A un costado del Universum Museo de las Ciencias, de National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), in a space far from the bustle, is the Maisonette of Sciences. There in a corner is the office of Luis Estrada Martinez, the most renowned science popularizer of the country.
An agreement with the Center for Applied Sciences and Technological Development, which formally belongs, has allowed to keep this modest place in the university unit "closest" to the popularization of science: the Directorate General for Dissemination of Science (DGDC) UNAM.
In 1997, by decree of the then rector Francisco Barnes de Castro, the University College of Communication Science (CUCC), which also invested in making disclosure forms disclosed, ceased to exist and instead created the DGDC.
The administrative nature of this Directorate prevented academics and researchers working at the Centre was incorporated into the new project. "Look where to go," he said, Martínez Estrada recalls.
This fact and the creation, in the early 1990's, the Universum shifted the focus of popular science in the UNAM. The academic side is weakened, however, that the Rules of Procedure of the DGDC provides that the training of extension workers and the establishment evaluation criteria for the dissemination of science are part of the functions of this unit. Martínez-Estrada
the first Mexican to receive the Kalinga Prize, awarded by the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, for exceptional work in the field of popular science, says the situation by running through the popularization of science at UNAM is "sad." Reduced to a museum and a young audience, particularly students, the popularization of science is far from achieving its mission: "To put the results of scientific research in the hands of a large audience."
Therefore, although it retains a cubicle just 9 square meters in the DGDC, Martínez Estrada has opted to "shut about things" looking to put the essence of the original draft of the popularization of science.
"In the long run, maintaining a museum [the Universum] of this size and ambition that was a bit counterproductive because [the popularization of science] was reduced to a single activity and everything was flying around or very weak.
Rene Drucker Colin, who since March 2008 is at the head of the Directorate General for Dissemination of Science, is pleased with the results of its administration, especially with the renovation of 5 000 30 square meters of Universum, which was made possible by sponsorships from public and private sectors, and the increase during 2010, the number of visits to this museum.
Asked about his project work, the only doctor in physiology concerns the Rules of Procedure of the DGDC that he, with the approval of the Technical Council of Scientific Research, amended. The reason: "Order the dependence of a more appropriate way" to get answers to the two ways of doing outreach to that of Drucker Colin, are museums and disclosure "out", ie through of the media.
In the previous chart, the Coordination of Press and Radio and the Technological Innovation and Improvements to the branches of Conservation, Exhibitions, Research and Training in Popularization of Science, Electronic Media, Broadcasting and the Museo de la Luz and the Universum shared the same hierarchy.
With the amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the DGDC, the unit was divided into two areas: the Coordination of Museums and the Media. The Evaluation Commission disappeared and the Directorate of Studies and Training Scientific Dissemination Unit became Training of disclosures, which is currently at the level of the units of Audiovisual Services, Computer and Library.
Colin Drucker recognizes that there is a more academic way to popularizing science. The magazine How You See? , the UNAM published for over 13 years, and graduated in popularization of science, which in 2011 is 16 years, contributing in this regard. However, the owner of the DGDC says that "this effort reaches a relatively small audience, a dedicated public wants to read long articles.
When CUCC became the Directorate General Disclosure Science, this unit ceased to be strictly academic and turned into a "service unit," explains the scientist. Julia Tagüeña Parga, who preceded him in office, thinks that this place must have an academic function. "There's no researchers, this is not a center for dissemination of science", twisty, sharp, Drucker Colin.
professionalize the disclosure
A Estrada said of Martinez, who was director of CUCC, although in Mexico more and more people are involved in scientific popularization actually there are few who have training to help them deepen their work.
UNAM has a diploma in popularization of science, and an MA and Ph.D. in philosophy of science with a line in science communication. However, Luis Estrada considers it very important for the establishment of a graduate UNAM specialized in popularizing science. Refer
the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente is the only institution in the country that provides expertise in science communication and culture. "But that's pretty unreal, here you do not see the door "Says fellow founder of the Mexican Society for Popularization of Science and Technology.
Drucker Colin shares the idea of \u200b\u200bprofessionalizing the popularization of science." Actually, not the scientists [as himself] who should be dedicated to disclosure, "he admits. The disclosure must lie with those who study communication and decide to move toward the communication of science.
Members of the DGDC Colin Drucker proposed the creation of a master in the communication of science. He rejected the request.
- Master here? can not. Not because I do not want, because you can not by regulation [General Graduate Studies]. Even if I could, I would not allow it because this is not an academic unit. It is a general direction that serves, you can not graduate.
Disclosure, "the ugly duckling "
at UNAM, as in many other venues in the country, those who exercise the popularization of science make it marginally and complementary to the real priority, assures Martínez Estrada. "For many people, this is still the ugly duckling ; the thing nobody is very concerned, "laments the PhD in physics.
Low salaries paid to university professors are compensated with extra pay they get. It is not the case of the popularizers. In UNAM, the popular science" does not points.
Thus, the ignorance of the work of the discloser, even among the university community, adding that researchers are enthusiastic about the popular science can rarely pursue it because they are busy with other things, explains Martínez Estrada . 'If not, no points, they will go wrong in this assessment ".
Colin Drucker believes that the disclosure science itself is a priority for the UNAM. So much so that has an address dedicated to it. The problem at the university, he says, is that "disclosure does not take much into consideration for promotions and all that sort of thing."
addition, the money goes to his office is insufficient. 80 percent of the DGDC's budget (169 million 662 000 47 pesos, including the 44 million 545 000 47 pesos to get extra income and support) is to cover the salaries of the 786 people in this direction, says Drucker Colin.
To tell the General Director of Science Outreach, the federal government should support Universum as it does with other museums. "The museum needs more funds urgently for an art museum, more than a day." Martínez Estrada
not give up. His jovial and enthusiastic attitude contrasts with the whiteness of his hair. For the outstanding communicator, despite the UNAM and has no systematic and comprehensive program for popularizing science, "the idea is that you have it, and there are people working on it, he said.
- Have you talked to the authorities of the UNAM in this regard?
-Con Dr. Narro [current president], I have not asked him much less. I do not know if I've done wrong. De la Fuente [rector UNAM from 1999 to 2007], yes. I insisted much, and I finally managed to give me an appointment. And talked, and we said, but [nothing] ... The most important thing I achieved in this time was to talk to the secretary general, Dr. Alcocer. He did not say anything or said anything, but you understood what it was. I know you understand, but did nothing.
scientists and popularizers
ReynaldosPaula Ximena García is Professor of course in the Faculty of Chemistry, UNAM, further popularizing science. Currently working in the program radio Fair cultural carousel, the Mexican Radio Institute, which offers a space to the dissemination of science. He also runs a thesis which "will create a manual of chemical experiments, easy, fun and safe."
In May 2010, the doctoral candidate in chemistry resigned his senior fellow plaza Technician "A" full-time in the DGDC, whereupon the 19,000 pesos that provided him his place in the Universum. "I'm not satisfied with the career development and academic work I do in the unit," explained Colin Drucker in his resignation letter. The
chemistry teacher remembers the excitement he felt when he learned that the room chemistry, she was responsible, would be remodeled. After the disappointment that was heard from the lips of Lourdes Guevara, coordinator of the DGDC Museums, she could not participate in the development of scientific script of the new room.
Later, García Reynaldos also learned that once the scientific script in which she finally managed to participate as a lecturer in the Faculty of Chemistry, without this being reflected in the reports and work plans, to keep their academic technical Square, presented anualmente–, la DGDC contrató a una persona externa para que lo revisara.
A casi un año de haber dejado el Universum, García Reynaldos no se arrepiente de su decisión. No obstante, lamenta que sus expectativas de servir a la UNAM, a través de la DGDC, en la que cursó el diplomado en divulgación de la ciencia, no se hayan cumplido a plenitud.
—Yo creo que en esta Dirección parten de que tú eres incapaz; no se te da el beneficio de la duda, no se te da la oportunidad.
A pesar de que en la DGDC laboran 27 técnicos académicos, la mayoría con estudios de posgrado y con una gran trayectoria en la divulgación científica, su work is undervalued, consider Ana María Sánchez Mora, representative of this Board with the graduate in philosophy of science.
The reason is the status conferred on them by their appointment of academics and technicians belonging to the Directorate General for Dissemination of Science, a body attached to the Coordination of Scientific Research, whose views reflect the interests of scientists, not well to the disseminators.
disseminators and scientists are like men and women: complementary, says Sánchez Mora, who has spent more than three decades to the popularization of science. However, some of the scientists who have led the DGDC "fifth beings consider us because, according to the criteria for the Coordination of Scientific Research, do not give the width."
What is the popularization of science?
"A window that allows us to look the other way" and defines Luis Estrada Martinez, the most renowned Mexican popularizer, the popularization of science. Without this part of the culture-as the understanding of science is part of it, "the prejudices imposed.
-is indispensable, in every culture, have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe world where you live. All cultures have had their world view and, obviously, ours does, but what has is the nineteenth century. All discussions about abortion have no knowledge base, move for convenience and influences. Gender discussions are full of prejudices and modern science thinks otherwise.
is where comes the role of disclosure. Create awareness in the best of what the situation is more about the world we live in, or at least give clues on where to learn that. If we want to change the approach and how to proceed in this country, we must open that window and see how things are
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