Do you know that Edificio C Facultad de Qu\u00edmica is part of something bigger? It is one of several buildings that make up the School of Chemistry at UNAM. This school is one of the 27 academic institutions that form the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine Mexico in the early 20th century. The country needed skilled personnel for its industries. Juan Salvador Agraz proposed creating the School of Chemistry to address this need. In 1916, President Venustiano Carranza established the National School of Industrial Chemistry. It was initially located in Tacuba. In 1917, it became part of UNAM.
Edificio C Facultad de Qu\u00edmica is located within the main campus. It is situated in Ciudad Universitaria in southern Mexico City. But the School of Chemistry has external campuses too. There is one in Tacuba and another in Sisal, M\u00e9rida.
The School of Chemistry began with humble resources. It was first housed in a deteriorated building. This building had previously served as a hospital and a cuartel. Despite the initial challenges, the school grew and evolved. In 1965, it achieved faculty status. This meant it could offer graduate programs.
Today, the School of Chemistry offers several undergraduate degrees. These include chemical engineering, chemistry, and food chemistry. It also provides graduate studies in chemical sciences and biochemical sciences. The school has twelve scientific departments. It also has four units.
Many people have walked through the halls of Edificio C Facultad de Qu\u00edmica and the School of Chemistry who have become notable figures. Mario J. Molina, a Nobel laureate in Chemistry, is an alumnus. Luis E. Miramontes, co-inventor of oral contraceptives, also studied here.
The School of Chemistry consists of several complexes. These complexes are A, B, C, and F in Ciudad Universitaria. Complexes D and E are in the south sector. The External Complex of Tacuba marks the original location.
The spirit of innovation is alive at Edificio C Facultad de Qu\u00edmica. It is a place where students learn and researchers explore. The School of Chemistry has played a key role in Mexico’s scientific and industrial development. As we conclude our visit, remember that the school’s story began over a century ago. The hard work of Juan Salvador Agraz and many others made it what it is today.