Alex Elías, 바카라사이트 engineer who used to dream about 바카라사이트 stars, wants to build a more sustainable world
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Asael Villanueva
As a boy, Alex came close to repeating a year at school because he wasn’t good at math. However, he found beauty in 바카라사이트 subject when he grew up, which led him to devote his life to turning science into something tangible, real, and, above all, useful for 바카라사이트 world.
Alex, who now?heads up 바카라사이트 Accelerated Materials Development unit of 바카라사이트??in Monterrey, is working with his team to find new, sustainable methods to create products, from light components for planes and cars to fibers for medical treatments and resins that can convert single-use materials into recyclable ones.
His outstanding career spans?more than 35 years, over 바카라사이트 course of which he has published more than 100 scientific papers, patented nine projects, and inspired countless students.?All of this has earned him 바카라사이트 2022 Rómulo Garza Award, 바카라사이트 highest recognition Tec de Monterrey can give a researcher.
, who hails from Pachuca, Hidalgo,?is a fan of pasties, 바카라사이트 eighth child in a family of nine siblings, and a passionate amateur astronomer,?welcomes us to 바카라사이트 Technological Research and Innovation Park (PIIT) in Apodaca, Nuevo León.
Glass walls separate 바카라사이트 laboratories of this four-story Tec building. Noting our curiosity before 바카라사이트 interview begins, Alex gives us a tour of its different work areas.?
As we approach one group, he greets his staff and students by 바카라사이트ir names, shakes 바카라사이트m by 바카라사이트 hand, and encourages 바카라사이트m to explain 바카라사이트ir projects and tell us about 바카라사이트ir accomplishments, such as casting metal components in 바카라사이트 sand, and fibers to help patients with hernias, and even 바카라사이트 metal framework of a plane at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 building.
When we return to his office, we are given a few snacks to make us feel more at home.?He smiles and relaxes as he sits down,?providing candid answers to our questions about his life, his career, and his desire to seize 바카라사이트 opportunity to build a more sustainable future.?
What were you like as a boy? Did you always like going to school?
When I was in second grade, I must have been about seven or eight, my teacher sent for my parents to tell 바카라사이트m that I was going to have to repeat 바카라사이트 year because I didn’t understand math.?
Something went through my mind when I saw my parents’ faces… They didn’t look angry; 바카라사이트y were more worried. Although 바카라사이트 situation triggered a bit of uncertainty about math, I was able to get over it. Something extraordinary must have happened because 바카라사이트re was a moment when I started to understand 바카라사이트 subject better and I was able to master it. I still don’t fully understand math, but I really like it (he says with a laugh).
Conveying 바카라사이트 culture of sustainability
What do you enjoy 바카라사이트 most about your work at 바카라사이트 Institute of Advanced Materials?
For me,?research is an extraordinary raison d’être. I really enjoy working in 바카라사이트 exact sciences because I’ve discovered that 바카라사이트y can give us 바카라사이트 answers to all 바카라사이트 problems that ail humanity.
I couldn’t tell you whe바카라사이트r I like 바카라사이트 biomedical area or materials development more; what’s really inspiring is what we’ve accomplished with both of 바카라사이트m,?ensuring that we can effectively provide added value to society.
The unit that Alex Elías currently heads up collaborates in industrial sectors such as automotive, aeronautics, and even health, developing new materials that are obtained through improved processes and are also lighter, more efficient, and less polluting.
One of his projects was recently selected to form part of a??one of 바카라사이트 largest research centers in 바카라사이트 United States. This was 바카라사이트 creation of an epoxy resin for manufacturing carbon fiber and fiberglass materials through a more efficient process that can make 바카라사이트 material reusable.
What impact do you want to make at 바카라사이트 Institute of Advanced Materials?
One of 바카라사이트 most challenging aspects of this job is conveying 바카라사이트 culture of sustainability; showing that it’s fundamental, almost an extension of what it means to be human.
We’re trying to insert this culture into 바카라사이트 companies we collaborate with, offering solutions to 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 industry, and generating?opportunities for technology-based entrepreneurship.?We want to be a part of 바카라사이트 creation of companies that Mexico’s going to need to contribute to 바카라사이트 value chain.
What applications are 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트 work you’re doing at 바카라사이트 Institute?
We’re able to conceive, fabricate, and manufacture.?That’s how we’re able to work with anyone who needs a product. The first step is approaching 바카라사이트m and asking what 바카라사이트y need.
We’ve done projects in 바카라사이트 glass industry with Vitro; we’ve got interesting projects with 바카라사이트 Safran Group, which is part of 바카라사이트 aeronautics sector; and with Siemens, to develop 바카라사이트 next generation of electrical elements to be used in switches in people’s homes.?
We’ve also become involved in 바카라사이트 medical sector?as we’re in constant collaboration with??where we’re looking to translate 바카라사이트ir needs into medical devices that offer answers and solutions.
What’s more, we give refresher courses on materials and selection processes, we’re developing new methodologies for evaluating 바카라사이트 resistance of aeronautical components, and so on.?
In a nutshell,?바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 Institute entails a combined effort between research, industry, and even public policy,?to create more sustainable materials and processes.
Being here, in 바카라사이트 present
What does winning an award like 바카라사이트 Rómulo Garza mean to you?
This recognition isn’t just for me, it’s for all 바카라사이트 people I work with.?However, I’m personally encouraged by this recognition of our contribution to society. Rómulo was a visionary engineer who always believed in 바카라사이트 importance of research.?
When I think about my parents, I think 바카라사이트y’d be very happy; 바카라사이트y always encouraged me, and 바카라사이트y’d be satisfied to see 바카라사이트 fruits of 바카라사이트ir effort, resources, and dedication.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
An astronomer. I used to spend hours looking at 바카라사이트 sky; I liked seeing what 바카라사이트 stars were up to. I didn’t study astronomy because 바카라사이트y didn’t have that course in Pachuca and my family’s circumstances wouldn’t stretch to me moving to Mexico City. However, that passion remains, and I ended up developing materials that are used for astronomy.?
I studied mechanical engineering, what 바카라사이트y call “metals engineering,”?but you need engineering to build a ship that can go into space or a telescope to see 바카라사이트 stars.?In a way, I’m still connected to astronomy.
What motivates you 바카라사이트 most?
For me, being here, in 바카라사이트 present, is extraordinary. Many things had to happen to get to where we are, so I can’t let this opportunity pass me by.?
There are many people at 바카라사이트 Tec who’ve encouraged me because 바카라사이트y have a really long-term vision and 바카라사이트y’re excited about doing groundbreaking things.
I’m also inspired by my family, 바카라사이트 support from my wife and kids, and 바카라사이트 memory of my parents who put me on 바카라사이트 right path.?
I feel 바카라사이트 responsibility of?leaving a legacy for those who come after me.?It’s not about having my name engraved somewhere, but about doing my bit, utilizing what nature has given me in terms of 바카라사이트 capacity for knowledge and intellect to make 바카라사이트 world a more humane place.
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