International Conferences and Collaborations
Bridging the Highlands and the World
The Highland Institute is committed to fostering meaningful international academic collaboration, with a strong emphasis on South–South and North–South dialogue. As an outward-facing research institute grounded in local realities, we actively contribute to global scholarly conversations through conferences, collaborative projects, joint publications, and visiting scholar programs.
Our engagements span from field-based workshops in the Eastern Himalayas to high-profile conferences at leading institutions around the world.
Conference Participation and Organisation
Our researchers, fellows, and staff regularly present at prestigious conferences, including:
- American Anthropological Association (AAA)
- European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA)
- Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS)
- International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES)
- Indian Anthropological Congress
- World Congress of the International American Studies Association (IASA)
- British Association for South Asian Studies (BASAS)
- SEPHIS (South–South Exchange Programme for Research on the History of Development)
In addition to participating, The Highland Institute convenes its own international conferences and academic gatherings, often in collaboration with partner institutions.
Notable examples include:
- Ekologos: Global Environmental Humanities Conference (2023)
A transdisciplinary conference examining ecological imaginaries and indigenous climate knowledge. - British Academy Writing Workshops
Held during our annual UG Bower Lectures and Winter Research Colloquium, featuring scholars from the University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, and IIT Guwahati.
Global Research Partnerships
We actively collaborate with institutions and scholars across the globe. Some of our key academic and institutional partnerships include:
- University of Edinburgh – Centre for South Asian Studies, School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- RV University, Bangalore – School of Film, Media and Creative Arts
- French Institute of Pondicherry – Urbanisation and tourism studies (Urbaltour project)
- University of Leeds, University of Manchester, and University of Cambridge
- Pitt Rivers Museum and Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA), Cambridge
- State University of Campinas, Brazil
- Doctors For You (DFY), India – Research collaboration and public health field partnerships
These collaborations encompass shared research, co-authored publications, visiting fellowships, museum exhibitions, student training, and more.
Visiting Scholars & Joint Workshops
We frequently host visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students from around the world. Workshops and lectures are designed to:
- Facilitate cross-disciplinary learning
- Support early-career researchers
- Encourage collaborative publication projects
- Promote public-facing scholarship in highland contexts
Visiting scholars have included experts in medical anthropology, visual ethnography, border studies, film studies, and environmental humanities.
The Global Vision of the Highland Institute
Our international collaborations are not just symbolic. They reflect a deep commitment to plural epistemologies, decentralised knowledge-making, and bridging indigenous and global understandings of society, health, and the environment.
Our growing international footprint helps ensure that Highland Asia remains visible in global academic, ecological, and policy debates, while also protecting space for grounded, ethical, and locally informed research.
Interested in Collaborating?
We welcome partnerships with:
- Academic institutions and university departments
- Research centres and museums
- NGOs, think tanks, and policy organisations
- Artists, filmmakers, and digital humanists
highlandinstitute.org/research