Diener to give three presentations at Northern State

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – The Northern State University College of Arts and Sciences is bringing the first in a potential series of academic speakers to campus this month.

Dr. Alexander C. Diener, an associate professor of geography at the University of Kansas, will give three presentations on Oct. 24 and 25. They are:

“New Roads Across the Mongolian Plains: Consequences of Axial Development”; 3:30-4:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24; Harvey C. Jewett IV Regional Science Education Center room 231.

“Five Keys to Success in Graduate School”; 4:30-5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24; Harvey C. Jewett IV Regional Science Education Center room 231.

“Identity Landscapes of Central Asia: Kazakhstan or Kazakhstani-stan”; noon-12:50 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25; Technology Center room 368.

Diener’s thematic interests include political, social and economic geography; international relations; and political sociology. Much of his research has focused on the Central Eurasian states, Northeast Asia, and the Islamic borderlands of Russia and China. He has authored/co-authored three books, co-edited three volumes, and published in a wide array of disciplinary and area-studies journals.

At Northern, Diener’s lecture, “New Roads Across the Mongolian Plains,” will consider how roads produce connection and separation simultaneously using Mongolia as a microcosm of broader efforts to reshape the geography of Eurasia. With “Identity Landscapes of Central Asia,” Diener will discuss the global dynamics of state-building that pull Kazakhstan in two directions—one focused on civic nationalism while the other prioritizes ethnic nationalism.

All three of his presentations at Northern are free and open to the public. Two of the events will take place in the Jewett Regional Science Education Center, Northern’s newest academic facility.

“The new Jewett Regional Science Education Center offers several excellent venues for these types of academic events ranging from smaller meetings to larger lectures, all equipped with the latest audio visual technologies,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Joshua Hagen.

The hope is that Diener’s visit to the campus is the first of many such events. Hagen said the College of Arts and Sciences hopes to work with community partners to create an annual guest speaker series. For more information, contact Hagen at Joshua.Hagen@northern.edu.