupants to their rooms, although they have to climb one staircase from street-level to the reception area. Taxis are easily obtained with the hotel staff’s help. With a steep climb down when leaving the hotel, and the reverse when returning, occupants are ensured a good workout to the Old City, which is about 10 – 15 minutes away, or to the conference site, which is about 30 – 45 minutes away.
  • Pensiunea Warthe (http://www.warthe.ro/): Perched on the mountain across from Hotel Kolping, this hotel boasts rooms with incredible views of the Old City and the mountains up the valley. Like Hotel Kolping, it is a steep walk up from the Old City and is about 30 minutes from the conference site. Occupants must climb stairs to rooms as there is no elevator.
Contact Information

Theresa L. Burriss, PhD., Program Committee Co-Chair, Appalachian Studies Faculty of Letters, Radford University, Radford, VA 24142, USA,

Georgeta Moarcas, PhD., Local Program Committee Chair, Transylvania University of Braşov, Braşov, Romania 500030,

Contact Email
tburriss@radford.edu