The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, jointly with the University of Puerto Rico, is accepting proposals for the fifth annual two-week Puerto Rico Winter Institute in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Past Institute topics have included culture, public health, and the environment. The goal of the Institute is to stimulate research, collaboration, and intellectual exchange between Harvard and key institutions of higher learning in Puerto Rico. Two to four faculty members from Harvard and the University of Puerto Rico co-teach the Institute. Approximately twenty-four graduate and professional students from Harvard and the University of Puerto Rica participate. The Puerto Rico Winter Institute is made possible by the generous support of the Wilbur Marvin Foundation.

Students from the 2008 PRWI, "Beyond Babel: the Art and Science of Empathic Translation", Antonio Martorell’s studio in Ponce. Puerto Rico Winter Institute, January 6-21, 2009

The Puerto Rico Winter Institute is a two-week seminar held during the month of January in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The current dates of the institute are tentative, but logistically are preferred to commence after the Three Kings holiday. The following is a summarized timeline of the items which the Faculty Chair would be directly involved with regarding the preparation of the Institute.

Summer

-Initial meeting with DRCLAS staff to conceptualize the 2009 PRWI (determine topics, dates, potential excursion locations, special considerations, etc.)

-Identify and secure participating Harvard faculty (2-3), potentially including remuneration and logistical arrangements (with DRCLAS staff)

-Identify and secure participating UPR faculty (2-3), with input from UPR staff if desired

-Attending planning trip to Puerto Rico to meet UPR counterparts; view classroom, lodging, reception and public lecture sites; determine potential excursion sites, etc…

Fall

-Create syllabus and teaching plan jointly with UPR faculty

-Identify and invite potential public lecture speakers

-Determine dates of public lectures (one per week)

-Identify potential field-related reception invitees

November

-Gather and submit all reading materials for photocopying two months prior to start of institute
-Coordinate reviewal of all Harvard and UPR applicants and select participants

December

-Lead pre-departure meeting for Harvard student participants

PRWI

-Lead welcome dinner with Harvard students on first night of institute

-Lead first day of institute with introductions and overview of activities to all PRWI participants

-Give opening remarks at reception and present gifts to collaborating institutions and faculty members

-Responsible for all final decisions regarding changes in excursions, class time, etc.

-Meet with donors (if necessary)

For more information please contact Yadira Rivera (yrivera@fas.harvard.edu).