What is SLAS?

SLAS was founded in 1964 and is one of the leading Latin American studies organizations in Europe. We hold an annual conference in March/April, an Annual Lecture and publish the Bulletin of Latin American Research (BLAR). We have around 400 members. While most are academics and PhD students, members also include diplomats, journalists, and research analysts from business and non-governmental organisations.

Excellent Research
SLAS members deepen knowledge and understanding about Latin America, primarily through engaging in field research and theoretical enquiry. Our members’ work contributes to high RAE rankings and some have a significant influence on the subject, breaking new intellectual ground and earning an international reputation.

Multidisciplinarity
Latin Americanists have a natural inclination to produce multidisciplinary work, now top of the agenda for funding agencies. Our journals and conferences feature work from across the social sciences and arts disciplines. This promotes the cross-fertilization of ideas, approaches and methodologies leading to innovative and perceptive research.

Community
Some Latin Americanists work in dedicated Institutes but many work as individuals within disciplinary departments. SLAS links us all within a very special community distinguished by its friendliness and its habit of looking past academic hierarchies to engage with the thoughts of fellow scholars, be they research students or professors.

News

Prize Winners

Michael Kent has been awarded the 2008 Harold Blakemore Prize for his essay "The Making of Customary Territories"

Gabriel Paquette has won the 2008 JISLAC Essay Prize for his essay "Jose da Silva Lisboa and the Vicissitudes of Enlightened Reform in Brazil"

Congratulations to you both!

SLAS Annual Lecture

James Painter, a journalist for the BBC World Service, will present the annual lecture on “Climate Change and Latin America”. The lecture will take place in London in October: details to follow shortly. For a profile, click here.

SLAS Conference Report

The 2008 SLAS Conference report is now available. To view it please click here [Word].

New PILAS Committee

Postgraduates in Latin American Studies (PILAS) has a new committee and is planning events for next year. For further details on how to join or
get involved click here.

Funding Deadlines
31 Aug 08: JISLAC Postgraduate Travel Grants