Appalachian Spring Conference 2018

Time and Place: Saturday, April 14th and Sunday, April 15th 2018, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Appalachian Spring - 13th Annual Conference in World History and Economics

Dr. Stephen BroadberryThis conference is an interdisciplinary meeting aimed at bringing together scholars from Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) with scholars from other universities in North Carolina, the surrounding states, and abroad. We have already hosted twelve of these meetings in the past, which have been very successful. Our past keynote speakers have included James Robinson, John Wallis, Jeremy Black, Peter Lindert, Deirdre McCloskey and Ann Carlos. This year's speaker will be Dr. Stephen Broadberry, Professor of Economic History and Research Fellow of Nuffield College at the University of Oxford. He is a world-renowned scholar of world economic development since 1000 C.E., focusing on the Great Divergence between Europe and East Asia. He has published extensively on the role of warfare in economic development. We will also feature several panels with scholarly papers, divided among different topical themes, including an undergraduate/graduate panel. This year's theme will be Convergence and Divergence in World History. The paper or panel proposals do not have to be directly tied to the conference theme, although papers fitting with the theme will be given special consideration. Graduate students are welcome to propose a paper presentation as the conference offers a discounted student rate. In addition, we will feature an additional roundtable on a topic to be announced later.

The conference will take place on April 14-15, 2018 (with an additional talk by Dr. Broadberry on April 13th), on the Appalachian State University's campus in Boone, nestled in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. Those interested in participating should let the organizers know by February 20, 2018. A one-page abstract describing the scholar's proposal should be submitted to the organizers by that date. A full paper will be expected by the organizers by April 1, 2018. There is only a modest registration fee (regular: $100; (graduate and undergraduate) students: $50; ASU faculty and students: (free)).

The organizers cannot provide funding for accommodations or travel expenses. We offer meals to the participants during the meeting at reduced cost in addition to the registration fee.

  • Please click on the link for registration information:
    https://appstate.irisregistration.com/Form/18WHE


  • Hotel Pricing - Fairfield Inn & Suites - $89/per night. Call the hotel directly and reference the "World History and Economics Conference" room block.


  • Organizers (contacts for paper proposals and practical matters):
    • Jari Eloranta, Associate Professor (Appalachian State University, Department of History): phone 1-828-262-6006, email: jari.a.eloranta@gmail.com
    • Jeremy Land, Ph.D student (Georgia State University, Department of History): phone: 1-704-689-2055, email: land25.jeremy@gmail.com

**Information about Boone** (PDF, 569 KB)

Woman giving a powerpoint presentation