La investigación geológica en la comisión científica de México / The geological research in the scientific commission of México

Durante el Imperio de Maximiliano (1864-1867) la ciencia mexicana experimentó cambios significativos en sus perspectivas generales y su enfoque metodológico, gracias a la participación de la comunidad científica local en los diferentes proyectos de investigación que se organizaron. Por un lado destacaron las propuestas del propio Emperador, quien impulsó la práctica científica local mediante el apoyo a los proyectos en curso, al tiempo que promovía nuevas empresas de investigación. Simultáneamente, Napoleón III ordenó al Instituto de Francia la organización de una expedición científica con el objeto de estudiar diferentes aspectos del país. Entre los objetivos de la expedición francesa destacó la investigación geológica, que se abordó tomando como antecedentes los estudios efectuados por numerosos viajeros europeos en los años precedentes. Este trabajo expondrá los principales rasgos de estos estudios y analizará los objetivos y alcances de la expedición durante su breve estancia en territorio mexicano (AU)

During Maximilian’s Empire, Mexican science experimented changes both in its general perspectives and its methodological outlook, due to scientific interaction among the local scientific community and foreign scientists. Maximilian encouraged local scientists to continue working in their ongoing projects, and invited others to participate in new scientific endeavors. Simultaneously, Napoleon III instructed the French Institute to organize a scientific expedition in order to study different aspects of the new Empire. Geological research stood out among the goals of the French expedition, and it was initiated taking into consideration several geological studies made by European travelers during the first half of the century. This paper will describe the main features of such investigations and will analyze the expedition’s goals and accomplishments during its brief sojourn in Mexico (AU)

De amateurs a profesionales. Las sociedades cientificas en Mexico en el siglo XIX / From amateurs to professionals. The scientifical societies in Mexico on the nineteenth century

"During the XIXth century, Mexican scientists underwent a thorough process of change involving the transition from amateurism to professionalization. A crucial role was played by scientific societies in their interaction with national state and its projects of modernization, specially during the last quarter of the century. Through their successful participation in the accomplishment of several official scientific projects, scientists acquired social recognition and found themselves empowered to negotiate the creation of scientific institutions. Professionalization of scientific practice followed, and Mexican scientists obtained a precise social profile."(AU)