Dr. Héctor Mayagoitia, Coordinator of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) Sustainability Program and Former General Director of IPN, joined a conversation with Honorary POP Ocean Mentor, Ana Hanhausen and other POP youth leaders focussing on decision making around sustainability, as part of “POP Climate Leadership Conversations: A Tribute to Our Chief Mentor” on December 21, 2021.

When asked about what leadership means to him, as he himself has been a great leader and inspiration to many, Dr. Mayagoitia said that he only does his duty with love, as best as he can for the sake of our planet. He remarked that knowledge and conscience can allow us to prioritize our decisions in sustainability, at academic institutions, home and in politics. During his administration, he promoted the protection of pastureland and established the procedure which has since been implemented. Decisions around sustainability have to be made at an institution, local and federal level, so every person and institution need to be involved. This includes the youth, who need to be engaged as well as heard. Dr. Mayagoitia praised the POP Movement for its work on environmental education for individuals at different ages and also pointed to the need for the same at an institutional level. Youth actions have been essential to achieve the actions we have thus far and measures like reforestation campaigns are needed because forests are the antidote to pollution. He emphasized that we must all demand our politicians and support them to fulfill their commitments at a national and global level. By doing so, we can save our planet. Through his knowledge, expertise and values, Dr. Mayagoitia has been a true inspiration for the POP Movement and the conversation ended with expressing hopes for continuing to work together and be inspired by him.

About the guest:

Born in Victoria de Durango, Durango, Dr. Héctor Uriel Mayagoitia Domínguez is a Chemical Bacteriologist and Parasitologist who graduated from the National School of Biological Sciences of the National Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. Mayagoitia began activities in the area of Ecology and Environment in 1951 as Founder and Head of the Laboratory of Soil and Plant Chemistry of the ENCB (IPN, 2009). Similarly, he served as Undersecretary of Technical and Higher Education and promoted the creation of an Education System in Agricultural Technology. As Constitutional Governor of the State of Durango, between 1974 and 1979 and together with Dr. Gonzalo Halffter, Director General of the National Institute of Ecology, AC, they created the first two Biosphere Reserves in Mexico in Michilia and Mapimi, in the State of Durango.

As General Director of the National Polytechnic Institute, from 1979 to 1982, he founded the second CIIDIR in Jiquilpan, Michoacán. Dr. Mayagoitia also held the General Directorate of the National Council for Science and Technology, between 1983 and 1988. In 1988, in the Senate of the Republic, he was President of the Energy Commission and Secretary of the Human Settlements and Ecology Commission. He was also Technical General Director of the Coordinating Commission for Rural Development of the Federal District. He was Director of Environmental Education of the Department of the Federal District and of the Directorate of the “Ecoguardas” Environmental Education Center. For his actions, Dr. Mayagoitia has received multiple distinctions in the area of Ecology and Environment, such as the Recognition of Nature Conservation by SEMARNAT (2003) and the Special Award for Ecological Merit by SEMARNAT (2013). From the Coordination of the Environmental Program, and currently from the Polytechnic Coordination for Sustainability, with the active participation of 100 Environmental Committees, Academic, Environmental Management and Dissemination actions are developed to contribute to the formation of an Environmental Culture in the Polytechnic Community and in its sphere of influence, to participate in the Sustainable Development of Mexico.

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