Harry WIDIANTO

UISPP (International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences), having organized numerous large world congresses with thousands of participants, presently intends to voluntarily develop its presence in tropical southern countries. In that perspective, Southeast Asian Commission’s networks, especially in Indonesia, were missioned to organize in 2025 an inter-congress conference in Asia. This non-recurrent conference will not replicate at a smaller scale any world congress. It will represent for its participants an attractive original scientific experience, matching Asian prehistoric and anthropological research, conservation and development needs. Encouraged symposia and sessions proposed by participants will address major chapters of human history that were written in mainland and island Asia, often under a comparative viewpoint with other geographical areas (knowing UISPP’s worldwide dimension), or developing cutting-edge methodological approaches. However, many meeting topics will go beyond the frontiers of prehistory, looking forward to Bridging Science, Heritage and Development: they will include visits, events and encounters illustrating the challenges they address. Specific attention will be paid to involve students and young scholars and help them to publish. The event will also include the discovery of Indonesian prehistoric heritage treasures, sites (Sangiran Dome World Heritage), original human fossils (most having never been exhibited), artefacts and faunal collections.