Australian Society for Asian Humanities (ASAH) Inaugural Conference
Call for papers | Asian Humanities Today: Tradition, Transformation and Future
Conference date & venue: 3 - 4 July 2026, University of Sydney
Submission deadline: 15 December 2025
This conference is presented by the Australian Society for Asian Humanities, supported by the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
We are thrilled to invite interested scholars and postgraduate students across the globe to an exciting two-day conference organised by the Australian Society for Asian Humanities (ASAH) on 3 and 4 July 2026 at the University of Sydney. This is the first conference under the current name.
In a time when the humanities face existential challenges, we invite scholars to reflect on the meaning of Asian humanities today, foregrounding Asia not merely as a subject of study or an expression of region, but as a vital source of knowledge, practice and insight for rethinking the humanities. Over a decade since the Gillard government issued the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper, Asia’s centrality to every aspect of global humanities is undeniable. Yet, this same decade has also witnessed a worrying decline in Asian humanities research and education in Australia and New Zealand.
Originally founded in 1956 as the Oriental Society of Australia, ASAH is committed to revitalising the field. ‘Humanities’ and ‘Asia’ being broadly defined, papers are invited in every aspect of Asian humanities, including Music, Art, Architecture, History, Literature, Translation Studies, Philology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Archaeology, Cultural Studies, STS, Anthropology, etc. without limitation of era. We invite contributions that engage Asian traditions, trace the forces of transformations shaping Asia, envision new futures for Asian humanities, and consider Asian-Australian or Asian-New Zealand humanities. Postgraduate and Honours students are encouraged to apply.
This conference will be held at the University of Sydney, the oldest university in Australasia, located in a city deeply shaped by rich historical interaction with Asia. Applications are invited for organised panels, individual papers or alternative formats.
The ASAH Conference Organising Co-conveners:
- Josh Stenberg (University of Sydney)
- Shin Takahashi (Victoria University of Wellington)
- Ying Xin Show (Australian National University)
Conference Manager:
- Yanping Zhang (University of Sydney)
Presentation Types:
- Individual Papers: 20 minutes presentation and 10 minutes Q&A.
- Panel Presentations: 90 minutes per group, including the time for Q&A.
- Alternative Formats (e.g., roundtable, book launch, etc.): 90 minutes per group
Abstract Submission:
- Individual Papers: No more than 250 words per abstract, excluding the title and the name(s) of authors
- Panel Presentations: One 200-word abstract about the panel, alongside 250-word abstracts of each paper
- Alternative Formats: One 250-word abstract about the session
