International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies

The International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies was first organized in July 2015 at Chiang Mai University in collaboration with the University of Mandalay. ICBMS1 brought together 543 participants from 29 countries and a wide diversity of backgrounds — scholars, researchers, journalists, NGO workers and observers from Burma/Myanmar, as well as from around the world — to engage in discussion on Myanmar’s transition.

ICBMS2 was held in Mandalay 16-18 February 2018, hosted by the University of Mandalay.

ICBMS3 was planned for October 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The conference was held in early March of 2021, just as the military coup inside Myanmar began to devolve into widespread violence and open conflict. 

ICBMS4 was held again in Chiang Mai, and brought a record number of audience, presenters, and other participants, with a maximum capacity crowd of over 700 people at the opening presentations. 

The conference has continued through a time of tremendous upheaval both worldwide and in Myanmar, and ICBMS4 is scheduled to be hosted by Chiang Mai University in 2024.