On 4 September 2026, the 1st AIASEAS/TLSA Ibero-America Symposium took place, with the theme: Timor-Leste and South-East Asia as fields of reflection: multi-situated perspectives. This symposium, held in a hybrid format, received significant support from institutions in Dili that hosted researchers and other participants, namely: the Centro Nacional Chega!, the Human Rights Centre at the Universidade Nacional de Timor Lorosa’e, and the Portuguese Embassy in Dili / Camões Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua.
The programme comprised 12 panels and a book launch, including A vida social das casas sagradas no Timor-Leste pós-colonial by Renata Nogueira da Silva, published by AIASEAS Press.
The programme and the book of abstracts for this symposium are available on the Symposium website: https://simposio-2026.aiaseas.org/en/. The Conference Proceedings will be published in 2027, bringing together articles submitted by participants and subject to a peer-review process.
Also worthy of note is the significant contribution of Maria Johanna Schouten, who delivered the opening lecture entitled Memories of Insulinde in East and West – Colonial times and beyond.
This symposium took place following the 14th EuroSEAS Conference, which comprised 12 thematic sessions featuring around 90 panels, round-table discussions, workshops and film screenings. The conference also benefited from AIASEAS collaboration and participation by several of its members.