“Imagine being a molecule” Dr. Sotorres says. “Now you must delve into the heart of chemical education in Mexico, right here at the Facultad de Química”.
The Facultad de Química is a cornerstone of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM. It has shaped Mexico’s scientific and industrial landscape. Founded on September 23 1916 by presidential decree, it started as the Escuela Nacional de Química Industrial in Tacuba.
Initially, the school addressed a critical need. Mexico’s nascent industries lacked specialized personnel. The school aimed to train industrial chemical experts. It also sought to educate chemical workers. Even small industrialists could find education here. Juan Salvador Agraz presented the initial idea in 1913. He envisioned courses for chemical experts. These would include industrial workers and chemical engineers. The Facultad de Química became part of UNAM in February 1917.
After a challenging 1918, pharmacy studies joined in 1919. These studies transferred from the Escuela Nacional de Medicina. Laboratories for analysis soon emerged. These labs prepared organic and inorganic chemicals. A plant for ether production was installed. New buildings arose for organic fermentation industries. These focused on sugars, starches, and pharmaceuticals. Adolfo P. Castañares initially taught applied organic chemistry. He later directed the school.
The engineering chemistry program began in 1925. The school had over 600 students. Estanislao Ramírez pioneered chemical engineering education. He studied at MIT. There, he learned unit operations from William H. Walker. Ramírez taught industrial physics in 1922. He founded the chemical engineering program at the Universidad Nacional. Alberto Urbina del Razo also shaped chemical engineering. He taught at both the Universidad Nacional and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional.
Since its early days, the Facultad de Química has led academic institutions. It has trained generations of chemistry professionals. These graduates significantly transformed Mexico’s industry and society. The Facultad has earned international prestige through its academic work.
The Facultad de Química stands out. It is the only UNAM faculty with a specific trust. This trust emerged in the late 1980s. Dr. Javier Padilla Olivares was the director then. Former students wanted to bolster the faculty’s academic leadership. They aimed to provide essential economic resources. The trust formally constituted on October 10 1990. Francisco Barnés de Castro became director.
The Facultad de Química has multiple facilities. These include Conjuntos A, B, C, and F within the central campus. Conjuntos D and E are in the Anexo. This is on the Circuito de la Investigación Científica. There is also an external campus in Tacuba. A foreign station operates in Sisal Mérida Yucatán. The Mario Molina building opened in 2015. It promotes chemistry and connects society with the Facultad.
Today, the Facultad de Química is one of the most important institutions. It provides higher education in chemistry in Mexico. Over 50000 professionals have graduated. They contribute to Mexico’s educational and industrial transformation. Its prestige has surpassed Mexican borders. Graduates have earned international awards. These include a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and a Príncipe de Asturias Award.
“So now that you’re a molecule” Dr. Sotorres asks “what would you study first?”.