With support from a Susan Abbott-Jamieson Award, Kevin Talbert spent Summer, 2013, conducting preliminary fieldwork in Tanzania.  This practicum report is designed to be a handbook for any Anthropology graduate students conducting field research abroad, but It will be of interest to graduate students and other researchers conducting field research, especially internationally, for the first time.  The presentation covers such topics as entering the field, locating an appropriate field site, seeking local institutional affiliations, the research permit process, etc.  This roundtable is designed to be useful for anyone seeking to embark on first fieldwork, not just in Africa but elsewhere as well.  It focuses especially on the preliminary fieldwork stage in preparation for a longer, PhD fieldwork length immersion later. 

With support from a Susan Abbott-Jamieson Award, Kevin Talbert spent Summer, 2013, conducting preliminary fieldwork in Tanzania.  This practicum report is designed to be a handbook for any Anthropology graduate students conducting field research abroad, but It will be of interest to graduate students and other researchers conducting field research, especially internationally, for the first time.  The presentation covers such topics as entering the field, locating an appropriate field site, seeking local institutional affiliations, the research permit process, etc.  This roundtable is designed to be useful for anyone seeking to embark on first fieldwork, not just in Africa but elsewhere as well.  It focuses especially on the preliminary fieldwork stage in preparation for a longer, PhD fieldwork length immersion later. 

***THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS. WE WILL RESCHEDULE AND POST UPDATES WHEN PLANS ARE FINALIZED*** The University of Kentucky Graduate Appalachian Research Community presents the 6th Annual UK Appalachian Research Community Symposium and Arts Showcase on Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the William T. Young Library.  This year's keynote speaker is Lisa Conley, Ph.D. Her research interests focus on foodways, environmental sustainability, and local food politics in motivating the self-provisioning practices of people in rural and urban Kentucky.  Please, find more information about registration or proposal submition here: https://appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu/annual-research-symposium.  The deadline to submit abstracts is February 15, 2015.  Registration for presenters and non-presenters is free.  Undergraduate and Graduate students are welcome to register.

The UK Appalachian Center welcomes Iryna Galushchak, Professor of Economics at Precarpathian National University for a SWAP (Sharing Work on Appalachia in Progress).  Dr. Galushchak will be giving a talk entitled: Economic, Ecological and Cultural Influences on Regional Development in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains.  This is a free event for UK Students, Faculty, and Staff and will be held at the UK Appalachian Center from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2015.

Please, join in the fun at the Lexington Old-Time Music Gathering in Lexington, KY!  This event spans February 12, 2015 through February 15, 2015 and has something for everyone.  This is an opportunity for community engagement, learning about traditional mountain music, and hearing artists perform.  During the Saturday, 2/14/15 event, there will be fun for all ages at the Appalachian Youth Day portion of the event from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission for the Youth Day is free, and there will be workshops, open mic, jam sessions, singing, and dances!  (Please note that a parent must accompany children at all times.)  Please, see the Lexington Old-Time Music Gathering website for detailed information, including a full schedule of performers and events: http://lexoldtime.com/.