Marshall University will host the Appalachian Studies Association's annual conference, "The Road Ahead: The Next Thirty Years of Appalachian Studies," on March 28 through March 30.

The conference is open to anyone interested in Appalachia, including community members, students, artists, professionals and teachers.

The conference offers 117 sessions to discuss Appalachian topics such as identity, diversity, coal and education. Some of the goals include shedding the hillbilly reputation, revealing the complexity of the coal industry and discussing diverse techniques about teaching in Appalachian schools.

Late/on-site registration is available for the registration fee of $130. Students pay $80. Registration is 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Friday, March 28, in the basement of the Memorial Student Center. Saturday registration runs from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

For more information, go to www.appalachianstudies.org/conference or call Chris Green, at (304) 696-6269.

Here are some of the events planned:

Friday, March 28

• 4 to 5 p.m. The Road Ahead: A Town Hall Meeting in the Smith Music Recital Hall. Participants will learn about the long-range plan for the association.
• 5 p.m. Welcome to West Virginia Reception in the lobby of the Memorial Student Center.
• 6 p.m. Banquet with keynote speaker, Silas House in the Don Morris Room of the student center.
• 7:30 p.m. Reception of Inter-Generational Mixing in the student center lobby.
• 8 p.m. Fighting (with Music) for Tradition in Smith Recital Hall featuring dulcimer players Dave Haas and Katie Stricker; punk band Killer Panther; and Public Outrage.

Saturday, March 29

• 11 a.m. Taking the High Road, A Plenary Session Mountaintop Removal & Sustainable Development at Smith Music Recital Hall. Judy Bonds (from Coal River Mountain Watch) will speak about ongoing realities of mountaintop removal. Martin Richards (from the High Road Initiative) will speak about sustainable economic development options for the coalfields.
• 12:30 p.m. lunch and awards in the Don Morris Room at the student center.
• 1:30 p.m. Saturday, book signings in the student center lobby
• 5:30 p.m. Saturday Reception and Jam in the student center lobby.
• 8 p.m. Saturday Night Music in Smith Recital Hall featuring old-time banjo and fiddle player Bernard Cyrus; fiddle and banjo players Tim and Dave Bing and MC Gerry Milnes of the Augusta Heritage Center.

Sunday, March 30

• 11 a.m. Youth Voice and Farewell Brunch in the Don Morris Room of the student center. Machlyn Blair and other mountain youth speak about the future through the media that they have created.