Call for Interdisciplinary Research Group Proposals
The Miami Consortium, a collaboration between the University of Miami’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) and Florida International University’s Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC), is pleased to announce the recipients of the fall 2010 Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) awards. The IRG Committee comprised of faculty members from both institutions selected grantees from among many outstanding proposals.
IRGs are teams of faculty members and graduate students that examine issues of common scholarly interest regarding Latin America and the Caribbean. The goal of these groups is to encourage intellectual interaction, cross-disciplinary exploration, and the sharing of knowledge and experiences among faculty and graduate students from across the schools and colleges at UM and FIU. Groups meet regularly to carry out self-directed activities and projects. Of particular interest are projects that integrate researchers from the traditional area study core disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and researchers from the professional schools such as Law, Communication, Medicine, Education, Environmental Science and others.
Interdisciplinary Research Grant Recipients (project title and principal investigator)
- “The Dynamics of Coupled Human-Natural Systems in the Forests of Southern Mexico: Community Conservation, Forest Cover Process, and Climate Change (CONCLIMATE)” (David Barton Bray)
- “Dictatorships, Ill-Liberal Democracies and Democratic Transitions in Latin America” (Bruce Bagley)
- “Childhood in Latin American and the Caribbean, Past and Present” (Traci Ardren)
- “Disaster Mitigation and Social Renaissance in Ica, Peru” (Richard Weisskoff)
- “Violence in Central America” (Cristina Eguizabal)
- “Culture and Creative Industries” (George Yudice)
- “The Haiti Research Group” (Kate Ramsey)
- “Atlantic Studies” (Tim Watson)
$1,000 IRGs
These groups hold regular meetings, sponsor talks and/or small conferences, and promote individual and collaborative publications and member participation at conferences and symposia. Applications may be submitted by any UM or FIU faculty member and must include at least one additional faculty member from another department, school, or program. All IRGs must have participants from both universities. $1,000 IRGs may use their funds to support IRG meeting expenses (including low-cost lunches), modest honoraria for outside speakers, essential group operational costs (photocopies, office supplies), etc. The $1,000 IRG grant period begins November 15, 2010 and ends on May 31, 2011. $1,000 IRG recipients will be eligible for up to two renewals. There will be no extension of funding beyond the official end date and unused funding cannot be rolled over.
$5,000 Seed Money IRGs
These IRGs must carry out the same activities as the $1,000 IRGs, as well as identify, design, write and submit one or more grant proposals for funding from major foundations and/or other sources external to UM and FIU. Funds may be used for travel, research assistance, on-campus meetings, conference and workshop participation, data collection, or other expenses related to grant proposal preparation. The funding cannot be used for faculty salary support. While the purpose of a Seed Money IRG is to facilitate the pursuit of sponsored project funding, these IRGs are expected to maintain a campus presence and involve and enrich the UM and FIU communities. The $5,000 Seed Money IRG grant period begins November 15, 2010 and ends May 31, 2012. Successful $5,000 IRG recipients that demonstrate a concerted effort to apply for outside funding will be eligible for up to one renewal. There will be no extension of funding beyond the official end date and unused funding cannot be rolled over.
Reporting Requirements: All IRGs are solely responsible for tracking of expenditures and are required to provide CLAS with an IRG financial and narrative report outlining the progress and impact of the group at the conclusion of each semester under which the grant is issued. Failure to submit reports will result in a freeze of grant funding and reimbursements. Any IRG sponsored events must have the Miami Consortium for Latin American and Caribbean Studies logo on all publicity materials. CLAS and LACC must receive credit in the publication of any scholarly work resulting from a funded IRG or any initiative, research project, or activity originated in the IRG for the duration of that project. A copy of the published work and any other relevant information should be submitted to both Centers.
For more information please contact Jordan Adams at 305-284-1854 or jadams@as.miami.edu.