The idea of creating a School jointly with Latin America modeled on the European School of High Energy Physics was based on CERN's long-standing commitment to promoting and extending the availability of educational and cultural benefits through co-operation with both developed, and developing countries.
The first informal discussions to launch such a School took place in the mid nineties, but serious preparations did not start before Spring of 2000. It was clear from the beginning that the initiative needed a broad base. Fermilab was consulted and was very supportive to the initiative. Also CLAF (Centro LatinoAmericano de Física) supported the idea and was instrumental in helping setting up the structure for the school as well as obtaining support from a broad community of physicists inside Latin America.
Due to the enthusiastic support from the Latin American community in general and from Brazilian physicists in particular it was possible to hold the first School already in May, 2001 in Itacuruçá, Brazil
The new biennial School is intended mainly for young experimentalists from Latin America preparing a PhD in high-energy physics, or engaged in post doctoral work, but it will also be open to a few young theorists from unfavoured countries as well as participants from other regions.
Every effort will be made to ensure that the School is developed in the light of the particular requirements of the Latin American physics students, while promoting science on an equal basis for Latin American students and those attending from elsewhere.
Lecturers at the forefront of their fields from Latin America and the rest of the world will be invited according to the requirements of the scientific programme. In addition, discussion groups of 15-20 students will be organized with individual Discussion Leaders who should, ideally, be well represented from the Latin American community.
The Second School, which was organized in San Miguel Regla, Mexico, in June 2003, confirmed the success of the first school.
The third School was organized in Malargüe, Argentina in February - March, 2005.
The Fourth School was organized in Viña del Mar (Valparaiso region), Chile from 18 February to 3 March, 2007.
And the Fifth School will take place in Recinto Quirama (close to Medellin), Colombia in the period 15-28 March, 2009.
It is believed that these schools will be an important element in the formation of the future community of High Energy Physicists in Latin America and its integration into the world wide family of Particle Physics.