Mexican Academy of Sciences facts for kids

Academia Mexicana de Ciencias
Details
Foundation	12 August 1959
Location	Mexico City, Mexico
Members	2,708 (2017)
President	José Luis Morán López
Address Casa Central	Casa Tlalpan Mexico City, Mexico
Web page	http://www.amc.mx

The Mexican Academy of Sciences (Academia Mexicana de Ciencias) is a special group of smart people in Mexico. It's a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't try to make money. Instead, it focuses on helping science grow.

This group has over 1,800 top Mexican scientists. Many of them work at different universities and research places. There are also famous scientists from other countries who are part of it, including some Nobel Prize winners!

The Academy believes that learning through science is the best way for Mexico to grow and become stronger. It's a place where scientists can share ideas, discuss new discoveries, and work together. They want to spread scientific knowledge, make education better, and show how important science is in everyday life.

What the Academy Aims to Do

The Mexican Academy of Sciences has important goals to help science and education in Mexico.

Core Beliefs and Goals

• To stay independent and make its own decisions.
• To speak for scientists to the public and the Mexican government.
• To make sure scientific research, training, and sharing of knowledge are done with high quality and honesty.
• To help the community of Mexican scientists grow and become stronger.
• To ensure that science helps people and society become more creative and smart.

Main Objectives

• To bring together the best researchers in Mexico from different science areas.
• To help people recognize the amazing work these scientists do.
• To encourage more scientific research, training, and sharing of ideas in Mexico.
• To make sure Mexican scientists' work is used as much as possible.
• To help Mexican scientists get known and respected around the world.
• To create connections and work with science groups in other countries.

Who Leads the Academy?

The Academy has a special team called the Executive Board of Directors. This team is in charge of running all the Academy's activities. They make sure that decisions made by all the members are put into action.

The Leadership Team

The board includes:

• A president
• A vice-president
• Two secretaries
• A treasurer

These leaders serve for two years. The vice-president from one period becomes the president for the next period.

Who Can Join the Academy?

The Academy has many members, mostly researchers working in Mexico. Some also work in other countries. As of 2017, there were 2,708 members.

Types of Members

• Regular Members: These are researchers who work mainly in Mexico. They are grouped into ten different science areas based on what they study. These areas include:

* Agricultural sciences * Astronomy * Biology * Social sciences and humanities * Physics * Geosciences * Engineering * Mathematics * Medicine * Chemistry

• Corresponding Members: These are active researchers from other countries. They are recognized for their great work and for helping science in Mexico. There are 58 corresponding members, and nine of them are Nobel Prize winners!

Where Members Work

The Academy has also grown to include different regions of Mexico. This helps support scientists all over the country.

• In 1993, the Central Regional Section was started. It includes states like Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro.
• In 2000, new Regional Centers were created in the Southeast (Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatán), the Northwest (Baja California Sur, Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora), and the Northeast (Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas).
• In 2001, the Southeast II Regional Section was added. This includes Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz.

Most of the Academy's members (about 85%) are also part of the National System of Researchers (NSR). This is a special system that recognizes top researchers in Mexico.

Past Presidents of the Academy

Many important scientists have led the Mexican Academy of Sciences over the years. Here are some of them:

Special Groups and Awards

The Academy has special groups called commissions that help with important tasks like choosing new members and giving out awards.

Membership Commission

• This group decides who can become a new member of the Academy.
• It's led by the Academy's vice-president.
• It has ten researchers from different science areas.
• They meet every year to look at all the applications.

Awards Commission

• This group chooses who will receive the Academy's awards.
• It's also led by the vice-president.
• It's divided into five areas: Exact Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Engineering and Technology.
• They decide who gets the awards each year.

Awards and Prizes for Scientists

The Academy gives out several awards to recognize great scientific work:

• AMC Research Awards:

* These are the highest awards given by the Academy. * They started in 1961. * They are given to young researchers (under 40) who are doing amazing, cutting-edge research. * The awards cover exact sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. * Since 1961, 159 scientists have received these awards.

• Weizmann and Weizmann-Kahn Awards:

* These awards started in 1986. * They are for the best doctoral theses (big research projects done for a PhD) in Mexico. * They are given to researchers under 35 in exact and natural sciences. * Since 2001, the Weizmann-Kahn Award has also been given for the best doctoral theses in engineering and technology.

• Social Sciences and Humanities Award:

* This award started in 1996. * It's for the best doctoral theses in social sciences done in Mexico. * It's given to researchers under 40.

Programs for Learning and Science

The Academy has many programs to help people, especially young people, learn about and love science. They want to make science a part of everyone's life.

Science Education Programs

• Science at Your School:

* This program started in 2002. * It aims to make math and science teaching better in schools. * It uses fun, hands-on methods instead of just traditional lessons. * The goal is to get kids interested through experiments and active learning. * They train teachers, create special materials, and even work in classrooms.

• Computers for Children and Youth:

* This program began in 1987. * It teaches kids how to use computers through workshops. * These workshops are held in public libraries across Mexico. * In 2004, over 37,000 children attended these workshops. * There are also workshops for high school students to improve their math skills using special computer programs.

• Mathematics Teaching Program:

* Started in 1999, this program supports math education. * It creates teaching materials and studies problems in math teaching for younger students. * You can find examples of their math teaching ideas online.

• Scientific Research Summer:

* This program started in 1990. * It's a short summer program (June-August) for university students. * Students who want to become scientists can live and work at top research centers in Mexico. * In 2004, 690 students received grants to join this program.

• Scientific Research Week:

* This program organizes many talks about science topics. * These talks are for university and high school students across the country. * In recent years, these weeks have been held at many institutions in different states.

• Nobel Conferences:

* Since 1995, this program brings Nobel Prize winners to Mexico. * They meet with Mexican researchers and students to share their knowledge. * Eleven Nobel Prize winners have visited so far.

• Visits from Distinguished Professors:

* This program started in 1996. * It brings famous researchers from the United States to Mexico. * They give talks, teach short courses, and work with Mexican scientists on new research. * About fifteen professors visit Mexican institutions each year.

Sharing Science with Everyone

The Academy also has programs to get more Mexican children and young people excited about science.

Science Outreach Programs

• Science on Sundays:

* This program began in 1982. * It offers free science talks for everyone, given by famous scientists. * These talks usually happen on weekends. * In 2004, the program celebrated 22 years of continuous talks. * It has held over 5,300 lectures at many locations across Mexico.

• Science Olympiads:

* This program started in 1991. * It organizes national competitions in math, physics, chemistry, and biology for high school students. * Students compete in stages: state, national, and then a training camp to choose teams for international competitions. * The Academy also organizes other competitions like the National Chemistry Olympiad and the Funny Mathematics Competition.

• National Chemistry Olympiad:

* This competition is organized with other chemistry groups. * About 8,000 students from all over Mexico participate every year. * Mexican students have won many medals in national and international chemistry competitions.

• National Biology Olympiad:

* The Academy has been part of the International Biology Olympiad since 1999. * Mexican students have won several medals in this competition. * About 7,000 students participate nationwide each year.

• Spring Mathematics Competition:

* This competition started in 1996. * It has two levels: one for kids under 13 and another for teenagers under 15. * Winners can go on to compete in international math competitions like the May Olympiad and the River Plate Olympiad in Argentina. * Between 1996 and 2004, Mexican students won many gold, silver, and bronze medals. * In 2004, over 200,000 students participated across the country.

• Funny Mathematics Competition:

* This competition started in 1998. * It's for children under 12. * Winners can compete in international competitions, like one held in Hong Kong. * In 2004, over 81,000 children participated.

• Mexican Geography Olympiad:

* This competition first happened in 2003. * It's for students under 17, mostly in middle school. * Over 100,000 students participate each year. * Winners represent Mexico at the World Geography Championship.

Special Committees and Communication

The Academy also has special groups that study important national issues and a department that shares science news.

Special Committees

• The Academy forms special committees to study big issues in Mexico.
• These groups use the knowledge of many scientists to look at problems.
• They compare Mexico's situation with other countries.
• They also give advice to the government to help them make good decisions.
• Committees have studied topics like Water, Biotechnology, and Stem Cells.

Sharing Science News

• The Academy has a Communication and Dissemination Department.
• This department shares news about the Academy's activities, awards, and meetings.
• They use press conferences, newspapers, and radio to spread the word.

• News Web Site:

* The Academy has a website with news about its activities. * It also shares useful information about science and technology for Mexican news outlets.

• Ciencia Journal:

* Ciencia (which means "Science") is a science magazine. * It has been published for over 50 years. * It comes out four times a year and is read by scientists, university students, and anyone interested in science.

• Publications:

* The Academy has published over 50 books and reports on different science topics.

Working with Other Groups

The Mexican Academy of Sciences works closely with many other organizations, both in Mexico and around the world.

Working with Mexican Organizations

The Academy has strong connections with various government groups and universities in Mexico. They help discuss and organize important national science events. They also advise the Mexican Congress on science and technology issues.

Some of the groups they work with include:

• National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT)
• Ministry of Public Education
• Scientific and Technological Advisory Forum
• National Autonomous University of Mexico
• Metropolitan Autonomous University
• Center of Research and Advanced Studies
• National Polytechnic Institute
• Scientific Advisory Board for the President's Office

Working with International Organizations

To help its members with research and stay connected globally, the Academy works with many international science groups. They have programs for sharing ideas and supporting research.

Some of the international groups they work with are:

• National Academy of Sciences, US
• InterAcademy Panel on International Issues
• InterAcademy Council
• Inter American Network of Academies of Science
• The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS)
• Third World Network of Scientific Organizations
• Red Latinoamericana de Química (Latin American Chemistry Network)
• Red Latinoamericana de Biología (Latin American Biology Network)
• Royal Society of London
• Slovak Academy of Science
• American Chemical Society
• Mexico-United States Foundation for Science
• French Academy of Sciences
• Royal Society of Canada

Support for the Academy

Since it started, the Mexican Academy of Sciences has received help from many public and private organizations. Their support has allowed the Academy to run its programs and help with scientific work in Mexico.

Some of the main supporters include:

• The National Council of Science and Technology
• The Ministry of Public Education
• The National Autonomous University of Mexico

See also

In Spanish: Academia Mexicana de Ciencias para niños

• CONACYT

Extra links

• http://www.amc.mx