Background and Relevance of the Event
The Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav) of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) recently held a ceremony to deliver 219 master’s and doctoral diplomas in sciences for the 2024-2025 academic year. The event was graced by the presence of Mario Delgado Carrillo, Secretary of Public Education (SEP), and Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (Secihti).
Statements from Key Figures
Mario Delgado Carrillo, Secretary of Public Education:
Delgado Carrillo highlighted the significance of Cinvestav as one of Mexico’s strongest pillars in scientific sovereignty. He emphasized the institute’s high capacity for innovation, technological development, and deep connection with strategic sectors. Cinvestav’s 68 graduate programs in science and technology make it a leading institution for addressing national and regional challenges of the 21st century.
He also mentioned that Cinvestav graduates have been recognized by the World Bank and OECD as crucial for driving productive transformation and reducing development gaps.
Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation:
Ruiz Gutiérrez congratulated the new graduates and emphasized that education, including higher studies, is a right for everyone in Mexico, regardless of gender or age. She announced that Secihti will soon release a new call for the Investigadoras e Investigadores por México (IIxM) program, which supports doctorate holders in advancing their academic and research careers while fostering collaboration between science and the public and productive sectors.
Ruiz Gutiérrez highlighted Cinvestav’s role in producing knowledge through participation in strategic projects such as Kutsari (semiconductor design and manufacturing), improving corn and bean crops for food security, and studying sargasso, among others.
Cinvestav’s Achievements and Impact
In the past year, Cinvestav awarded 544 master’s or doctoral degrees, with 227 women and 317 men graduating. This brings the total number of alumni in Cinvestav’s 68 graduate programs to over 17,600.
Alberto Sánchez Hernández, Cinvestav’s General Director, expressed confidence that the new graduates would contribute to solving societal problems and strengthening the national scientific system from various sectors.
Pablo Enrique Yanes Rizo, Secretary of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation for Mexico City, praised the graduates’ efforts and emphasized that science, viewed from a human perspective, is fundamental for societal development. He stressed the strategic importance of investing in science and technology to address contemporary challenges.
New Laboratories Inauguration
Following the diploma ceremony, Delgado Carrillo, Ruiz Gutiérrez, and Sánchez Hernández inaugurated a new Biosecurity Level 3 Laboratory for Emerging Disease Research at Cinvestav. The state-of-the-art facility spans 500 square meters and is equipped to handle high-risk biological organisms, with specialized personnel for managing level 2 and 3 pathogens.
The laboratory will be used for clinical diagnosis, teaching, and research.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who attended the ceremony? Mario Delgado Carrillo, Secretary of Public Education, and Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation.
- What is the significance of Cinvestav? Cinvestav is a leading institution in Mexico for addressing national and regional challenges through its high capacity for innovation, technological development, and deep connection with strategic sectors.
- What programs does Secihti support? Secihti supports the Investigadoras e Investigadores por México (IIxM) program, which aids doctorate holders in advancing their academic and research careers while fostering collaboration between science and public/productive sectors.
- What are some of Cinvestav’s strategic projects? Cinvestav participates in projects like Kutsari (semiconductor design and manufacturing), improving corn and bean crops for food security, and studying sargasso.
- How many graduates did Cinvestav award in the past year? Cinvestav awarded 544 master’s or doctoral degrees in the past year.
- What is the new laboratory at Cinvestav? The new Biosecurity Level 3 Laboratory for Emerging Disease Research is a state-of-the-art facility designed to handle high-risk biological organisms for clinical diagnosis, teaching, and research.
