The Norwegian Latin America Research Network was established in 2008 with the support of the Research Council of Norway. It forms a part of a strategy initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Research and Education to establish a permanent environment for the strengthening of knowledge about Latin America in Norway. The two other pillars of this strategy are the establishment of a program for Latin America research at the Norwegian Research Council and the signing of cooperation agreements with Universities in Latin America.

A report commissioned by the MFA and MRE found that there is significant expertise on various themes and in various academic fields related to Latin America in Norway. Individual researchers all have important networks in Latin America and many have extended research experience in the region. However, researchers are relatively spread out on different institutions and there is a lack of communication between different researchers in Norway as well as between researchers and potential user groups.

The creation of a network between researchers in Norway with a full time network secretariat was proposed as means to advance towards a better integrated environment for Norwegian Latin America research.

The network secretariat was established at the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) at the University of Oslo after an open competition between academic institutions in Norway. Photos and speeches from the official opening are available here.

In December 2008, a reference group for the NorLARNet was established. The reference group advises the network secretariat on strategies, choice of activities and serves as a committee for awarding the NorLARNet scholarships and funds for organization of seminars. It is composed of researchers and representatives of user groups. It is constituted for a period of two years and had its first meeting in January 2009. Members of reference group: Johannes Nymark,Birger Angvik, Jemima Garcia-Godos, Graciela Rusch, Hege Araldsen, Rune Andersen, Trond Berget, Ellen Vollebæk and Rickard Lalander. The mandate of the reference group and additional information is available here.

The Norwegian Latin America Research Network (NorLARNet) shall consist of institutions and individuals in Norway with research-based knowledge about Latin America and/or with relevance for Latin America. It aims to serve five functions:

• As a meeting place the network shall provide arenas for interaction (i) among Norwegian scholars/researchers of different disciplines and geographic location and between them and key researchers from Latin America and other countries, as well as (ii) between Norwegian scholars/researchers and other groups with an interest in Latin America. The secretariat shall maintain close contact with relevant existing networks in Norway and abroad.

• As a contact point the network shall link groups with different capacity, interest and knowledge about Latin America, and facilitate access to expertise for user groups in Norway. It shall also be a link to networks of scholars in Latin America and Latin America related networks outside the region, and seek to link institutions in Norway and Latin America that may benefit from collaboration.

• As a resource base and an access point it will serve anyone seeking information about Latin America in Norway.

• As a promoter of further research and teaching on Latin America in Norway, it collaborates with the Norwegian Research Council related to the Research Program on Latin America and other relevant programs. It will also aim to strengthen communication between research communities and user groups and promote the development and funding of relevant, cutting-edge research related to Latin America.

• As a "think-tank" it will conduct and publish analyses of key events and developments related to Latin America with relevance for the activities of the members of the network.

The NorLARNet web-page will aim at providing information about Latin America research in Norway, make announcements of interest to Latin America researchers and to be a site for debate about Latin America related issues.
To inform about activities and seminars, comment on recent events in Latin America, or make research projects or publications known through the website, contact the network secreteriat: norlarnet@sum.uio.no.

Associate Professor Benedicte Bull Mobile phone: (+47) 40 20 44 38 | Telephone: (+47) 22 85 89 02 | E-mail: benedicte.bull@sum.uio.no

Erik Berge Telephone: (+47) 22 85 89 06 | E-mail: erik.berge@sum.uio.no