Our day began at the Irapuato Campus. We were introduced to Dr. Hector G. Nunez-Palenius, who works in the Plant Protection Lab at the University of Guanajuato. He talked about the National Genetics Laboratory (LANGEBIO) that we were going to visit. This is the premier genetic laboratory in Latin America. Here they do all the genome sequencing for maize, agave, etc. In addition, the lab is also working with the National Anthropology Institute to understand how the initial humans in this country were living. |
After touring the Lab, we went into the auditorium to hear a presentation from Dr. Juan Philippe Vielle Calzada, one of the leading research professors at LANGEBIO. He explained that the Lab is a public institution initiative that was started in 2005 to respond to the call to create an institute for research. One of the reasons they chose the Irapuato area was its proximity to the University of Guanajuato. |
There are five countries that have 60-70% of the world’s diversity, and Mexico is one of them. The objectives of LONGEBIO are to not only investigate issues related to biodiversity and genetics, but to train new scientists, transfer technology to the public and industry, provide service to other national and international labs, and to offer an expert voice on topics. There are 15 lead scientists at LANGEBIO. |
After our visit to LONGEBIO, we went back to the Division of Life Sciences and had a quick lunch before we boarded the bus and went out to a rural village. When we arrived, we met with a group of nursing students from the Irapuato Campus who were visiting the village to provide health care services. |
From there, we walked over the bridge and up into the hillside to visit with Pedro Ramirez, a local subsistence farmer who also spends six months a year in the United States as a migrant worker for a nursery in Sacramento. The nursing students performed a variety of health checks and then we spent some time talking to him about his life there. He has four acres on which he keeps goats and grows corn. He and his wife grew up in the village and attended school there. They have an older daughter who is married and lives in a nearby village and a 21 year old son. |
Most of the people in these small villages attend elementary school until 6th grade. In this particular village, if they want to go to middle school, they have to travel to the next town over, approximately 10 miles away. If they finish middle school, then they need to go into the next larger town to finish high school. Eduardo said that only 40% of the children in this village go on to middle school in the nearby town.
From the village, we went back to the Division of Life Sciences and the students gave their presentations. They were great! Each group focused on various aspects of what we learned during the week about plants, irrigation, water issues, etc. Bhavik, who is an education major, presented with Luis about the contrasts and comparisons between education in the US and in Mexico. We were all very proud of how far the students had come since they arrived here ten days ago—and we were particularly in awe of the University of Guanajuato students who gave their presentations in English!
After all our hard work, we headed over to the Hacienda (Administration building) where we were treated to a musical performance and to a dance show. It was a wonderful way to close out what had been a very productive, educational and emotional week.
Tomorrow we head home. But we cannot leave here without thinking about the impact that this experience has had on us as both American and global citizens. The opportunity to interact with students and people from another culture only broadens our world as well as our perspectives of it. We are thankful for the chance to get to know the people of Guanajuato and look forward to visiting them again.
“We should not let a little trickle of water like the Rio Grande keep us from working together. Our hope is with the young people. They can work together to make North American a better place.”
The Honorable Samuel E. Hayes, Jr.
Former Secretary of Agriculture for Pennsylvania
The Honorable Samuel E. Hayes, Jr.
Former Secretary of Agriculture for Pennsylvania