The Institutionalization of the History of Science and Technology in Mexico

The institutionalization of the History of Science in Mexico began in 1964 when Enrique Beltrán established the Mexican Society for the History of Science and Technology (MSHST). It experienced stagnation from 1979 until Juan José Saldaña González became president in 1988. Under his leadership, the society was efficiently reactivated, transforming it from an amateur organization to a professional one. In 1989, he incorporated MSHST as a member of IUHPST/DHST, putting Mexico on the international map very soon. Saldaña was the first Mexican Philosophy and History of Science professional (from France) that promoted this discipline in Mexico, Latin America, and internationally. He always highlighted that the dynamics of Latin American scientific practice deserve recognition in their own right. He was the first president of the Latin American Society for the History of Science and Technology (1982) and the sole editor of both the journals Quipu (1984) and Cuadernos de Quipu (1986). He professionalized the field at UNAM in 1985. He participated actively in international commissions (UNESCO, IUHPST/DHST, SHOT, ICOHTEC, among others) and founded IASCUD (Mexico, 2000). He made history as the first to host the international congress in a Latin American country (Mexico City, 2001) and also the first Latin American to chair the Secretary General of the IUHPST/DHST from 2001–2005. Actually, the History of Science and Technology is now a well-established and prosperous field in Mexico and Latin America.