In March 2019, Appalachian State University’s Center for Appalachian Studies hosted the International Mountain Studies Symposium, bringing together scholars, students, and community members for two days of exploration and exchange on the past, present, and future of mountain regions worldwide.
The event began on Monday, March 11, with a kickoff lecture by Dr. Alton C. Byers (University of Colorado Boulder), “Notes from the Field: Some Recent Geologic and Climate Change Impacts on Nepal’s Glaciers.” The evening continued with a reception and a special opening of the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition exhibit at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.
On Tuesday, March 12, the symposium convened more than 50 presentations and panels by international scholars from Austria, France, Scotland, Switzerland, and Wales alongside Appalachian faculty and students. Discussions centered on comparative mountain studies, drawing connections between the Appalachian Mountains and other global highland regions.
Keynote speakers included:
- Jon Mathieu (University of Lucerne, Switzerland): “Mountain Regions in Historical Interaction: Alps and Appalachia”
- Gilles Rudaz (University of Geneva, Switzerland): “Constructing Mountains: The Specificity of Mountain Areas and Societies in Debate”
- Dawn Hollis (University of St. Andrews, Scotland): “A Mountains Manifesto? Toward the Historical Mountain Humanities”
The symposium concluded with an evening celebration of Appalachian literature, music, and dance, featuring readings by Joseph Bathanti, performances by the Appalachian Studies String Band, and traditional mountain dance led by the Cole Mountain Cloggers with callers John Turner and Jeff Atkins.
Supported by Appalachian State University departments, community partners, and international collaborators, the symposium fostered dialogue across disciplines and borders, highlighting the global significance of mountain communities and cultures.