HERNANDEZ MACIAS, HECTOR MANUEL

Héctor M. Hernández Macías (b. San Luis Potosí, Mexico, 1954- ) obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. During 1982-1986, he conducted doctoral studies under the advice of Dr. Peter H. Raven at Saint Louis University and the Missouri Botanical Garden, where he obtained a Ph.D. in systematic botany. His doctoral dissertation was distinguished with the Jesse M. Greenman Award – 1990.

Since 1987, he has been a researcher at the Department of Botany, Instituto de Biología, UNAM, where he has been Head of the National Herbarium (1987-1988), Head of the Department of Botany (1994-1995) and Director (1995-2003). He is interested in the systematics of some genera of legumes, and over the last decades he has conducted several research projects aimed at generating basic information on the biogeography and conservation status of Mexican cacti. Since 1917, he has been coeditor of the inter-institutional project Flora Mesoamericana.

He has published over 100 scientific articles, book chapters, and books. He is currently a member of several scientific organizations, such as the Sociedad Botánica de México, as well as the UICN Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist Group (Chairman 2012-2016) and the International Organization of Succulent Plant Study (President 2014-present).