The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is hosting its fourth "Introduction to Asia Conference" on Thursday in the University Center auditorium. The free conference, which is open to the public, will feature presentations on the economies of China and India, Taoist meditation and tai chi.

"For those who study socio-cultural changes in the face of economic growth, India is a fascinating story. In a land that birthed several leading world religions, modernization is taking place on the back of a visible cult of wealth and 'in spite of the gods,'" said Dr. Bento Lobo, one of the featured speakers.

The conference will begin at 12:15 p.m. with an introduction by Dr. Roger Brown, UTC chancellor.

12:20 p.m. "China and India: Asia's Economic Giants," presented by Dr. Yasmeen Mohiuddin, Ralph Owen Distinguished Professor of Economics at The University of the South at Sewanee.

1:15 p.m. "India: The Changing Economic and Cultural Landscape" by Dr. Bento Lobo, First Tennessee Bank Distinguished Professorship in the UTC College of Business.

2:10 p.m. "The Top Ten Things Americans Should Know About East Asia" by Dr. Lucien Ellington, co-director of the Asia Program and UC Foundation Professor of Education.

2:55 p.m. Essentials of Taoist Meditation by Dr. Stephen E. Eskildsen, UTC professor of religion specializing in Taoism and Chinese religion Taoism.

3:40-4 p.m. "Cultural Ideas Behind Tai Chi" by Dr. Zibin Guo and the Chattanooga Tai Ji community. Guo is a UTC Foundation Professor of Anthropology.