Press Release
29 March 2011
University of Belize hosts Belize-Mexico Seminar III
The University of Belize (UB) in collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico, the
University of Quintana Roo, Institute for Social and Culture Research the National
Institute for Culture and History (NICH) and the French Institute for Research and
Development (IRD) will hosts the Belize-Mexico Seminar III at UB Jaguar Auditorium,
Central Campus in Belmopan on 4-5 April, 2011.
This year’s Seminar which is entitled: “Social and Cultural dynamics across borders,”
will be opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Hon. Wilfred
Elrington.
The Seminar is the third in a series that was previously hosted by the University of
Quintana Roo in Chetumal, Mexico and is now being hosted for the first time in Belize
by the University of Belize. It will feature the presentation of papers from Belizean,
Mexican and other international scholars and will be conducted under the theme
“Cultural Dynamics across Borders” featuring four panel presentations namely: Art,
Language and Culture, Population and Society and Publishing.
“This Seminar is aimed to provide a forum for sharing on-going research and scholarly
work on the social and cultural dynamics in Belize and Southern Mexico (Quintana Roo)
as well as stimulate collaboration between Mexican and Belizean researchers,” says UB’s
Director of Research Dr. Filiberto Penados. “It is also designed to foster intellectual
curiosity and research capacity among young people in the region; deepen understanding
and build friendly relationship between the people of Belize and Mexico.”
Lecturers and students from all secondary and tertiary level institutions, as well as
interested members of the public and the media are encouraged to attend and participate
in the panel discussions at this important Seminar.
-more-
Background: Belize and the wider Yucatan peninsula share, economic, historical and
cultural links is widely recognized. The Mayan archaeological sites found in the region
and the evidence of trade among them offers evidence of the early links. In the not so
distant past at the beginning of the 20th Century the south of the Yucatan Peninsula had
more economic, cultural and migratory relationships with Belize than with the rest of
Mexico. The extent, nature and effects of these links, however are perhaps poorly
understood. It is with the aforementioned in mind that the Mexico-Belize Seminar has
been conceptualized; to generate a better understanding of the social, economic, cultural
and environmental reality of each society and to deepen that understanding by going
beyond borders; seeking to understand the links and engaging in dialogue and reflection
regarding the current social dynamics across borders.
Contact Persons:
Selwyn King, Office of Public Information, UB, [email protected] 822-3680/1
Nigel Encalada, Institute for Social & Cultural Research. [email protected]
(t) 822-3307