2011 EDITION

For her work on the chemical
composition of nebulae which is
fundamental to our understanding
of the origin of the universe
The Future of the Universe
In the first three minutes following the Big Bang, the only
elements produced in abundance were hydrogen and helium.
The other elements were created later via fusion processes
inside stars. The respective quantity of helium and hydrogen in
the early universe is extremely important because it can help
shape our understanding of the first moments of the universe.
By studying the Large Magellanic Cloud, the brightest HII
region visible from Earth, and the Orion Nebula, Professor
Torres-Peimbert and her colleagues were the first to establish
differences in helium abundance among nebulae from different
galaxies. According to their research, the amount of helium
in the universe has increased throughout its evolution, which
could shed new light on the future of the universe.
At this early stage of the 21st century, Silvia Torres-Peimbert is
at the leading edge of research on the very first generations of
stars and galaxies, which remain one of the major mysteries of
astronomical research.
Sharing Stars
with the Whole World
Professor Torres-Peimbert received her bachelor’s degree at
the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and
her PhD in Astronomy at the University of California - Berkeley.
She has been a professor in the Faculty of Sciences at UNAM
since 1972 and a professor in the Institute of Astronomy since
1976.
She has received several awards from the Mexican Physical
Society, the National University of Mexico, and other national
and international organizations including the guillaume Budé
Medal from the Collège de France. She is a member of the
American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society
of the Pacific, TWAS, The Academy of Sciences for the
Developing World and Vice President of the International
Astronomical Union.
She has been chief editor of a scientific journal and has
delivered more than 250 talks for the general public. She also
produces TV and radio shows designed to popularise science.
SILVIA TORRES-
PEIMBERT
IN HER OWN
WORDS
PASSION BEATS TRADITION
“When I was a student,” she pointed
out, “women in Mexico were not
expected to have a career”. Although
her family was supportive throughout
her studies, she still remembers the
feeling of being at cross purposes with
the principles of traditional education.
That is why she also insists on the
need to promote “deeper changes
in the attitudes of men and women
starting early in life.”
TEACHINg NEW ATTITUDES
TO OUR CHILDREN
“The main challenges I had to overcome
were my own expectations of
the role of women in society. At several
stages in my life, I had to stop and
reflect on my real interests, in order to
prioritize my activities,” she explains,
adding that when she looks back on
her choices, she is “very glad to have
been so defensive of my career.”
For future generations, she emphasizes
the need to instil new attitudes as early
as possible: “Significant differences in
attitudes are taught to boys and girls
at an early age, and are very difficult to
discard later in life.”
ACCOMPLISHINg MORE
AND BETTER WITH LESS
Scientists in the developing countries
must deal with additional hardships,
such as “carrying out competitive
research with fewer resources and
outdated equipment.” With fewer
scientists per capita and only a small
share of GDP invested in science, the
developing countries have a real need
for scientists.