ASIANetwork Annual Conference

The ASIANetwork Annual Conference, themed 'Crossing Currents: Confluences, Conflicts, and Connections,' will be held at Seattle University in Seattle, United States. This conference invites participants to engage with the dynamic and complex relationships that define the transpacific oceanic flows and environmental currents, serving as both metaphors and material forces in our understanding of Asia, Asian diasporas, and Asian American/AAPI studies. The theme emphasizes the pressing challenges and opportunities facing educators and scholars in these fields, particularly in light of geopolitical shifts, threats to academic freedom, and rapid technological transformations. These elements have created new pressures within the realm of interdisciplinary inquiry and global engagement, making this conference an important platform for discussion and collaboration.The conference welcomes innovative paper proposals from all disciplines, particularly those addressing critical topics such as border regimes, exclusion, and human rights frameworks; colonial legacies, nationalisms, and resistance movements; and the implications of digital networks, data flows, social media, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, participants are encouraged to explore environmental issues, health, and sustainability in the context of climate change, as well as experiential learning, community-engaged pedagogy, and hybridity in various cultural expressions, including art, religion, philosophy, languages, literature, and performance. There is a strong emphasis on indigenous and local knowledge systems, migration and diasporic movements, and new methodologies in Asian language study, all of which will contribute to the rich dialogue at the conference.