An Undergraduate Program for Astronomy in México

Abstract

Astronomy in México has an ancient tradition, reinforced during the twentieth century by groups working in theoretical and observational astronomy. During the 1990s, the Great Millimeter Telescope (a single 50-m antenna) has been approved, and a 6-m infrared telescope is under study. Graduate and undergraduate programs must be improved to prepare future Mexican and Latin American astronomers to take advantage of these facilities. To meet the challenge, two traditional Mexican programs (Instituto de Astronomia-UNAM and Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica-INAOE) are updating their graduate programs. Similarly, the Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Guanajuato is joining physicists in the first undergraduate program in México in physics and engineering with an option in astrophysics. This will prepare students for industry, academia or national laboratories, either in physics or astronomy. Jobs in academia have been scarce; many students had to give up their goals after one or two postdoctoral positions. Graduate and undergraduate programs must adjust, by broadening the scope of present programs so that students are better prepared for other job opportunities. We present a B.Sc. program designed by astronomers and physicists to try to address some of these concerns and to prepare the students for either continuing with graduate studies or finding employment in an ever-changing job market. (Co-author is Victor Migenes, Guamajato, México.)