Dear colleagues and friends, Hope you've been doing well. Glad to have seen many of you at the AAS! I'm sharing the talk information below on behalf of Dr. Susan Huang. Please consider attending if you are interested! *April 5, 2023 *4:00pm - 5:15pm CDT Rice University Transnational Asia Speaker Series *Sonya S. Lee | What Can Restoring Colossal Buddhas Do for Nature Conservancy and Cultural Preservation? * In recent years, several high-profile restorations of centuries-old Buddhist monuments in southwest China have raised questions about the value and method of preserving religious icons in a society that reveres tradition but also has a long history of heritage destruction. Focusing on the case of the Laitan Buddha in Hechuan, this lecture brings a sustainability perspective to the debate by discussing how conservation practices and community involvement can contribute to a religio-environmental ethic that encompasses both nature conservancy and cultural preservation. Registration is required to attend via Zoom: https://riceuniversity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IbvRyfmBTQKl-QbThpvgyA Warm wishes, Ya Zuo Secretary, Society for Song, Yuan, and Conquest Dynasties Studies