He died on August 3, 2009

Born in Mexico City in 1927. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Humanities at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Capulhuac [Higher Learning Institute of Capulhuac], state of Mexico. He did a master's degree in philosophy at Isleta College in El Paso, Texas, and a PhD in Humanities at the University of Hamburg. Dr. Latapí is an Investigador Nacional Emérito [National Researcher Emeritus].

He is best known as a pioneer of educational research in Mexico. He has taught at all levels of the educational system (from the ABC’s to doctorate degree level). He has worn many hats during his long and productive career: researcher, international consultant, adviser to many education secretaries, initiator of educational research centers and programs, and forger of generations of researchers. In addition he stands out for his efforts to bring science closer to the general public through editorial journalism, practiced continuously since 1964 in newspapers and magazines such as Excélsior and Proceso. He coordinated the Primer Programa Nacional Indicativo de Investigación Educativa [First National Program Indicative of Educational Research], and promoted the Primer Congreso Nacional de Investigación Educativa [First National Congress of Educational Research]. Convinced of the importance of practice and of having a link with reality, he conducted field and literacy work in rural communities.

Dr. Latapí is Researcher Emeritus of the Centro de Estudios Educativos [Center for Educational Studies] and a former member of its Consejo Directivo [Board of Directors]. He is an expert of the Instituto de Investigaciones sobre la Universidad y la Educación de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) [Institute for Research on the University and on the Education offered by the National Autonomous University of Mexico]. Dr. Latapí also maintains a special collaboration relationship with the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) [Autonomous Metropolitan University], where he has been a member of the Junta Directiva [Board of Directors] and an advisor to many of its Rectors. Member of the Comité de Educación [Education Committee] and Embajador mexicano ante la Organización de Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) [Mexican Ambassador before the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)]. Dr. Latapí is a former member of the Junta Directiva del Consejo Mexicano de Investigación Educativa [Board of Directors of the Mexican Council of Educational Research], the Observatorio Ciudadano de la Educación [Education’s Citizen Observatory] and of the Instituto Nacional para la Evaluación de la Educación (INEE) [National Institute to Evaluate Education (INEE)]. He is a Member of the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias de la Presidencia de la República (CCC) [Science Consulting Council of the President’s Office].

Dr. Latapí has been honored with the Premio Interamericano de Educación “Maracay” (ahora Andrés Bello) de la OEA [the Inter-education "Maracay" (now Andres Bello) Prize of the OAS]; the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes [National Award for Science and Arts]; the Comeniuus Medal of the Czech Republic; Ph.D. Honoris Causa from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana de Aguascalientes [Autonomous Metropolitan University of Aguascalientes], The Cinvestav and the Universidad de Sonora [University of Sonora]. The Premio Luis Elizondo [Luis Elizondo Prize] of the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) [Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Learning]; Cátedra Patrimonial de Excelencia [Endowed Chair of Excellence].

His work comprises over 35 books and nearly 100 scientific papers and some 700 journalistic and science divulging articles. Outstanding among his books is “Un Siglo de Educación en México”, en dos tomos, Fondo de Cultura Económica [A Century of Education in Mexico, in two volumes, F.C.E.]; “La Moral Regresa a la Escuela”, UNAM, Centro de Estudios sobre la Universidad [Moral Goes Back to School, UNAM, Center of Studies on the University]; El Financiamiento de la Educación Pública en el Marco del Federalismo, Fondo de Cultura Económica [Financing of Public Education within the Frame of Federalism, F.C.E.], and several volumes of collected journalistic writings (Lecturas para Maestros, y Tiempo Educativo Mexicano) [Readings for Teachers, and Mexican Educational Time).