Overview: 2nd DHWZ in 2027

Registration is now open

You can register for the forum via the Conference Manager until 18 January 2027. We have also reserved a limited number of rooms for you. If you have any questions regarding registration or hotel bookings, please do not hesitate to contact Stadtmarketing Halle (Saale) GmbH (Yvonne Zilke; yvonne.zilke@stadtmarketing-halle.de).

We very much look forward to welcoming you back to Halle (Saale) from 22 to 24 February 2027 for another opportunity to further develop our network.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Liebelt, Christopher Conrad, Moritz Koza and Gerd Schmid

Programme overview

Monday, 22 February 2027 (light lunch from 12.00, welcome speech at 14.00)

The first day of the event will focus on the development of the research and funding policy framework for higher education and research cooperation with the Central Asian states. The main focus will be on inter-ministerial opportunities for establishing sustainable cooperative relationships. A panel discussion will provide an opportunity to learn about current developments in the region. The day will end with a dinner and a poster exhibition at the Leopoldina – the perfect opportunity for exchange, discussion and networking.

Tuesday, 23 February 2027

The second day of the event begins with a brief presentation of the findings from the first forum in 2026. The final report will be put forward for discussion, laying the foundations for the further development of a Central Asian network.
Following this, conference participants will engage with current research topics relating to the Central Asian region in sessions covering a wide range of themes. Early-career researchers in particular will have the opportunity to present their work. They will present the approaches and findings of their doctoral theses and postdoctoral projects for discussion. A light lunch will be provided.
In the afternoon, all participants will have the opportunity at the ‘Market of Opportunities’ to engage directly with representatives from various funding bodies, ask questions and find out about suitable funding programmes for their own projects. This offers early-career researchers, in particular, the chance to obtain a wide range of information about the funding landscape and current programmes. There will also be an opportunity to have a guided tour through the Kustodie of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg as well as the Leopoldina. The second day of the event will end with a networking dinner at the TURM/Moritzburg, right across the street.

Wednesday, 24 February 2027 (closing ceremony ends at 12.00, light lunch until 13.00)

The final day of the forum will focus on the further development of a Central Asian network at German universities and research institutions. The aim is to take on board suggestions from the forum, discuss participation formats and consider ways of ensuring the continuity of academic exchange.
Attention will then turn to the 3rd Central Asia Forum, which is planned for February 2028. The focus will be on future issues relating to cooperation in higher education and research. The Central Asian perspective on cooperation in teaching and research, as well as the further development of our network, will be at the forefront of these discussions.

Open call for posters and presentations (Deadline 23 December 2026)

Poster exhibihtion

For this year’s poster exhibition on Monday 22 February 2027, we are seeking submissions in A0 portrait or A1 landscape format that cover at least one of the following areas:

1. Projects or initiatives focusing on networking or the promotion of early-career researchers
2. Ongoing research projects by postdocs (up to approximately 5 years after completing their PhD)
3. Current and completed PhD projects (up to approximately 5 years after completing their PhD)

To submit your poster, please register via the Conference Manager for the poster session and send the title, list of authors and a short abstract (max. 300 words) by 23 December 2026 to clara.athenstaedt@geo.uni-halle.de (please also contact this email address if you have any questions).
A selection committee will then decide on the acceptance of your submission. You will receive a response by 15 January 2027.

Early-career session

For this year’s event, we invite students planning to undertake a PhD, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers up to approximately five years after completing their PhD to present their current doctoral and research projects relating to Central Asia in a presentation on Tuesday, 23 February 2027. The aim is to highlight the thematic diversity of current research relating to Central Asia and to provide an insight into the various research activities at the forum.

Where possible, contributions should address one of the following key areas:

1. Climate change and natural hazards (e.g. changes in the atmosphere, adaptation strategies, protective measures, etc.)
2. Natural resources and biodiversity (e.g. resource use and conservation, energy, water, agriculture, etc.)
3. Society and transformation (e.g. economy, demography, education, gender, health, etc.)
4. Politics and law (e.g. legal systems, international relations, etc.)

To submit your paper, please register via the Conference Manager for the Early-Career Session and send the title, list of authors, a short abstract (max. 500 words) and the thematic focus under which you would classify your presentation by 23 December 2026  to clara.athenstaedt@geo.uni-halle.de (please also contact this email address if you have any questions).
A selection committee will then decide on the acceptance of your talk. You will receive a response by 15 January 2027.