Tomás Unger, the last scientific disseminator of Peru and columnist for El Comercio, died

At the age of 92 he passed away Tomas Unger Golsztyn, the main scientific disseminator of Peru, journalist and columnist for El Comercio for more than 40 uninterrupted years. His death leaves a great void in the scientific community of Peru, as well as in teachers, students and fans.

Of Polish parents, Unger completed his first studies at the Champagnat school in Miraflores. After a stint at the National School of the Merchant Marine, he traveled to the United States and enrolled at the University of Portland, Oregon to study mechanical engineering. Years later, he graduated as an architect engineer at the School of Engineering (now the National University of Engineering known as UNI). Finally, he started in journalism in the late 50s.

Unger’s life story not only showed that he spent much of his time showing off the progress scientific and technological that were developing in the world, in parallel, he also ventured into the area of ​​motorsports, since he was the founder and director of the specialized magazine Automás.

He is considered for many years one of the most widely read authors and columnists in Trade. It is said that even teachers from schools and colleges in Peru cut out their publications and pasted them on the wall newspapers due to how easy and didactic it was to explain concepts. scientists.

In his farewell column, he recounts the events he saw and lived through in the last century as well as at the beginning of this one, such as the first trip to Peru in a single-propeller plane, expeditions to Antarctica, satellite launches, witnessing the first moon landing, space shuttles, missions to Mars, creation of new vaccines, among others.

His authorships made him worthy of several awards, including the one awarded in 2018 by the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC) to his career as Scientific disseminator. AND, Three years later, he received the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services, a distinction granted by the Peruvian State to Peruvian and foreign citizens for services to Peru in the fields of science and art.

Last interview with El Comercio

In the month of January, in an interview offered to this newspaper, he highlighted the presence of his parents in instilling in him a love of sciencehaving belonged to this medium to disseminate it and the importance for students of all ages to access it.

“For me it has been crucial. Being a science and technology disseminator has opened many doors for me (…) through the page, readers have been able to find out and meet scientists and read about what was happening in Peru and in the world. I would like to believe that I have helped to inform and make science more accessible; that it is not seen as something mysterious or complicated. Science is, after all, the study of everything around us.“, said.

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Unger’s death occurred quietly and was accompanied by his children. He was going to turn 93 next June. His funeral will be held in private this week.