Teodolinda Balcázar

Born in Chiapas, creative and enthusiastic woman. Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, she has 30 years of experience in the area of ​​Environmental Education. From 2003 to 2016 she was the Coordinator of the Area of Communication and Education at the Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IB-UNAM Botanical Garden). She has dedicated her career to promoting the importance of botanical gardens and the generation of a social conscience and respect for nature. In the IB-UNAM Botanical Garden, she has created numerous high-impact educational events that link science and culture, such as the National Botanical Gardens Day, the offerings of the Biology Institute in the Day of the Dead celebration, the “Saboreando… té” workshop, as well as collaborations with renowned artists in the conception and montage of numerous exhibitions. She has given workshops, courses and conferences on botanical gardens and education, and her work has been published in various media. She has been President of the Asociación Mexicana de Jardines Botánicos. She played an essential part in the conception and foundation of the Centro de Adopción de Plantas Mexicanas en Peligro de Extinción (Center for Adoption of Mexican Plants in Danger of Extinction) in the IB-UNAM Botanical Garden, and has been its General Coordinator since 2013. This very successful and educational project brings together more than 22,000 adoptive parents, and more than 45,000 adopted plants.