Faculty of Sciences (University of the Republic)



The Faculty of Sciences is a public institution of education, research, and extension in the field of natural sciences and exact sciences, forming part of the Universidad de la República (UdelaR) of Uruguay. It is located in Montevideo, specifically in the neighborhood of Malvín Norte, at the intersection of Iguá and Mataojo streets.

The Faculty offers more than 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees in various natural and exact sciences. It comprises approximately 15% of the researchers in the National System of Researchers (SNI) of the country.

As of 2012, it had 3945 enrolled students, according to the VII Census of University Students of the Republic.

History
On November 21, 1990, the creation of the Faculty of Sciences of the Republic was approved by the Universidad de la República, after being part of the former Faculty of Humanities and Sciences. Nine years after its creation, it moved to a new university building constructed and adapted especially for studies in sciences, with numerous laboratories and sophisticated equipment. In June 2012, the institution was named after Prof. Dr. Mario Wschebor, in tribute to the first dean of the institution.

Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
The Faculty offers the following undergraduate degrees in sciences:
 * Bachelor of Human Biology (awarded jointly by the Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, and Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences)
 * Bachelor of Biochemistry
 * Bachelor of Biological Sciences
 * Bachelor of Atmospheric Sciences (jointly with the Faculty of Engineering)
 * Bachelor of Astronomy
 * Bachelor of Physical Sciences
 * Bachelor of Statistics
 * Bachelor of Medical Physics
 * Bachelor of Geography
 * Bachelor of Geology
 * Bachelor of Mathematics
 * Cartography Technologist (2 years)
 * Bachelor of Natural Resources (taught in Rivera)
 * Technician in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (2 and a half years, taught in Rivera)

It also grants the following graduate degrees (master's and doctorate):


 * Master's in Biotechnology
 * Master's in Biological Sciences
 * Master's in Environmental Sciences
 * Master's in Physics
 * Master's in Mathematics
 * Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
 * Ph.D. in Physics
 * Ph.D. in Mathematics
 * Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences

Students
In 2012, the students were distributed as follows: 1 in Astronomy, 1134 in Biochemistry, 1710 in Biological Sciences, 3 in Meteorological Sciences, 157 in Geography, 221 in Geology, 588 in Mathematics, 784 in Physical Sciences, 103 in Natural Resources, 24 in Environmental Management, and 44 in Management of Natural Resources. 

Institutes

 * Biological Sciences
 * Biological Chemistry
 * Mathematics
 * Ecology and Environmental Sciences
 * Physics
 * Nuclear Research
 * Geological Sciences

Units

 * Teaching
 * Science and Development
 * Geography Department
 * Extension and Activities in the Community
 * Continuing Education
 * Research Support
 * Practical Laboratories
 * Electron Microscopy

Deans
The first dean of the Faculty was Mario Wschebor, serving two consecutive terms, from the creation in December 1990 until 1998. He was succeeded by Ricardo Ehrlich (biochemist), who completed the term from 1998 to 2002 and resigned in the middle of his second term in early 2005 to run as a candidate for the Frente Amplio for the Montevideo Departmental Government, being succeeded by Julio Ángel Fernández. In 2010, Fernández completed his deanship, and he was succeeded by Juan Cristina, who served two consecutive terms (2010 to 2014 and 2014 to 2018), followed by Mónica Marín, the current dean of the Faculty of Sciences.