Inner Asian and Uralic
National Resource Center

The Association of Central Eurasian Students (ACES) at Indiana University hosted the 28^th annual ACES conference virtually on Saturday, February 12, 2022. The ACES conference provides students at IU and universities around the world with an opportunity to gain experience in presenting their research in a formal academic setting. In 2022, 23 scholars from eight universities and five countries joined IU students and faculty on panels whose topics ranged from history and theology to contemporary sports and international relations.

ACES welcomed back Dr. Daniel Prior to deliver the featured presentation at the 2022 conference. Dr. Prior, now a Professor in the Department of History at Miami University, earned his PhD in the Department of Central Eurasian Studies at IU in 2002. During his time at IU, he was instrumental in organizing the ACES conference, starting the tradition of hosting a featured speaker when he invited Dr. Peter B. Golden to present the Inaugural Central Eurasian Studies Lecture in 2001. More than two decades later, ACES was honored to invite Dr. Prior to present a lecture of his own, titled “Steppe Horizons of Indo-European Myth,” which explored common elements of orally composed myths and epic poetry in the traditions of various groups that historically practiced steppe nomadism.

In addition to the interesting and informative papers that were presented, the conference also typically provides a forum for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional networking. Despite the 2022 conference being held entirely virtually, the ACES team was able to incorporate this aspect by holding an informal networking event following the conclusion of the panels. This event allowed students from different departments, universities, and countries to meet and discuss their current and future research projects on the Central Eurasian region.

ACES would like to thank the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center for their generous financial support for the 28^th Annual ACES Conference.