UCA Hosts Conference on Ecology, Economy, and Society in Central Asia

UCA’s School of Arts and Sciences recently convened thought leaders, researchers, and policymakers at its Naryn Campus for the conference “Scarcity and Frontiers: Environment, Economy, and Society in Central Asia.” This year’s event, building on last year’s exploration of post-imperial legacies, focused on the intersection of global and regional development amid mounting ecological and socio-economic pressures.

The conference spotlighted critical challenges facing Central Asia, such as water scarcity, climate change, and the socioeconomic impacts of resource dependency. It also addressed how these issues shape and are shaped by the region's historical legacies and contemporary realities.

Keynote speakers offered diverse perspectives on the region’s most pressing issues. Beril Ocaklı from Humboldt University examined infrastructure and resource-making along the Middle Corridor, shedding light on the concept of "slow violence". Ismael Vaccaro of the Spanish National Research Council shared lessons from the Pyrenees on mountain transitions and sustainable development. Nikolaos Olma from the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient discussed the implications of shifting weather patterns on cattle—a vital source of wealth in southern Kyrgyzstan. UCA’s own Peter Wagner delivered a thought-provoking presentation on societies’ dependence on fossil fuels, framing a vision of a future “without carbon.”

The program also explored regional concerns such as the impacts of climate variability on natural resources in the Naryn and Batken regions, air quality issues in Tajikistan’s Sughd region, and runoff variability in the Tian Shan Mountains.

With a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, the conference facilitated dynamic discussions and fostered collaboration across borders.