NSO-MTA Silk Road Forum & The 3rd ATES Open Science Conference
9-10 September 2025,Budapest,Hungary
(First Circular)
Background
The Silk Road traverses complex terrains and landscapes,including plateaus,the Gobi Desert,oases,mountains,basins,forests,and steppes across Eurasia. It represents rich histories,dynamic human migration and connectivity,diverse environments,intricate geopolitical conflicts,early forms of globalization,and vibrant exchanges in religions,culture, science, and technology. The Silk Road offers a unique opportunity to further understand the long-term interaction between nature and humans throughout centuries. Recognizing the role of the environment in shaping the ancient Silk Road requires an interdisciplinary approach that can offer valuable insights into current climate change adaptation strategies, as well as the regional sustainable development. However, the presence of ethnic, religious, linguistic, and national differences, along with complex geopolitical relationships, has led to significant gaps in the systematic organization and communication of scientific topics.
To fill these gaps,the Association for Trans-Eurasia Exchange and Silk-Road Civilization Development (ATES) was established in 2019 under the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) to enhance our understanding of the interactions between environmental changes,long-term trans-Eurasian exchanges,and Silk Road civilization by fostering interdisciplinary research across natural sciences,social sciences,and humanities throughout Eurasia.
By collaborating with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA),the Research Center for the Humanities of Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN RCH) and Eötvös Loránd University,“ANSO-MTA Silk Road Forum & The 3rd ATES Open Science Conference” will be held on September 9-10,2025 in Budapest,Hungary. This conference will bring together renowned experts and scholars to share the most recent findings on the Silk Road's interdisciplinary research,including,but not limited to,early human dispersal,agricultural and pastoral development,the rise and decline of trade routes,technological advancements and exchanges,the evolution of civilizations,and environmental changes.
The aim of the conference is to strengthen dialogue among the countries of the Silk Road region,encouraging humane responses to the changing environmental,economic,and social challenges and impacts. It will focus on contemporary trends such as sustainability,cross-cultural cooperation,interdisciplinary scientific relations,digitalization and technology,and the appreciation of geopolitics. In this diverse cultural space and cooperative framework symbolized by the Silk Road,Hungary and Budapest aim to serve as mediators and connecting links among the countries,researchers,and cultures of the Eurasian continent. This is also a celebrating event honoring the 200th anniversary of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Date and Location
Date: 9-10 September 2025
Location: Budapest,Hungary
Venues:
Hungarian Academy of Sciences;
Research Center for the Humanities,Hungarian Research Network
Conference Website: https://conferences.koushare.com/ates2025
Themes and Topics
Themes
The Silk Road: a corridor of innovation,civilization,migration,culture,art,science,technology,environmental and climate change
Topics
1)Paleolithic culture and human migration
2)The origin of agriculture and trans-Eurasian diffusion of early farming and herding
3)Evolution and development of the transport network and towns
4)Genetic History of Silk Road Populations
5)Human,environmental and climate interactions: past,present and future
6)Silk Road culture and language studies,and East-West exchange on science and technology
4. Co-organizers
Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO)
Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA)
Association for Trans-Eurasia Exchange and Silk Road Civilization Development (ATES)
Research Center for the Humanities,Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN RCH)
Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences (ITPCAS)
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
HungaryLanzhou University
ChinaCommission of"Silk Road Civilizations and Environments"in International Geographical Union (IGU)
5. Registration and Abstract Submission
1)Please register and submit your abstract from the conference website: https://conferences.koushare.com/ates2025
2)The deadline for registration is 31 May 2025,and the deadline for abstract submission is 31 July 2025.
3)Please make the registration ASAP for those who need to apply for the Schengen visa.
If you have questions,please get in touch with Ms. Siyun Zhang at: syzhang@itpas.ac.cn
6. Secretariat of the Conference
Zsolt Szilágyi: Research Center for the Humanities,Hungarian Research Network. szilagyi.zsolt@abtk.hu
Ailikun: Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences/ATES. aili@itpcas.ac.cn
Kristina Hoppal: Eötvös Loránd University. hoppalk@staff.elte.hu
Katalin Fodor: Hungarian Academy of Sciences. fodor.katalin@titkarsag.mta.hu
Jingyuan Feng: ANSO Secretariat. Jingyuan.feng@anso.org.cn
Zhuo Wang: Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences. wangjoy@itpcas.ac.cn
Siyun Zhang: ATES Secretariat,Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences. syzhang@itpcas.ac.cn
