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Scientists from Mexico and Central America

Scientists and engineers from around the world are doing amazing things!
Link to lesson ideas for how to use the resources below.

  • Miguel Alcubierre - physical science/physics, speed of light - PS2, PS3, PS4, ETS1 (Mexico)
  • Alejandro Corichi - physical science/physics, gravity - PS2, PS3, ESS1 (Mexico)
  • Mario Molina - physical science/chemistry, environmental - PS1, ESS3 (Mexico)
  • Alfredo Alvarado Hernández - earth science, soil science/sustainabilty - ESS2, ESS3, ESS1, ETS1 (Costa Rica)

Dr. Miguel Alcubierre - Theoretical Physicist

 Photo of Miguel Alcubierre

DCI Physical Science  

PS2 Motion and stability: Forces and interactions
PS3 Energy
PS4 Waves and application
ETS1 Engineering design

Country:  MEXICO

Map of Mexico

Bio and Projects:
Miguel likes to look at questions about how a spaceship could travel faster than the speed of light, and think about time/space ‘bubbles’ in outer space!  He works at the University of Mexico.

Contact:
Phone: 5622-4739 ext. 2253   Email:  malcubi@nucleares.unam.mx 

What inspired me to go into science?
“I was always a very curious child from an early age, and was also very good at math. I started reading science fiction when I was about 12 years old. I also discovered at about the same time that I loved books about astronomy, and I read all the ones I could find at my school. I wanted to understand and learn everything I could about the planets, the Sun and the stars. Later I learned that all, or at least most, astronomers first study physics, so I became a physicist. And, I fell in love with the ideas and theories of Einstein.”

 

 

Dr. Alejandro Corichi - Theoretical Physicist

 Photo of Alejandro Corichi

DCI Physical Science PS2 Motion and stability: Forces and interactions
PS3 Energy
ESS1 Earth's Place in the Universe 

Country:  MEXICO

Map of Mexico

Bio and Projects:
Alejandro Corichi is a theoretical physicist working at the Quantum Gravity group of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His field of study is General Relativity and Quantum Gravity, where he has contributed to the understanding of classical aspects of black holes, to the non-commutativity and black holes within the approach known as loop quantum gravity and to loop quantum cosmology. In other words, he studies gravity and black holes!

Contact:
Phone: +52 (55) 5623-2769/2732, Email: corichi@matmor.unam.mx

What inspired me to go into science?
“When I entered College I went into science (physics) because I wanted to understand how the world functions. Then I understood that, for a career in science, I needed to study more (and get a PhD) and that I could actually get paid for answering questions that nobody has answered before. I have been doing so for many years, and is very satisfying.”

 

Children Text Resources

Gravity, by Jason Chin (who also illustrates his beautiful books!)

Why Can't I Jump Very High? A Book about Gravity, by Kamal S. Prasad

I Fall Down, by Vicki Cobb (who has lots of kid's science books)

A Black Hole Is Not a Hole, by Carolyn Cinami Decristofano

 

Teacher Materials

The role of Mexican folklore in teaching and learning, by Dayna Durbin Gleaves

Gravity related lesson plans curated by the Utah Education Network

Gravity and Falling Objects, lesson from PBS Learning Media

 

Dr. Mario Molina - Chemist

 Photo of Mario Molina

DCI Physical Science  

PS1 Matter and Its Interactions
ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
 

Country:  MEXICO

Map of Mexico

Bio and Projects:
Mario Molina studies the chemistry of the ozone layer. He was one of the first scientists to discover the hole in the ozone layer in the Arctic. In 1995, he was a co-recipient of the Noble Prize in chemistry for his work showing that chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases damaged the ozone layer. He was the first person born in Mexico to receive a Nobel Prize in chemistry. He now works as a professor at the University of California-San Diego. He also serves as a climate policy advisor to the Mexican President. 

Contact:
Phone: 858-534-1696  Email: mjmolina@ucsd.edu

What inspired me to go into science?
“..the planet is just too small for these developing countries to repeat the economic growth in the same way that the rich countries have done it in the past. We don't have enough natural resources, we don't have enough atmosphere. Clearly, something has to change.” ― Mario J. Molina (from Good Reads site)

Children Text Resources

Biography of Dr. Molina - Mario Molina: Chemist and Nobel Prize Winner(3rd to 6th grade) 

The Ozone Layer, by Patricia Armentrout, 1996 (4th grade+)

Book coming out in 2018, by Elizabeth Rusch - Mario and the Hole in the Sky

 

Videos

Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient - video of Dr. Mario Molina talking about receiving the honor

Antarctic Ozone Layer is Healing - CNN Video from 2016

Teacher Materials

How Stuff Works - reading on "How the Ozone Layer Works" (5th grade+)

NASA's Ozone Page - latest news and information

 

 

Dr. Alfredo Alvarado Hernández - Soil Scientist  

 Photo of Alfredo Alvarado Hernandez

DCI Physical Science  

ESS2 Earth's Systems
ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
ESS1 Earth's Place in the Universe 
ETS1 Engineering design

Country:  COSTA RICA

Map of Mexico

Bio and Projects:

Dr. Hernandez studies the soil of tropical rain forests. He is working on keeping the earth sustainable. He believes we can conserve our natural resources better than we are today and work toward sustainable food security in Latin America. He is a professor emeritus from the University of Costa Rica. 

Contact:
Phone: 2511-2084, Email: alfredo.alvarado@ucr.ac.cr

 

Children Text Resources

Life in a Bucket of Soil, by Alvin and Virginia Silverstein

Exploring the tropical rain forest - internet-based reading  resource for kids, from MO Botanical Garden

The Great Kapok Tree, by Lynne Cherry (about the rain forest)

Teacher Materials

The Dirt on Soil - background information and lessons on soil from Kids Discover

Soils 4 Teachers - lessons and information for teachers

USDA - National Resources Conservation Service - Soils information page