The 2003 Society for the History of Discoveries (SHD) meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, will address the theme of La Nouvelle Frontiere: Exploration and Discovery of the Louisiana Purchase. This theme commemorates the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase (1803). This huge region stimulated the imagination of explorers, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806). New Orleans is the perfect venue for this meeting as it occupied a crucial geopolitical location with respect to lands claimed by Spain, France, and the United States in the early nineteenth century. Although the theme focuses on the Louisiana Purchase, presentations on other aspects of exploration and discovery are welcome. In keeping with the meeting theme, our co-sponsoring organization is Historic New Orleans. The Prince Conti Hotel (830 Conti Street; phone 1-800-366-2743) and its adjoining 1829 Townhouse will be our meeting site. They are located within easy walking distance of -- less than two blocks from -- The Historic New Orleans Collection in the fabled French Quarter. All papers will be presented at the 1829 Townhouse, but there will be a tour of, and reception at, The Historic New Orleans Collection.

SHD invites those wishing to present a paper at this meeting to submit a proposal by July 11, 2003. The proposal should not exceed one page in length and must include:

• the title of the presentation
• author's name and complete address/affiliation,
• abstract summarizing the paper's scope and findings.

For those not familiar with SHD meetings, some additional guidance may be helpful. Presenters at SHD meetings are normally provided about 25 minutes to make their presentations, followed by a brief question and answer session with the audience. The audience at SHD meetings is typically diverse. Some members are academicians, but many come from varied professions. All are especially interested in the processes and consequences of exploration and discovery - including the mapping of explored regions. Presenters are encouraged to use images (for example, historic maps or depictions of places) where appropriate. These can be in the form of handouts or slides that may help the audience better understand the subjects being discussed. An Overhead projector and slide projector will be available. In the interest of time and engaging the audience, presenters are encouraged to summarize and quote from their papers, if possible, rather than reading the entire paper word-for-word. Presenters wishing to have their papers considered for publications are invited to submit them to the SHD's annual publication Terrae Incognitae - The Journal for the History of Discoveries.