A New Academic Initiative in Kyrgyzstan.

Established last year, the Central Asia Research Institute – Faith and Reason is gaining momentum. The first edition of BISHKEK MEETINGS took place on 14–15 May. These are academic and popularisation meetings aimed at both students and young scientists.

As part of the first meeting, two scientists came to Bishkek at the invitation of the Institute: Dr Kamil Wielecki from the Faculty of "Artes Liberales" at the University of Warsaw, and Dr Denis Aleksandrovich Biegcin from Lomonosov Moscow State University. The most important events took place at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University in Bishkek and at the American University of Central Asia. The audience, which included not only students but also lecturers, heard a lecture on Christian sacred architecture. There was an interesting discussion on the contemporary anthropological challenges facing Kyrgyzstan (Dr Kamil Wielecki has been researching the culture and society of this country for many years).

Controversy was inevitable. During the lectures and discussions, there were many interesting exchanges of views. This is proof of the diversity of academic and cultural perspectives. These discussions demonstrate the need for an exchange of views, which ultimately leads to the enrichment of scientific perspectives. This enriches not only the students, but also the lecturers themselves. And this is the main goal of the BISHKEK MEETINGS!

It is worth remembering that the Institute is also responsible for the Summer Theological School (a three-year academic programme for lay leaders of the Church in Central Asia countries), which has been running for four years. In the summer, on the initiative of the Institute, a group of students from the Ignatianum University in Krakow will come to Kyrgyzstan to conduct an ethnographic and cultural research project promoting Kyrgyz culture in Poland. The Institute can boast its first publications (articles in academic journals), and its representatives are active participants in international conferences. Plans for the near future include the reissue of a book that was the fruit of an academic conference organised by the Society of Jesus in 2019. The publication is entitled CHRISTIANITY IN KYRGYZSTAN - history and modernity. The possibility of publishing it in English is also being considered.

The BISHKEK MEETINGS series are ultimately planned to take place twice a year, in May and September.