24-30 June 2000, Leiden
.Ninth Seminar
International Association for Tibetan Studies
In the last week of June 2000 some two to three hundred and fifty members and invitees of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) are expected gather at Leiden University for their ninth IATS seminar. The seminar is hosted by the International Institute for Asian Studies. It all happened in Zürich in the summer of 1977. On the initiative of Per Kvĉrne and Martin Brauen a group of young scholars of Tibet convened for a 'Seminar of Young Tibetologists'. This gathering started off a series of what have now been eight international meetings of Tibet scholars. Over the last twenty years, these seminars have developed into the world's largest convention for such scholars. In 1979 the idea for the International Association for Tibetan Studies promoting the study of Tibet in all its aspects was conceived, and the Zürich initiative was retrospectively recognized as the first seminar (for a brief history of the IATS see IIAS newsletter #17). In 1989, in Japan, during the fifth seminar, the IATS adopted formal statutes and instituted a periodically elected board of advisors and managing officers. This minimal organization serves mainly to guarantee the continuity of the seminars and the publication of its proceedings.In its seminars the IATS attempts to mobilize the broadest possible basis for Tibetan Studies and to provide a platform for study and discussion running the full gamut of Tibetan cultural phenomena. Though, generally speaking, proficiency in classical and modern Tibetan, or one or the other, may be assumed for most of the participants, the reflection and dialogue with regard to Tibetan culture is attempted from all relevant angles and disciplines of academia, not only via written or spoken Tibetan. The meetings have an informal character and their primary aim is to facilitate and encourage interdisciplinary exchange and international co-operation. The seminars as a whole therefore do not have an overall topic, though specialized workshops and round-table panels are very much encouraged. All participants are generally required to contribute a paper and discuss the latest developments in their own work or project(s). .
Invitations to the seminars are extended on the basis of the growing invitation list of members of the IATS (now numbering to about one thousand members), all of whom have attended at least one previous seminar, yet new people can solicit invitation. Participation of members and new invitees alike is decided mainly on the basis of an abstract that each participant is required to submit. Moreover, new participants are also requested to submit evidence of their academic qualifications (CV, list of Tibetological publications, and the like). .
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We have been able to witness a steady increase in the participation of Tibetan scholars over the last seminars, especially from T.A.R. and from the P.R.C. in general. The seminars have become a unique and fruitful opportunity for the modern scholarly and academic heirs and representatives of Tibetan culture and 'Western' academics to meet and exchange ideas. Needless to say, this is a fortunate development, which, in spite of the heavy financial burden it puts on the organization of the seminars, deserves to be very much encouraged.
The first circular and pre-registration form for the ninth seminar of the IATS were sent out at the end of January this year. The deadline for pre-registration was 1 May 1999. I should like to request those scholars who have attended an IATS seminar in the past (and are interested in participating in some future seminar), but have not yet received the first circular to inform us of their (new) address. Unfortunately close to one hundred addresses of IATS members were found to be no longer up to date.
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Lastly I should like to inform those who intend to participate in the ninth seminar of the IATS that our seminar will coincide with the European soccer championships 2000, which this time also will be held in the Netherlands. If you want to avoid entering into a cheek-by-jowl wrestling match with hooligans and soccer fans, elbowing for the scanty hotel space left, be advised to be early in arranging your hotel-booking. An updated hotel-list is available on Internet at the IATS WWW-address .
Henk Blezer
Convenor of the Ninth Seminar of the IATS.
International Institute for Asian Studies.
IATS@let.leidenuniv.nl.