SPEAKER: Gabriel McGuire, Nazarbayev University
Abstract: The paradox of the horse in Central Asia is that it appear, at first glance, to simultaneously hold the place of ideal companion and ideal food. In Kazakhstan, the meat of horses above all other animals holds the highest value: its acquisition drives households to band together to collect the money necessary for its purchase; its presence at funerals, weddings, and seasonal celebrations mark these events as qualitatively different from everyday life.

SPEAKER: Naomi Caffee, University of Arizona
Abstract: What are the limits of Russian literature? What factors--language proficiency, citizenship, geographic location, family heritage--qualify someone as "Russian" or "not Russian?" Entering into dialogue with research in Francophone and Sinophone Studies, this talk introduces the transnational framework of “Russophonia” in order to analyze literature produced from within a variety of geopolitical, cultural, sociolinguistic, virtual, and subjective spaces shaped by the Russian language.

From 14th to 22nd of October Sochi hosted one of the most ambitious events of the 21st century – the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students.

Recognizing the growing need for online research, digital citizenship, and 21st-century skill development, AUCA’s Writing and Academic Resource Center (WARC) has launched a joint initiative with AUCA Library with the help of an AMICAL grant.

On November 3, 2017 AUCA Student Senate elections for 2017-2018 academic years were held. Five hundred fifty three AUCA students from all departments have voted to choose the new SS members.

On Monday, 6 November 2017, department of EMSD and Applied Geology have organized a tour for AUCA students to the “Konorchek” canyon.

On Wednesday, November 1st, the American University of Central Asia’s Writing and Academic Resource Center (WARC) celebrated its sixth year of providing tutoring services to the students of AUCA. 

On Thursday, 26 October 2017, Dr. Dorjee Kinlay, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative (United Nations in Kyrgyzstan) has given a guest lecture for AUCA students from Environmental Management Sustainable Development and Applied Geology departments on the topic “The State of Food and Agriculture”.

AUCA new faculty member - Anastasia Valeeva is data journalism lecturer and open data researcher. She has researched the use of open data in investigative data journalism as part of her fellowship at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Oxford.

Meghan McCormack, member of the Law Division faculty has secured 4,000 Euro for AUCA from the AMICAL Consortium to (1) purchase data analysis software to aid AUCA faculty's qualitative and quantitative research, and (2) invite international experts to train AUCA faculty, staff, and students on hosting, managing, and ethically sharing research data.