This symposium will be exploring the theme of water in Asia. There are many dimensions to water, as a liquid, a basis of all living organisms, a biotic infrastructure for life, a material around which complex social relations of power swirl, and a counterpoint to conceptions that area studies are based on.  With this theme, CAS seeks to gather together divergent interests in ‘blue humanities’, ‘wet ontologies’, environmental justice movements associated with water, climate change induced experiences of flood and drought, and social fluidities of all sorts – from labor migrant streams to ‘be like water’ protest movements – all in the spatial and temporal contexts of Asian places. We are particularly interested in how the social effects of anthropogenic climate change are experienced through human relations with water.

Schedule:

8:45am Opening Remarks by Massimo Ruzzene (RIO Director)

9:00am - 10:30am Panel 1: Water Politics and Contestations
This panel examines infrastructural challenges related to water and political and social contestations around water, including hydropower development, sanitation, community water access, and the consequences of climate change.
Speakers:
Balajai Rajagopalan (CU Boulder Engineering)
Yaffa Truelove (CU Boulder Geography)
Nga Dao (York University Geography)
Win Myo Thu (Myanmar activist)
James Harper (CU Boulder PhD grad)

10:30am - 10:45am break

10:45am - 12:15pm Panel 2: Social Fluidities 1: Transnational Solidarities, Social Movements, and Migration
This panel explores social fluidities and circulations, including how the rise of transnational solidarities, cross-border social movements, and global migrations are reshaping social and political life in Asia. 
Speakers:
Andrew Le (ASU Sociology)
Purvi Mehta (Colorado College Anthropology)
Clara Lee (CU Boulder Anthro ABD)

12:15pm - 1:30pm Lunch

1:30pm - 3:00pm Panel 3: Social Fluidities 2: Environment, Development, and Diaspora 
This panel explores the relationship between material challenges and social life, including how contemporary artists respond to regional environmental challenges, diaspora politics, and contestations around development.  
Speakers:
Alvin Camba (University of Denver Korbel School)
Brianne Cohen (CU Boulder Art History)
Dawa Lokyitsang (CU Boulder Anthro PhD)

3:00pm - 4:00pm Reception

4:00pm - 5:30pm Keynote: Julie Chu, University of Chicago