It is important to mention the historical context and events that led to the formation of the institute of physics.
To begin with, we will go back to the year of 1537 in which Bishop Fray Juan de Zumárraga asks to King Charles V a university in Mexico with the aim of mainly studying the arts and theology. Ten years later Philip II determines the creation of the University in Mexico City and assigned revenues for their livelihood, however, the University was opened on January 25 of 1551 by the Viceroy Luis de Velasco under the name Royal University of Mexico. It should be noted that passed by nearly 100 years for the foundation of the first chair in mathematics (1631). Later in 1672, Don Carlos Sigüenza and Góngora was awarded with the chair of astrology and mathematics.
In 1763 King Carlos III ordered the establishment of the Mine Royal Seminar, opened in 1792 and in which students learn Newton's physics and mathematics (100 years after his time).
By the year 1833 the vice president of Mexico, Valentín Gómez Farías considered the University useless, pernicious and non reformable so he decreed its abolition and established the General Directorate of Public Instruction for the Federal District and territories of the federation. It was intended to take control of education over the clergy. Six educational establishments were created; preparatory studies; ideological and humanities studies, math and physical sciences, medical sciences, jurisprudence and ecclesiastical sciences. However, in 1834 President Santa Anna ordered the suspension of the educational institutions founded by Valentín Gómez Farías. He revoked the abolishing decree of the university and restored its original organization.
Years later with the constantly changing of political power and invasion wars that Mexico suffered the university was closed on several occasions. Until 1867, when the government of President Juarez promulgated the organic law of public instruction in the Federal District and organized education based on the positivism philosophy. He created the National Preparatory School and the higher education was distributed in several schools of professional education. The Mine Royal Seminar was transformed into the National School of Engineers.
1910
1910 is the key year because in this year the National University of Mexico was founded at the initiative of Don Justo Sierra. The National School of High Studies was created too, preferably dedicated to humanistic activities, but later were created sections of Physics and Mathematics. Nonetheless, these sections didn't had an organization or appropriate school curricula so that only isolated Physics and Mathematics courses were taught. For example in the field of physics were taught two courses, one theoretical dictated by Eng. Valentin Gama and other practical given by Eng. Joaquin Gallo. These courses had the purpose of cultural dissemination. Already for the years 1912, Don Sotero Prieto taught advanced mathematics courses (analytical functions).
In 1924, under the Administration of Ezequiel Chavez the National School of Higher Studies changed its name to Faculty of Philosophy and Letters that follows his trajectory in humanities and abandons the scientific studies.
In 1928 surged the proposal to establish in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters regular careers for the training of teachers and researchers in science. The following year was created the science section offering the degree of Master and Doctor of Physical and Biological Exact Sciences. However, until the end of 1933 only had taught courses in physics and mathematics. Don Alfonso Naples Gándara, (who had received a scholarship to study at MIT), Mariano Hernandez and Alfredo Baños.
A very important fact that should be noted is the creation of the Friday's seminar to discuss Physics and Mathematics organizated by Don Sotero Prieto and Don Alfonso of Naples Gándara. This seminar continues nowadays under the name of Manuel Sandoval Vallarta in honor of Don Manuel Sandoval Vallarta who at that time was professor at MIT and during the summer came to Mexico to give a talk at that meeting.
Don Manuel had a great impact on young people who attended this seminar, since the fact that he was a young scientist doing original research, motivated several students to follow the path of science. Among this young people were Nabor Carrillo, Alberto Barajas and Carlos Graef, all of them turned into active promoters of new generations of mexican scientists.
Manuel Gomez Morin boost science.
With the arrival of Lic. Manuel Gomez Morin as president of the university in 1933 a boost to science was given. With the help of Engineer Ricardo Monges Lopez reorganize scientific and technical studies within the University, resulting in the creation of chiefdom's group (1934) in four branches of science: mathematics led by Don Sotero Prieto, physics led by Basilio Romo, biology led by Isaac Ochotorena, chemistry led by Francisco Lisci and engineering directed by Monges Lopez. The chiefdom's group were responsible for the delivery of chairs in the areas of science in all the University. To give unity and continuity to science studies Gomez Morin reorganized the University and created two faculties: the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (which includes the Schools of Engineering, Chemistry and the sections of Physics and Mathematics) and the Faculty of Medical-Biological Sciences, which brings together the Medicine School, Dentistry School and the Department of Biology.
One year later there is another university reform that modifies the previous organization allowing schools to became independent. The Department of Biology returned to the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and the Departments of Physics and Mathematics remained independent under the direction of Eng. Monges Lopez.
By the year of1935 the Department of Physics and Mathematics grants the Master in Sciences degree with majors in Physics or Mathematics. A year later Ricardo Monges Lopez promotes the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Among the first students of this school we can mention, Roberto Vasquez, Augustine Anfossi and Fernando Alba.
In 1938 the Institute for Physical Sciences and Mathematics was founded at the behest of Don Ricardo Monges Lopez withheadquartered in Palace of Mines, located in downtown Mexico city. Its director was Eng. Alfredo Baños who had just obtained the Doctorate degree in Physic's at MIT under the supervision of Dr. Sandoval Vallarta.
By the year 1939, Alfredo Baños, Antonio Caso, Isaac Ochotorena and Ricardo Monges Lopez promoted the creation of the Faculty of Science as well as the creation of the College of Biology and institutes associated with each department.
