The College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Fresno hosts a three-day Middle East Studies Conference beginning Thursday, Oct. 7, bringing 60 scholars from around the United States to discuss modern aspects of Middle Eastern culture.

Topics include arts, history, literature, language, political economy and international relations.

Dr. Nancy Gallagher, chair of Middle East Studies and a history professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will deliver the keynote speech on “Teaching about Women and Gender in the Modern Middle East.” She speaks at 5 p.m. Thursday in the University Business Center Room 191.

The symposium, “‘East’ meets ‘West’: Science, Mathematics, Philosophy, Economics and the Islamic Civilization,” is Friday’s highlight (10:30 a.m. at the same venue). The symposium includes a panel featuring scholars from Columbia University and Georgetown University.

For a full list of conference activities visit www.csufresno.edu/mesp/news_events/me_conference/program.shtml.

The conference closes with a performance by UC Santa Barbara’s Middle East Ensemble at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Concert Hall in the Music Building.

The keynote speech, symposium and performance are free and open to the public.

To attend the entire conference, pre-registration is $100. The charge will be $125 at the door. Student registration is $25.

For more information on registration, go towww.csufresno.edu/mesp/news_events/me_conference/registration.shtml.

(Copy by University Communications news intern Christy Patron)