In the context of International Women's Day, Adriana Gazol Patiño, a researcher at the Institute of Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics, at UNAM Campus Morelia, received the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Recognition, given by UNAM to outstanding academics.
"I feel very happy, very honored, and very joyful to be part of these recognitions received by many women at the university who carry out work in very different fields," said Adriana Gazol with excitement after receiving the award. "We are women who work in high schools, institutes, and research centers in very diverse disciplines. Being part of the recognition of the work of so many women who do so many different things at the university gave me great joy," she added.
This recognition acknowledges the contributions of women at UNAM in the areas of science, humanities, art, and sports. Ninety two women from across UNAM received the award this year. Like Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, these academics are role models for girls and young women who want to pursue a career in these fields.
“I imagine that a girl or young woman who wants to study science is driven a little by curiosity, by the desire to know, and a lot by the desire to do,” Adriana Gazol commented. “I would tell her to let herself be guided by those stimuli: curiosity, the desire to learn, the desire to do things she sees others doing, and to remember that she doesn't have to stop being herself to be a scientist,” she stated.
Adriana Gazol’s career
Adriana Gazol Patiño obtained an undergraduate degree in physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and received her PhD en physical sciences from the Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis in France. She has been a researcher at the UNAM since 1998.
She studies the atomic interstellar medium using hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations. In particular, she studies the thermodynamic properties of gas in transition between the diffuse medium and the molecular clouds where stars form.
Adriana Gazol has been the head of public outreach at the Institute for Radioastronomy and Astrophysics and has represented IRyA in several university teaching committees. She continues to be very active in outreach activities, and she founded IRyA’s “Astronomy Fridays” public talk series.
Images: Adriana Gazol receives the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Recognition (top). Portrait of Adriana Gazol Patiño. Medal that constitutes the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Recognition.
About IRyA, UNAM
The Instituto de Radioastronomía y Astrofísica (IRyA), or Institute for Radioastronomy and Astrophysics is an academic unit at UNAM, Campus Morelia, Mexico. The Institute’s personnel perform high-level and high-impact research in the areas of interstellar medium, star formation, evolved stars, high energy astrophysics, Galactic dynamics and structure, extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. They also contribute to educate high-level human resources through a postgraduate program, and maintain a close relationship with society through diverse outreach and science communication programs.
If you are interested in our Institute, visit the English version of our webpage, www.irya.unam.mx/web/en
Media contact:
Dr. René A. Ortega Minakata
Outreach and Science Communication
IRyA UNAM Campus Morelia
Text: IRyA UNAM