Guillermo Haro and His Contributions to Mexico’s Science and Technology Studies
Guillermo Haro was a very notable Mexican thinker and is very famous because of his significant contributions in Astronomical studies. He is one of the discoverers of the Herbig-Haro objects, as well as the man behind several studies in stars, non-stellar objects, blue galaxies and many others. Also, he was lauded because of his influence in the development and growth of other areas of science and technology in his country. Despite being well known in the field of Astronomy, Haro’s first professional study is that of Philosophy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
His passion for Astronomy has contributed greatly to the development and establishment of most significant research institutes in Mexico today. His service to the improvisation of Astronomy in Mexico started during his post as Director of the Astronomical Institute of UNAM and of the Observatorio Astrofisico de Tonantzintla in the fifties and the sixties. In the year 1972, he established the INAOE, which was located next to the Tonantzintla Observatory and became its first director. During that time, he made a strong promotion to Optics and Electronics fields which paved the way to the creation of a recent and graduate studies institution outside of the country’s capital- the first time that happened in the history of Mexico’s science and technology research. In his term as director, INAOE has considerably grown both in the field of Optics, Electronics and Astrophysics; which continued on to these past 3 decades. Today, the center is very famous and recognized in the entire world.
Guillermo Haro was a member of the illustrious Colegio National beginning 1953. He also co-founded the La Academia de la Investigacion Cientifica. These two centers are the most significant academic institutions and gathered the most well-known intellectuals of Mexico in the fields of Science, Technology, Humanities and Arts. He was the chief promoter of the development of the Instituto Nacional de la Investigacion Cientifica which was later transformed into the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia-the Mexican government’s arm to develop science and technology in the country.
