Faculty team to present Appalachian research at conference

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Three Radford University faculty members will represent the United States as delegates to an international mountain conference in Brasov, Romania at Transylvania University Oct. 5-9.

Director of Appalachian Regional and Rural Studies Center Theresa Burriss, Department of Geospatial Science Chair Rick Roth, and Department of Biology Chair Christine Small will present “Place Defense and Conflicted Local Resistances in Resource Extraction Economies: A Multi-disciplinary Analysis of the Central Appalachian Coalfields” at the week-long gathering of American and European scholars, titled “Appalachians/Carpathians: Researching, Documenting and Preserving Highland Traditions.”

The event brings scholars together to explore commonalities between the mountains and communities near Braşov and those found in Appalachia.

The Carpathian Mountains near Transylvania University served as filming locations for the motion picture Cold Mountain and the TV mini-series Hatfields and McCoys. The conference represents perspectives from the humanities and natural and social sciences on mountain life and culture as well as environmental problems.

“Although the three of us have worked together on multidisciplinary projects in Appalachia for several years now, this opportunity to share our experiences and ideas with international colleagues facing similar challenges will prove educational and inspiring,” Burriss said.

The Radford University team will join American colleagues from Appalachian State University, Berea College, East Tennessee State University, Fairmont State University, Georgia State University, Loyola Marymount University, Morehead State University, Northern Kentucky University, Ohio University and the Universities of the District of Columbia, Kentucky and North Georgia.

Oct 6, 2015