CLR/CAORC Grants for Short-Term Research in Portugal and/or Lusophone Africa

Administered under the auspices of the Center for Lusophone Research (CLR), these grants will be for researchers in the arts, humanities, or social sciences based at US institutions who wish to conduct innovative research on topics pertaining to Lusophone culture, politics, or society, with a particular emphasis on Luso-Africa. The grants are designed to support advanced research focused on regional, cross-regional, and cross-disciplinary aspects of the Lusophone world. Initial funding is offered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC). Grants are primarily intended for travel to enable scholars to reach sources and archives that are difficult to access. Grants may be used to travel to archives and/or conduct research in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, or São Tomé and Príncipe. Each grant will cover up to the amount of $3000.

This fellowship program is offered in concert with, and as a counterpart to, the Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD) Grant Program for Lecturing and Research in the US, which offers residencies for research and teaching at US universities. It is the hope of FLAD, CLR, and CAORC that these programs will grow into a robust exchange program that will support the expansion of Lusophone Studies.

For more information, please see caorc.org/clr.

CAORC Welcomes New Member Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
Dr. Mary Ellen Lane, Executive Director, Council of American Overseas Research Centers; 202-633-1599; lane.maryellen@caorc.org  
Ms. Robin Presta Boone, Program Director, Council of American Overseas Research Centers; 202-633-1599; boone.robin@caorc.org

CAORC WELCOMES A NEW AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH CENTER
AS A MEMBER OF ITS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION

At their meeting on April 14, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers voted to accept the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS) as a full member of CAORC.

The ANHS was founded in 1971 as the Nepal Studies Association, with support from the Ford Foundation.  In 1999, to reflect a widening member base and area of interest, the association broadened its mandate to cover the entire Himalayan region and adjacent mountain areas (High Asia), and adopted its current name.  In 2010, ANHS became a Center in Developing Status with CAORC to reflect its growing focus on supporting research. 

The President of the ANHS Board, Professor Mary M. Cameron, Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, will represent ANHS on the CAORC Board of Directors.

ANHS joins the CAORC federation of 24 affiliated American overseas research centers in 26 countries in Europe, Latin America, the Near and Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, and Central, South, and Southeast Asia.  U.S. and host-country educational institutions rely on the centers to fund and support research and study overseas.  Currently, almost 500 universities, colleges, museums, libraries, and other institutions in 29 countries hold 1,271 memberships in CAORC member centers around the world. 

About CAORC (http://caorc.org/): The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is the not-for-profit federation of 24 affiliated American overseas research centers in 26 countries: an organization with no analogue in American academe, industry, or government. CAORC initiates and successfully administers major innovative single and multi-country projects focusing on higher education and research, peace building, capacity building, and women’s empowerment; works to expand its member centers’ resource bases and service capacities; helps build capacity for host-country institutions; assists in the creation of new centers; and works to build bridges between the people of the United States and other countries around the world.  

Although physically located at the Smithsonian Institution, CAORC is an independent 501(c)(3) organization, as are all its member centers. With their solid, long-standing networks of in-country contacts, the centers facilitate access to local research resources, create programs and projects that increase knowledge about these countries and regions, provide a forum for contact and exchange, offer library and technical support and accommodation, provide fellowships, and disseminate information through conferences, workshops, and publications. 

The centers’ private structure and the unbiased research they promote make them respected foci of American academia in the countries where they operate. Through their permanent, independent, non-political presence in the host countries and regions, the centers are an integral part of the host countries’ intellectual infrastructure; partner regularly with host-country institutions and scholars on fellowships, conferences, and workshops; serve as a collegial meeting ground for large numbers of American, host-, and third-country students and scholars; and are the primary vehicle through which American scholars carry out research vital to our understanding of and interaction with other cultures.

About ANHS (http://anhs-himalaya.org/): ANHS is the oldest academic organization devoted to the study of the Himalaya in the United States. Members include universities, major libraries, scholars, students, resource and development professionals, and other Himalayan-region residents and enthusiasts. ANHS members work or live in or are experts on Bhutan, Nepal, the Indian Himalaya, Pakistan, Tibet, Afghanistan and Central Asia. ANHS has over 25 institutional members, and nearly 300 individual members.

The ANHS peer-reviewed journal, HIMALAYA, publishes original research and serves as a clearinghouse of information about regional publications, conferences, grant and study opportunities and research in progress. ANHS organizes conferences and symposia, sponsors photography exhibits and other outreach efforts, and issues an annual prize for the best graduate student paper and an annual senior fellowship to support research in the region.

ANHS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization governed by its Constitution and By-laws.

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CAORC Receives a Major Grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:
Dr. Mary Ellen Lane, Executive Director, Council of American Overseas Research Centers; 202-633-1599; lane.maryellen@caorc.org 
Ms. Robin Presta Boone, Program Director, Council of American Overseas Research Centers; 202-633-1599; boone.robin@caorc.org


CAORC Receives a Major Grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) has been awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support a regional fellowship program enabling pre- and early post-doctoral scholars to conduct research in countries bordering the Mediterranean.

Linking three continents, 21 nations, and three world religions, the Mediterranean has long served as a central highway, bringing a shared history to countries now realigned by 20th century boundaries. The geographical proximity of countries that circle the Mediterranean has contributed to extensive and intensive interchanges at all levels, with concomitant transmission of ideas in the political, social, religious, economic, artistic, architectural, and technological realms. Many parts of this large area share natural linkages stemming from historical relationships dating back thousands of years. Artificially interrupted by border demarcations in the 20th century, many of the countries in this region are now at the heart of great political, economic, and religious developments that are once again redefining our world view. Despite these natural linkages, a regional approach to academic disciplines in this area has yet to be fully developed.

This focused regional fellowship program will enable pre- and early post-doctoral scholars to carry out research in the humanities and related social sciences in countries bordering the Mediterranean and served by the following American overseas research centers:

• American Academy in Rome
• American Center for Oriental Research in Amman
• American Institute for Maghrib Studies, with centers in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and a nascent center in Libya
• American Research Center in Egypt
• American Research Center in Sofia
• American Research Institute in Turkey
• American School of Classical Studies at Athens
• Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute
• Palestinian American Research Center
• W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem

CAORC will fund ten to fourteen fellowships per cycle (according to fellowship duration) for three annual cycles. Fellowship duration will range from three to nine months. Following from the success of CAORC’s Multi-country Regional Fellowship Program, now in its 20th year, fellows may conduct research in one or more Mediterranean-area countries, provided that at least one country of research hosts an American overseas research center.

Additional information about the Mediterranean Regional Fellowship program, including application instructions and deadlines, will be available at caorc.org in late spring 2013.


About CAORC: The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is the not-for-profit federation of 23 affiliated American overseas research centers in 25 countries: an organization with no analogue in American academe, industry, or government. CAORC initiates and successfully administers major innovative single and multi-country projects focusing on higher education and research, peace building, capacity building, and women’s empowerment; works to expand its member centers’ resource bases and service capacities; helps build capacity for host-country institutions; assists in the creation of new centers; and works to build bridges between the people of the United States and other countries around the world. 

Although physically located at the Smithsonian Institution, CAORC is an independent 501(c)(3) organization, as are all its member centers. With their solid, long-standing networks of in-country contacts, the centers facilitate access to local research resources, create programs and projects that increase knowledge about these countries and regions, provide a forum for contact and exchange, offer li­brary and technical support and accommodation, provide fellowships, and dissemi­nate information through con­ferences, workshops, and publications. U.S. and host-country educational institutions rely on the centers to fund and support research and study overseas – currently, 486 institutions in 29 countries hold 1,241 memberships in CAORC member centers around the world.

The centers’ private structure and the unbiased research they promote make them respected foci of American academia in the countries where they operate. Through their permanent, independent, non-political presence in the host countries and regions, the centers are an integral part of the host countries’ intellectual infrastructure; partner regularly with host-country institutions and scholars on fellowships, conferences, and workshops; serve as a collegial meeting ground for large numbers of American, host-, and third-country students and scholars; and are the primary vehicle through which American schol­ars carry out research vital to our understanding of and interac­tion with other cultures.

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CEMAT hosts American Studies Grantee Alumni Panel

Last week, CEMAT hosted its annual American Studies Grantee Alumni Panel for 2012-2013 returned grantees. Funded by the Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy in Tunisia, CEMAT has awarded the American Studies Grant to 26 Tunisian scholars since 2005. American Studies Grantees are Ph.D. candidates in American Studies (literature, law, business, social science, language pedagogy) or Tunisian professors working on curriculum development or publications. Grantees generally consult special collections or work with relevant American professors at U.S. universities who have influenced their own work. The American Studies Grant Program gives Tunisian scholars a unique experience of American campus life as well as make use of facilities and materials not available in Tunisia.

This year, our grantees expanded their research areas at U.S. university campuses to include law, public-private partnerships, public opinion surveys and Arab-American studies, in addition to the more traditional scholarly fields in literature and cultural studies. All grantees were extremely excited about their experience with American university campus life and the opportunity to interact with American researchers and scholars who work on similar subjects. One of our grantees was even offered a year-long visiting position at the University of Michigan to help set up a center for Arab-American studies. 

The American Studies Grant program is one of CEMAT’s most important initiatives with significant impact on Tunisian graduate student and faculty careers.  Starting with one single grant in 2005, CEMAT awarded eight grants in 2012 and looks forward to expanding the grant program this coming year, in terms of awardees as well as academic fields. 

2012-2013 American Studies Grantee,
CEMAT Director Laryssa Chomiak and Riadh Saadaoui

Preserving and Developing Living Religious Heritage at a Unique Site Newly Conserved: The Red Monastery Church

View the report from the American Research Center in Egypt's conference on "Preserving and Developing Living Religious Heritage at a Unique Site Newly Conserved: The Red Monastery Church."

Fellow Spotlight: Nathaniel Dominy

Nathaniel Dominy
2008 Multi-Country Research Fellow
Professor of Anthropology, Dartmouth University
Project: Baboons, Stable Isotopes and the Lost Land of Punt
Countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda

1. Why did you apply for the Multi-Country Research Fellowship?
It was an exciting and natural fit for my research focus. I was exploring the antiquity of trade between Ancient Egypt and neighboring political states.

2. Which centers did you affiliate with?
ARCE - the American Research Center in Egypt

3. Did you have any unexpected discoveries in the field?
Yes, but mainly new interpersonal relationships. I 'discovered' several colleagues with shared and complementary research interests. Through them, I became aware of unpublished information that greatly enhanced my scholarship and multi-country research fellowship experience.

4. How did affiliating with the Overseas Research Centers impact your work?
Very positively. My affiliation with ARCE provided exceedingly valuable practical and logistical support. It was also very stimulating intellectually.

5. What surprised you most about the countries you visited?
I was most surprised by Eritrea, a country with a vast wealth of exciting and important archeological sites that deserve more scholarly attention and preservation.

6. What was the most challenging aspect of your research?
Acquiring research permits - it was at times challenging but also edifying. Patience and cultural sensitivity are central to a successful multi-country research fellowship.

7. How did your project change over the course of your fellowship?
In my case, I came to better appreciate the underlying natural history associated  with the human history in the region.  It inspired new research directions and I was able to photograph key flora and fauna that will augment and highlight the research when it is published.

8. What aspects of your research did you enjoy the most?
Being outdoors and meeting new people and future collaborators. There is really no substitute for visiting the places that you are studying.

9. How will the Multi award impact your future research?
It reinforces my view that interpersonal engagement and the building of intellectual bridges between people and institutions are natural and exciting ways to do research. It often leads to unexpected insights and discoveries. The Multi award is one of few funding opportunities that encourages and facilitates this approach to scholarship.

10. Do you have any advice for future Multi fellows?
Apply!! You can count on an enriching and unforgettable experience!

CAORC fellowships for multi-country research are funded by the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.

Please support CAORC!

Dear Friend,

For more than 30 years, CAORC has promoted advanced scholarly research by U.S. scholars and institutions – and has had a significant impact on every American overseas research center:

• CAORC has worked hard to secure and maintain ongoing U.S. government financial support for the centers, through both the Department of State and Department of Education.
• CAORC has strengthened the original centers by increasing their communication and cooperation.
• CAORC has helped scholars establish new centers in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Sri Lanka, West Africa, and Palestine.
• CAORC has provided fellowships to several thousand American, host-country, and international scholars through a variety of programs.
• Through its Faculty Enrichment initiative, Teaching about Islam and Middle East Cultures collaboration, and an outreach grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, CAORC has increased the capacity of smaller U.S. colleges and community colleges for teaching and public education on international topics and cultures and helped close curriculum gaps for smaller educational institutions with few faculty members in area studies.
• CAORC has provided access to important scholarly research materials for American, host-country, and international scholars through the Digital Library for International Research and by helping many centers acquire and maintain JSTOR subscriptions.

The difference between what the centers were able to accomplish in 1981, when CAORC was founded, and what they are able to accomplish now, thanks to CAORC’s active support, is simply astounding.  And although we have faced difficult times in the last two years, we have achieved two major successes: the reinstatement of some Title VI funds, after the Department of Education eliminated the AORC competition, and the increase in the Department of State/ECA grant to $4,400,000, despite the fractious environment.

But we still have much to do – and we need your help to do it.  Now, more than ever, we need to be able to show federal and private funders that hundreds of scholars, individuals, foundations, and others are standing strongly behind our efforts to strengthen higher education and further international scholarly research.

Please join me in including CAORC in your year-end giving plans and make a gift to enable CAORC to advocate for international education – and for all of our centers – in 2013.

With best wishes for the holidays and the New Year,

Jeanne Marecek, Ph.D.
Chair, Board of Directors
Council of American Overseas Research Centers

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Please click here to donate online or send your check to CAORC at:
P.O. Box 37012, MRC 178
Washington, DC 20013-7012

CAORC is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, academic organization. As described in IRS Publication 526, donations to CAORC are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Video: Storms Across the Sahara, a talk by Leonardo Villalón

On Friday, November 2, 2012, Professor Leonardo Villalón presented a talk, sponsored by CAORC, entitled "Storms Across the Sahara: The Sahel in crisis one year after the fall of Qaddafi." View the lecture below.

Middle East Studies Association Annual Meeting

CAORC cordially invites you to the following events during the 2012 Middle East Studies Association (MESA) Annual Meeting in Denver:

Sunday, November 18th
Decentering Muscat: Makran, Zanzibar and the Omani Empire in the Indian Ocean, c. 1800-1964
Panel 3094 – 8:30 AM
Sponsored by the Association for Gulf & Arabian Peninsula Studies (AGAPS)

Palestine and the Arab Revolutions
Panel 3059 - 11:00 AM
Sponsored by the Palestinian American Research Center (PARC)

Yemen after Saleh
Panel 3025 - 2:00 PM
Sponsored by the American Institute for Yemeni Studies (AIYS)

Political Economy of the Arabian Peninsula, Part II
Panel 3173 – 2:00 PM
Sponsored by the Association for Gulf & Arabian Peninsula Studies (AGAPS)

Colonial, Revolutionary, and Contemporary Libya: Emerging Research
Panel 3080 – 4:30 PM
Sponsored by the American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS)

Monday, November 19th
Tunisian 'Exceptionalism'? Situating the 2011 Revolution and its Aftermath in the Context of
North African Regional Reform
Panel 3071 – 2:30 PM
Sponsored by the American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS)

Tuesday, November 20th
Forgotten Legacy: Palestinians in Kuwait
Sponsored by the Association for Gulf & Arabian Peninsula Studies (AGAPS)
Panel 3012 – 8:30 AM

Please visit our booth (#604-605) in the Book Exhibit for information on CAORC and our Member Centers!

Please see the MESA website for more information and to register for the MESA Annual Meeting.

Storms across the Sahara: a talk by Leonardo A. Villalón

Storms across the Sahara:
The Sahel in crisis one year after the fall of Qaddafi

a talk by
Leonardo A. Villalón
Associate Professor of Political Science and African Studies, University of Florida

Friday, November 2, 2012, 9:30am

Renaissance Hotel
Room: City Center I
1143 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
doors open at 8:45am, light refreshments served