UNAM
Revista Digital Universitaria
Revista Digital Universitaria ISSN: 1607 - 6079 | Publicación mensual | 1 de abril de 2015 vol.16, No.4

ABSTRACT

The incursion of the Scientists Diplomats in the 20th Century: Two Mexican Experiences



Adriana Minor García, Joel Vargas Domínguez


This article reflects on a particular type of expert, the scientist diplomat, term used here to refer to the scientists who were involved in diplomacy as part of a new way to engage in and to practice international relations in the 20th century. Hence, we analyze two exemplary cases of the international presence of Mexican scientific diplomats: Francisco de Paula Miranda (1890-1950) as an expert in nutrition and Manuel Sandoval Vallarta (1899-1977) as a delegate to the creation of the United Nations Commission of Atomic Energy. The Mexican government recognized both as experts in their respective scientific disciplines (nutrition and physics), designating them as representatives to international organizations. These cases illustrate the emergence of this type of expert in the intersections of science and diplomacy, as well as the role of scientists in the development of international networks of knowledge and geopolitics.



Keywords: nutrition, atomic energy, scientist-diplomats, Mexico, Manuel Sandoval Vallarta, Francisco de Paula Miranda