Collaboration and knowledge exchange are increasingly recognized as the cornerstones of initiatives to preserve the traditional knowledge encoded in languages. This conference aims to share ideas, expertise, and experiences to explore how best to promote and support research to deepen our understanding of the role of local/indigenous knowledge in the development of sustainable economic initiatives that will benefit the communities themselves. It is an interdisciplinary meeting place for academia, as well as community members, artists, and creative entrepreneurs.

The conference is hosted by the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, which has conducted research over the past 40 years on linguistic and cultural issues from a humanistic social perspective by adopting a broad-disciplinary approach, with a special focus on research for the promotion, conservation and revitalization of ethnic groups. UNESCO has declared 2019 the "International Year of Indigenous Languages" with the objective of raising awareness to the urgent need to preserve, revitalize, and promote indigenous languages around the world. Significantly, 2019 is also the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, a multicultural community comprising a rich and diverse mix of ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions. With Thailand set to host a meeting of ASEAN members to commemorate this milestone, an ideal opportunity arises to simultaneously host this international interdisciplinary conference.

The conference is part of the activities of the Newton-funded Advanced Fellowship project "DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION OF THE BOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE OF NORTHERN KHMER SPEAKERS: COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BOTANISTS AND LINGUISTS WORKING TOGETHER" that aims to document the knowledge of the surrounding forest, and to study how it is passed on to the younger generation.

We will explore the following question: What are the approaches that will allow us to link well-being and cultural continuity with community control and action? We welcome insights from different disciplines and approaches that provide elements of understanding how this is done. Special themes of the conference focus on:

1. Indigenous knowledge, documentation and preservation
2. Interdisciplinary issues on languages and cultures, ethnobotanical knowledge and well-being
3. Tourism and creative economy in Asia and beyond

1. To create a learning exchange space for the academic community at local, national, and international levels. They will have the opportunity to meet, talk, and exchange knowledge which is beneficial to continue research on indigenous languages and cultures in ASEAN and beyond.
2. To develop an academic cooperation network among local, national, and international scholars and institutions.
3. To promote and encourage the educational and research potential of researchers and students proactively through the exchange of learning from the international conference.
4. To promote research outputs globally.

1. Leadership in driving language and culture research that promotes a holistic approach.
2. The expansion of academic collaboration networks at both local and global levels.
3. The development of potential research and extension of knowledge to research personnel, local communities, students, scholars and the public at large.
4. Increase in publications.