The FIU Colombian Studies Institute, in conjunction with the FIU Latin American and Caribbean Information Center (LACIC), FIU Colombian Students Association, and Mr. J. Noe Herrera of Libros de Colombia, is pleased to sponsor a student conference Colombian Studies at FIU to be held Friday, April 12, 2002, at the FIU University Park Campus. With renewed interest in Colombian research, combined with increasing numbers of Colombian students attending FIU, this conference's objective is to provide a forum for students to present their research papers on Colombian topics. Over the past year, LACiC, with the assistance of Libros de Colombia, has greatly expanded the FIU Libraries' holdings of books, journals, maps and other research materials on Colombia. There is now ample material for students to prepare interesting and insightful research papers on many Colombian topics. Students are encouraged to enter revisions of their past or newly written research papers from their regular FIU course work in the paper competition. Students may wish to start their research at the LACIC web site on Colombian resources at http://lacic.fiu.edu/library/find/colombia.cfm or set up a research session with a LACIC Librarian (for more information, please see http://lacic.fiu.edu).

The research paper competition is open to all FIU registered students. Students wishing to compete in the research paper competition and conference must submit an abstract of their paper, submit a final research paper, and present their paper at the conference on April 12, 2002. A panel of FIU Colombian Studies Institute faculty and staff will judge the papers in separate undergraduate and graduate award categories. The best papers in both the undergraduate and graduate categories will receive $150 awards. First and second runner up papers in each category will receive $50 awards. Paper competition awards will be presented at the end of the conference. See below for the competition and conference details.

Paper Abstract: No later than February 1, 2002, students must submit an abstract of their paper. This submission should include the paper's title, a maximum of 150 word abstract (summary) of the paper, and the student's name, major department/program, year in school, and contact information (email address, telephone numbers, and mail address). Submit the paper abstract to the FIU Colombian Studies Institute, University Park, DM 353, Attn: Research Paper Competition.

Final Papers: No later than March 29, 2002, students must submit their final paper. As one of the objectives of the paper competition is to encourage students to access the growing FIU Libraries' holdings of Colombian materials, all papers must be academic research papers with a substantial bibliography. The papers may be on any Colombian topic and from any academic discipline. The papers may use any ontological, theoretical, or methodological approach. Undergraduate papers should be 12-15 double-spaced pages in length, including bibliography. Graduate papers should be 15-20 double-spaced pages in length, including bibliography. Title pages should include the paper's title and the student's name, major department/program, year in school, and contact information (email address, telephone numbers, and mail address). A panel of FIU Colombian Studies Institute faculty and staff will judge all papers submitted. Along with the final paper, students should submit a digital copy of the paper on a 3 ½ inch computer disk. Papers judged of superior quality will be posted on the Colombian Studies Institute web site. Submit the final paper and computer disk to the FIU Colombian Studies Institute, University Park, DM 353, Attn: Research Paper Competition.

Paper Presentations: On Friday, April 12, 2002, students will present their final papers at the conference on Colombian Studies at FIU. Papers will be grouped into panels of similar topics. Moderators and/or discussants will be assigned to each panel. Each student will be given a maximum of 15 minutes to present his or her paper and research findings. Panel audiences will be given time to ask students questions about their papers. At the end of the conference, paper competition awards will be announced. Papers not presented at one of the conference panels are not eligible for awards.

For questions about the research paper competition and conference, please contact Dr. Michael W. Collier, Research Director, FIU Latin American and Caribbean Center, at 305-348-2894 or at collierm@fiu.edu.