I am having problems downloading the submission forms, what should I do?

1. Download the Proposal Submission Form
2. Save the document to your computer (right click, and choose "save as...")
3. Choose to save as "Word for Windows".

The LASA proposal submission forms ask for authors' birthdays. Is that really necessary for the proposals?

We use them for statistical purposes and to ensure that the proposals are linked to the correct person in our database. Also, given numerous similar names, especially in Latin America, date of birth helps ensure proper identification.

May paper proposals be submitted in languages other than English?

Proposals must be submitted in the language in which they will be presented (English, Spanish or Portuguese).

I would like my paper to be part of a Section Session. What should I do?

Contact the chair of the Section directly. Contact information can be found at http://lasa.international.pitt.edu/lasaSections.html . All Section proposals must come from the Section chairs.

What if the chair of a different Program Track is interested in the topic? May I specify that my proposal be considered for more than one Program Track?

You may specify on the submission form two possible Program Tracks for your paper. If for some reason your proposal does not fit within the first Track, it will be sent to the chair of the second Track for evaluation. Be sure to indicate on the form your preference of a secondary Track.

What changes am I allowed to make to my proposal after it has been submitted?

• updates to contact information
• slight changes to paper titles or titles of Sessions

The following changes are not allowed:

• addition of new participants
• replacement of participants

I need to make acceptable changes to my proposal. How and when may I submit these changes?

Send your changes to lasacong@pitt.edu no later than December 15, 2008.

I plan on presenting a paper in a panel. Do I also need to submit as an individual?

No. Persons proposed as presenters in panels are not allowed to also submit individual paper proposals.

What criteria does LASA use for selecting papers, panels, and workshops?

• Significance to the field
• Clarity and succinctness of the presentation
• Conceptual and theoretical significance
• Potential for enriching the proceedings of the Congress and degree of benefit to the participant(s).
• For Sessions, the extent to which the proposal includes participants with diverse places of residence, with various institutional affiliations, and with different levels of educational attainment.

Additionally, Session proposals and papers are encouraged to address the theme of LASA2009: Rethinking inequalities.