An International Symposium on Ecopoetics, Ekphrasis and Gary Snyder Studies was held at Hunan University (HNU) from Nov. 13 to 15. It was co-organized by HNU’s College of Foreign Languages and the Center for Gary Snyder Studies. Nearly 200 scholars and experts from China as well as the U.S.A., Japan, South Korea, Portugal and Finland attended the symposium.

This symposium is the first international conference probing into ecopoetics and ekphrasis and also the only in domestic to integrate ecological concepts into motif design. It aims to expand the study of the interconnectedness between literature, ecology and culture, to explore the latest trends and to share academic information on eco-critical and ekhorastic studies. Special attention was paid to the Poet Laureate of Deep Ecology Gary Snyder and his works, providing a space for ecocritics to present and discuss their current research in a highly-stimulating and collaborating environment. Gary Snyder extended congratulations to the symposium via a video.

HNU Vice President Cao Yijia delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the university. Prof. Patrick Murphy, one of the initiator of this symposium, and Liu Zhengguang, dean of HNU College of Foreign Languages addressed at the opening ceremony. The symposium was presided over by Prof. Joan Qionglin Tan, deputy dean of HNU College of Foreign Languages and director of the Center for Gary Snyder Studies.

World famous experts Prof. Anthony Hunt, Patrick Murphy, Mark Gonnerman, James Warren, Shigeyoshi Hara, Julia Martin and ulianne Warren were invited to share their current research. 22 distinguished experts lectured in panels and over 40 scholars conducted discussions in groups. The symposium collected 99 paper abstracts, including 14 from abroad. Beyond that, 40 domestic and overseas attendees applied for the membership of the Center for Gary Snyder Studies, making the membership approaching to 100.

Snyder’s ecological ideas and works are popular among scholars throughout the world. Prof. Joan Qionglin Tan led to found the Center for Gary Snyder Studies in 2015, with Patrick Murphy’s participation as a distinguished professor. The Center will continue to accumulate and share academic information, and organize more international communications, to acquire more achievements in such research fields.

For more about Gary Snyder and the Center for Gary Snyder Studies, please refers to http://www.garysnydercenter.com/e_index.php