Conversations across Disciplines and Communities
The Highland Institute regularly convenes colloquia, symposia, and public lectures as part of its mission to foster rigorous interdisciplinary dialogue and engage meaningfully with both academic and community-based knowledge systems. These gatherings range from intimate research presentations to multi-day symposia, and are typically open to the public unless otherwise stated.
Throughout the year, the Institute hosts a variety of thematic events, often in collaboration with partner institutions, research projects, or cultural organisations. These include workshops, roundtables, and special lecture series on topics that cut across anthropology, history, environmental humanities, Indigenous studies, political thought, and the arts. Events are announced on our website and social media channels.
Among the most significant of these is our December Colloquium, a dynamic forum for sharing research from across the Eastern Himalayas and wider highland Asia. This annual event is closely tied to the Ursula Graham Bower Lectures, the Institute’s flagship lecture series (see dedicated page). While the Bower Lecture highlights the work of a distinguished scholar, the Colloquium offers a platform for researchers at various stages of their careers to share updates on ongoing fieldwork, new findings, and emergent theoretical insights.
Importantly, the December Colloquium also serves as a key milestone for participants in the Postgraduate Certificate in Research (PGCertR) programme. As part of their 12-month training, students present their preliminary research findings to an interdisciplinary audience of scholars, peers, and community members. These sessions are designed to cultivate scholarly exchange, encourage constructive feedback, and support the next generation of researchers in the region.
From hosting early-career scholars and seasoned academics to bringing local voices into broader conversations, the Highland Institute’s colloquia and symposia create generative spaces where ideas are tested, perspectives are shared, and new collaborations take root.