Mario Rocha Coghlan

Mario Rocha, working in Mexico's southern state of Michoacan, is bringing hands-on science and appropriate technology to young people and neighborhood groups. An annual "Festival of New Men," soon to be supplemented by a year-round House of Science, sparks interest, which he then encourages with supporting information and volunteers.

The success of the first Festival of New Men in Uruapan (Michoacan) of October 1988 led Mario to think not only about the second festival that took place in April of '89, but also about a more permanent way to promote scientific education in a challenging way -- the House of Science.The House of Science's objective is to make interesting and challenging science available to the public through a series of workshops, conferences, movies, excursions, and other scientific, cultural, and recreational activities. It will be an active intermediary between the sources of applied science and the grassroots communities, bringing scientists from universities and research centers in contact with students and their families, and dealing with problems that affect the daily life of the community (e.g., a workshop on the preservation of sea turtles -- an endangered species in the Uruapan area).The House of Science will be a community center working with activities and exhibitions on the environment, physical sciences, social sciences, art (literature, dance, music, theater, handcrafts), and technology and production. It will also provide library, computer, and video services.

The serious economic crisis Mexico faces today requires more than ever before a society of well-informed and constructively critical people. To that end Mexico needs a better education than what it is currently providing; it needs education to keep alive the natural curiosity of children and to provide solid evidence to satisfy this curiosity, it means education to develop scientific minds, and not just transmit information, says Mario.However, the economic crisis has only reinforced this educational crisis; poorly paid teachers in charge of large groups have few resources for extracurricular activities. In addition, educational levels particularly in official schools tend to be low, with little outlet for experimentation and creativity.The problem is especially serious in the provinces away from Mexico City. Despite having almost 1 million people and being the commercial and cultural center of the area, Uruapan has no programs to supplement formal education or to productively use children's free time. Mario proposes to fill this vacuum with the House of Science, providing an exciting learning experience for teachers, students, and parents.

Mario has been very successful in attracting large numbers of people to his science festivals. Well covered by the media, the first Festival of New Men counted a participation of 1500 children; the second festival attracted twice that number of students and families.With the support of teachers and community leaders and the commitment of scientists and volunteers, Mario is now setting up the House of Science in an unused factory. He has been able to obtain some equipment and materials from the National University and the National Council for Science and Technology. He is now fundraising among local businesses and international foundations and plans to inaugurate the House of Science of Uruapan before the end of 1989.Important as these centerpieces are, Mario's ultimate impact will depend on the success he has in connecting his relevant science to young people in their grassroots communities. This part of his approach begins with outreach "festivals" at the municipal and local community levels. Mario and his colleagues then must follow up quickly as sparks from these festivals ignite the interest of local groups.A community festival dealing with traditional industries, for example, interested one neighborhood in rediscovering the bottling of foods and the manufacture of a traditional coconut candy. Working with the local priest, Mario helped the community master the simple, appropriate technology that has since allowed them, and particularly a local youth group, to restart traditional candy manufacturing.In fanning such local engagement, Mario's group tries to limit its role to opening a community, school, or church to new possibilities and then to helping them begin by getting them initial information and linking them both with experts willing to help and with other volunteers.

Mario is a Mexico City-born and -trained sociologist who has lived in different states of Mexico, always working in the field of education, either as a university professor or in different popular education and community projects. Aside from organizing the Festival of New Men and the House of Science, he personally organizes children's bookfairs in schools and gives workshops to teachers on how to use the books to best effect.