Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation: Generosity that Stimulates Excellence

The Constellations Building and the Interactive Astronomy Hall of the "Luis Enrique Erro" Planetarium are icons of initiatives aimed at bringing science and technology closer to the general public.

Claudia Villalobos

Working daily to serve society, with the desire to put one's heart into each project and enjoy it, is the philosophy by which Alfredo Harp Helú lives. Through the foundation that bears his name, he has contributed to enhancing the academic, cultural, and social service activities of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN).

Thanks to Harp Helú's philanthropic efforts, this institution has received financial donations used to purchase computer equipment, and educational materials, provide academic scholarships, and renovate the "Jaime Torres Bodet" Cultural Center and the "Luis Enrique Erro" Planetarium.

The Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation advanced astronomical sciences through the Digistar 3 system, which allowed the creation of original content by controlling three-dimensional audio and graphics in real time. It also facilitated the visualization of observations with large optical telescopes, surgeries, oil exploration, space research, distance education, and scientific modeling through computer animation of mathematical, chemical, or biological phenomena.

In 2012, thanks to this Foundation's altruism, the Politécnico inaugurated the Constellations Building and the Interactive Astronomy Hall, located next to the planetarium, as part of the Planetarium's 45th anniversary celebration. Their purpose is to bring science and technology closer to the general public through an exhibit on the advancements mankind has made in traveling to the Moon.

The impact of Dr. Alfredo Harp Helú's philanthropy has reached the most underserved regions of the country. The donation of ambulances, mobile medical units, and a Jeep has improved the care provided to communities visited by Polytechnic students through the Multidisciplinary Community Social Service Brigades.

The Instituto Politécnico Nacional is making steady progress towards continuous improvement, confident that thanks to the generosity of benefactors like the Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation, it is easier to fulfill its core missions.

Gaceta Politécnica #1792. (May 15th, 2024). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.