Bringing the Scientists Home

Since 1974 Conacyt has offered a repatriation plan for Mexico scientists working abroad

who may prefer to return home. So far, 75 scientists have returned under the plan. The

program pays traveling and moving expenses for the scientist and his or her family and

reimburses the Mexican institution or company that hires the scientist for 50 percent of the

first year´s salary. Only scientists who have studied for at least two years outside Mexico

and who have a definite position waiting for them are eligible.

The essential idea is to provide financing to institutions to say that they contract top

personnel for their projects. Mario Waisbbluth, Conacyt´s director of scientific

development, explained that the repatriation program is “a specific mechanism for

individual cases to enable institutions to hire the Mexican scientists they need”.

Of the nine scientists who returned in 1980, three went to research centers outside Mexico

City and six institutions in the capital. At least four of the scientists are involved in medical

and biomedical research, although Waissbluth pointed out that the repatriation program has

no intention of emphasizing one research area over others . The total cost of repairing the

nine scientists (expenses and subsidies to contracting institutions) was $44,000, for an

average of just under $5.000.

One of the scientists repatriated in 1980 was geneticist Dr Francisco Funes Cravioto who

had five years experience in Swedish research institutes and wanted to return home. Thanks

to the program, Funes is now setting up a genetic toxicology program at the Metropolitan

University in Mexico City. Funes recalled, “Somewhere on my personal horizon there was

always the idea of returning to Mexico”.

This view was echoed by Adolfo García Sáinz, a young biochemist who did two years post-

doctoral research at Brown University before coming back to Mexico to work at National

University. After setting up a laboratory at the National University´s Biological Institute,

García Sáinz said, “I feel I have a commitment to form a research team and in this way

contribute to the development of science in Mexico”.

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Dermatologist, Dr. Rocío Orozco is another returnee. After holding a research fellowship at

the University of California Medical School in San Francisco, she will take up a teaching

and research post at the National University paid for by Conacyt´s repatriation program.

As a researcher in California, Orozco worked on epidermal cell cultivation and vitamin D

metabolism in the skin. Although she received attractive job offers in California, Orozco

explained that her decision to return was motivated by “a sense of loyalty to the Nutrition

Institute where I´d worked for four years and the fact that dermatological research is non-

existent in Mexico.

The so-called “brain-drain” has long ceased to worry Mexico. In fact, it is doubtful if it was

ever a real problem. The rapid expansion of Mexican scientific and technological research

is what draws scientists back. As Waissbluth put it, “Any Mexican scientist who wants to

come back can do so immediately and be sure of finding a position in which to continue his

work”. A further point is that the scientists feel that they can participate in and help to

shape Mexico´s future. This feeling of involvement is often absent in highly developed

countries.

The Mexican scientific community is still very small. At present there are 16,000 research

scientists in Mexico, 2.4 for every 10,000 inhabitants as compared to 26 in the United

States and 53 in Russia. Even so, this community is growing fast and demands on it are

stretching it to the limit. Former Conacyt scholarship holders who advertise their

availability receive eight to ten job offers from industry and government.

The repatriation program functions as a lubricating mechanism in specific situations, but

expanding opportunities are the real magnet that brings the Mexican scientists back.

Waissbluth summed it up in this way, “In 1980, we spent less than $50,000 repatriating

scientists. Now Conacyt is contributing $3 million to a new solid state physics center in

Puebla. This will provide sufficient facilities for all Mexican researchers inside and outside

the country.
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BRINGING THE SCIENTISTS HOME

1. Existe un plan para la repatriación de científicos mexicanos que deseen regresar al

país. Este plan está abierto sólo para aquellos que

a) puedan reembolsar el cincuenta por ciento del salario que reciban en el primer

año a la compañía que los contrató.

b) tengan una oferta de trabajo en México y hayan estudiado en el extranjero dos

años por lo menos.

c) actualmente estén trabajando en el extranjero en instituciones de investigación

científica.

2. El programa de repatriación tiene como objetivo principal

a) facilitar a las instituciones mexicanas la contratación de personal calificado a

través de un financiamiento.

b) construir un mecanismo específico para resolver los problemas de los casos

individuales.

c) proporcionar el financiamiento necesario a los investigadores mexicanos para

que puedan elaborar sus proyectos.

3. De los nueve científicos que regresaron a México en 1980

a) seis se fueron a centros de investigación foráneos.

b) tres se quedaron en instituciones de la ciudad de México.

c) un mínimo de cuatro trabaja en el área de investigaciones médicas y biomédicas.

4. Según el director de CONACYT, Mario Waissbluth, con el programa de

repatriación

a) se ha terminado con los subsidios a instituciones.

b) se ha favorecido el área de investigaciones biomédicas.

c) no se pretende favorecer ningún área en especial.

5. Dos de los tres científicos repatriados que se mencionan en el artículo

a) terminaron el doctorado en el extranjero.

b) trabajan o van a trabajar en la Universidad Nacional.

c) trabajan en la Universidad Metropolitana.

6. De acuerdo con sus declaraciones, dos de los tres científicos repatriados decidieron

regresar a México impulsados por el deseo de servir a su país. Ellos son

a) la Dra. Orozco y el Dr. García Sáinz.

b) el Dr. Funes y la Dra. Orozco.

c) el Dr. García Sáinz y el Dr. Funes.

7. Al regresar a México la Dra. Orozco se dedicará a

a) sus estudios en el Instituto de Nutrición.

b) dirigir un laboratorio en el Instituto de Nutrición.

c) la docencia y a la investigación en la Universidad Nacional.

8. De acuerdo con el artículo, la fuga de cerebros no constituye un verdadero problema

para México porque

a) quien desee regresar al país siempre podrá encontrar fuentes de trabajo.

b) el CONACYT siempre se ha encargado de repatriarlos.

c) siempre ha habido una comunidad científica y tecnológica en México.

9. Hay pocos investigadores científicos en México en proporción a la población del

país

a) y por eso el gobierno mexicano está ofreciendo de ocho a diez becas por

institución gubernamental.
b) y la comunidad científica está exigiendo que se amplíen las posibilidades de

trabajo para todos.

c) pero los exbecarios de CONACYT reciben un número considerable de oferta de

empleo cuando lo solicitan.

10. El CONACYT ha contribuido con la siguiente cantidad para abrir un centro de

investigación en Puebla

a) $ 3,050,000.00

b) $ 3,000,000.00

c) $ 50,000,000.00