Conference Updates:
Early Bird Registration extended until 30 September 2008.
Deadline for Proposals/Abstracts extended until 30 September 2008. 
Notice of Abstract Acceptance by 30 September 2008.

Held at the beginning of Adelaide’s warm and sunny summer and the end of Australia’s academic year, this conference will be the culminating event of efforts by members of the Australian Research Council’s Asia Pacific Futures Research Network to focus attention on key issues in the study of the Asia-Pacific.

In 2008 the theme is the importance of religion and culture, recent evolution and the consequences of globalisation including changing of forms, content and meanings.

Globalising Religions and Cultures in the Asia Paciific consists of papers, public forums, workshops and special events, including:

• Keynote speeches and talks by specially invited guests of the highest academic standing.
• Four days of intensive panels on eight key themes.
• Papers and presentations by scholars from all around Australia.
• Three public forums organised through the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia.
• One day (Wednesday December 3) devoted to Early Career Researchers and Post-graduate students including a poster competition.
• Special Concluding Conference dinner with an Asian inspired menu created by one of Australia’s most famous chefs, Simon Bryant
• Special guided tours and talks exploring Asia Pacific religion and culture in Adelaide. 
• One day of tours and events (Wednesday December 3) to allow conference participants to see some of the best of South Australia including the famous wine regions, the Barossa Valley and/or McLaren Vale, and unique Australian wildlife at Cleland National Park.
• Asia-Pacific Food Cultures: Hybridity, Transculturalism and Change in Religious and Secular Contexts
• Pride, Prejudice and Power in Cricket – a special workshop on the Asian Sub-continent religion of Cricket (November 29-December 1) organised by Dr Michael Roberts.