The CESS Board is committed to providing a healthy and safe space for CESS conference participants. The Board is carefully monitoring health and travel advice in relation to Uzbekistan and the United States, the locations of our two conferences in 2020. We are also in consultation with the conference hosts, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent and Ohio State University in Columbus.
As a result, it has been decided to postpone the Regional Conference in Tashkent. It will now be held on June 24-27, 2021. A new call for proposals will be issued ahead of the 2021 conference. Proposals submitted in 2020 will not be carried forward, but we welcome re-submissions.
The current plan is that the Annual Conference in Columbus will proceed as planned in October 2020. However, this decision is subject to change based on the constantly shifting situation. As a result of ongoing uncertainty, the deadline has been extended again and proposals will now be accepted until May 31, 2020.
The Board reviewed the feasibility and logistics connected to the Annual Conference at its monthly meetings in March and April 2020 and will continue to review the situation. The next update will be provided in mid-May 2020. If necessary, the Board will continue to review the situation at its meetings in June and July. A final decision on the Annual Conference will be made at the latest by mid-July.
Colleagues who have submitted a proposal for the Annual Conference and wish to withdraw it owing to health or travel restrictions should email the CESS Administrative Coordinator (info@centraleurasia.org).
CESS Board, March 12, 2020 with updates about the Annual Conference added on April 17, 2020.