Esther Orozco (1945) is a biologist born in Mexico who has also stood out for her role as a politician and researcher. Her main contribution has to do with her studies on the structure of the parasites responsible for amoebiasis, better known as amoebic disease.
Her studies and contributions in Mexico have served her to receive various awards and recognitions, including the Louis Pasteur medal from UNESCO and the UNESCO and L'oreal "Women in Science" Award.
Source: Yazmín Ortega, via La Jornada.
She served as rector of the Autonomous University of Mexico City (UACM) and was also nominated for the position of governors of Chihuahua. He had this candidacy as part of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).
Biography
María Esther Orozco Orozco was born on April 25, 1945 in the small town of San Isidro Pascual Orozco, in Chihuahua (Mexico). She has openly acknowledged being the family of Pascual Orozco, also a native of San Isidro and who was a controversial participant during the revolutionary period that Mexico lived through.
In the words of Esther Orozco, her political aspirations and ideals are the result of her revolutionary ancestors, especially her great-uncle.
"I come from a family of revolutionaries: my great-uncle was the Maderista leader Pascual Orozco, from whom I consider I inherited the desire for liberty…". Quote extracted from an interview with DSP news.
Studies
Esther Orozco's professional career began when she worked as a teacher in educational institutions, especially in the primary cycle.
By 1975 she finished her studies as a chemist, bacteriologist and parasitologist, training she carried out at the Autonomous University of the City of Chihuahua (UACH). These certified degrees would generate great controversy in the future, since it took about 36 years to process her degree and professional license.
Despite this, three years after completing his studies in Chihuahua, he completed his postgraduate, master and doctorate training at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the IPN (CINVESTAV). This education was completed in the area of cell biology.
Thanks to her training, she was able to perform the role of researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a research place located in the United States and whose foundation is non-profit.
Esther Orozco spent ten years at this center, at which time she was also able to work as a fellow in different foundations; as is the case with the John Simon Guggenheim and the Fogarty International Center.
Charges
In 1998, Esther Orozco was elected as one of the candidates for the post of the government of Chihuahua. Her appointment was an initiative of Víctor Orozco, president of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) in Chihuahua and cousin of the famous biologist.
One of the main criticisms of Esther Orozco's candidacy was that she focused her campaign on opposing the PRI rather than proposing a government plan. Finally, of the candidates she received the fewest votes with only 5.37%. The victory and the position ended up in the hands of the PRI thanks to its candidate Patricia Martínez García.
For 2006 he took over the direction of the Institute of Science and Technology of the Federal District. This position was reached by an appointment of Marcelo Ebrard, who at the time took over the head of government of the Federal District.
Four years later, in 2010, she experienced her most turbulent time when she was elected as rector of the Autonomous University of Mexico City (UACM), being dismissed from her post three years later.
Controversial
It took her more than 30 years to formalize her professional degree as a chemist, bacteriologist and parasitologist, a training she carried out at the Autonomous University of the City of Chihuahua (UACH). Orozco came to recognize that she never got her professional license after finishing her degree in 1977, because "it was simply never necessary."
Orozco's detractors saw in this administrative detail a golden opportunity to discredit it. She was accused, among other things, of violating the law set forth in article 5 of the constitution, which refers to the duties to practice a scientific profession. These accusations forced her to testify before the prosecution.
In addition, all the problems were linked to the conflicts she experienced as rector of the Autonomous University of Mexico City (UACM). Orozco experienced student strikes and different demonstrations that ultimately led to her removal from office.
During the three years that she was rector, she was responsible for eight dismissals and several accused. This led to the opening of ten cases for complaints before the Human Rights Commission of the Federal District (CDHDF). She also had two complaints with the Attorney General's Office, having to testify for investigations regarding an alleged embezzlement.
Contributions to science
Esther Orozco's work as a chemist, bacteriologist and parasitologist is compiled in multiple publications. In total, she has authored two books and her signature appears in more than 150 writings. It is also noteworthy that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute made several scientific reports.
His participation in conferences, both nationally and internationally, allowed him to gain importance in the scientific area. Orozco made more than 50 conferences that he gave in different parts of the world.
Thanks to her role as an educator, she has had a great influence on the training of new Mexican researchers. What can be seen in the role it played in 2003, when a postgraduate degree dedicated to genomic sciences was established at UACM. Orozco was even in charge of this postgraduate course in 2006.
His scientific work focused on three areas, all related to the parasites responsible for amoebiasis. These studies were focused on:
- The factors that generated amoebiasis.
- Drug resistance of those affected by this disease
- The arrangement of amoebic genes.
Recognitions
The National System of Researchers (SIN) was created in 1984 and María Esther Orozco was recognized with several awards during the time she was part of this organization. She also received two UNESCO prizes, in 1998 and 2006.
Her studies on amoebae and how to control them were one of the most important reasons for her international recognition.
She was also awarded by the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) for her contributions to science.
References
- Dra. Orozco Orozco Ma. Esther. Recovered from infectomica.cinvestav.mx
- Esther Orozco Orozco. (2019). Recovered from anahuacmayab.mx
- UNESCO honors Mexican biologist Esther Orozco. Recovered from Cimacnoticias.com.mx
- María Esther Orozco Orozco. Recovered from chihuahuamexico.com
- Orozco, E. (1999). If the woman is: Chihuahua, paving the way in the fight for democracy. Chihuahua: Double Helix Editors.