2006 Media Releases
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
La Trobe University launches new Centre for Mexican Studies
La Trobe University will launch a new Centre for Mexican Studies this Friday, 15 September – building on its reputation as a leading centre for Latin American Studies in Australia.
The initiative will be launched at the University’s inaugural Annual Mexico Symposium by the Mexican Ambassador, Mrs Martha Ortiz, and the Centre’s Director, Barry Carr.
Dr Carr says the Centre will bring a distinguished Mexican scholar or intellectual to Melbourne for about a month each year, based at the University’s main campus at Bundoora.
This year’s inaugural Visiting Mexicanist is Dr Guillermo Palacios, Director of the Center for Historical Studies at El Colegio de Mexico.
A second distinguished speaker will be the Mexican novelist and cultural critic, Professor Margo Glantz from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Other speakers come from Victoria, New South Wales and New Zealand.
The one-day symposium will deal with aspects of Mexican culture, politics, history – both pre- Columbian and post-colonial – as well as film and language.
Dr Carr says Mexico is a growing economic power, has the second largest population in Latin America, some 105 million, and since 1994 has been a member, with the USA and Canada, of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Since its establishment in the late 1960s, La Trobe University has pioneered courses about Mexican history, society, literature and culture in Australia. More than 7,000 students have been introduced to Mexico through its teaching.
A number of distinguished La Trobe scholars have made internationally recognised contributions to academic research on Mexico, including historians Dr Inga Clendinnen, Dr Carr, and Dr Steve Niblo, and archaeologist Professor Peter Mathews.
• The launch will be held at 9.30 am in the John Scott Meeting House on the University’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora, Melway Reference La Trobe University, G5.
For further information:
For interviews or further information, please contact Barry Carr, Tel: (03) 9479 2038 or email b.carr@latrobe.edu.au.
See also:
Institute of Latin American Studies
Latin American Studies Program