Abstract:

Missionaries of Science is a Science Awareness Program launched in Mexico on February 12, 2009, the year and day declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the International Year of Astronomy and Darwin day respectively. The founders of this project became conscious of the fact that the popularity of scientific careers is decreasing among students in Mexico and it was also realized that the population at large needs to have basic scientific knowledge in order influence positively the decisions taken by politicians that affect the environment and the planet in general. The idea Missionaries of Science was to provide a platform over which a scientific and environmental conscience could be developed in students at all basic levels of education.
Among the main objectives of this program are:
a) Bring science to Mexican schools.
b) Promote scientific culture in Mexico.
c) Guide students in their choice of a scientific career.
d) Promote scientific research in Mexico.
e) Reduction of scientific illiteracy in Mexico.
Up to now, Missionaries of Science has visited hundreds of schools, science fairs and open spaces mainly in Mexico City. After four years of activity, we evaluate the general impact of the program with the view to improving its effectiveness and to evaluate the possibility of expanding the program to other states in Mexico, and even to other countries.

Keywords:

Popularity of scientific careers, basic levels of education, environmental conscience.