Elías Bechara Zainúm (December 10, 1920 – August 9, 2013) was a Colombian educator, philanthropist and chemist-

bacteriologist A bacteriologist is a microbiologist, or similarly trained professional, in bacteriology -- a subdivision of microbiology that studies bacteria, typically Pathogenic bacteria, pathogenic ones. Bacteriologists are interested in studying and learnin ...

, founder of the University of Córdoba and the Sinú University, in Colombia.

Early life

Zainúm was the son of Syrian-Lebanese migrants who arrived in Colombia towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, settling in Lorica, Córdoba. As a child, Zainúm was a great reader and always wanted to help and protect his classmates. Zainúm moved to Cartagena for high school.

Chemistry career

He studied chemistry at the

University of Cartagena The University of Cartagena ( es, link=no, Universidad de Cartagena), also called UniCartagena, is a departmental public coeducational research university based primarily in the city of Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia. The university offers educ ...

and specialized in

Biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...

and Laboratory in Mexico and Texas. He returned to Colombia and settled in the city of

Barranquilla Barranquilla () is the capital district of Atlántico Department in Colombia. It is located near the Caribbean Sea and is the largest city and third port in the Caribbean Coast region; as of 2018 it had a population of 1,206,319, making it Col ...

where he was a teacher at the

Universidad del Atlántico Universidad (Spanish for "university") may refer to: Places * Universidad, San Juan, Puerto Rico * Universidad (Madrid) Football clubs * Universidad SC, a Guatemalan football club that represents the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ...

, alternating his time with research and the laboratory. He patented the delayed formula of

Penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' moulds, principally '' P. chrysogenum'' and '' P. rubens''. Most penicillins in clinical use are synthesised by P. chrysogenum using ...

(Pensolvox), acquired by the Own Laboratory of Colombia for its distribution. Based in

Montería Montería () is a municipality and city located in northern Colombia and is the capital of the Departments of Colombia, Department of Córdoba Department, Córdoba. The city is located away from the Caribbean sea, by the Sinú River. The city an ...

, he wanted to contribute to the development of the region, and in 1962, he founded the Lorica Agricultural Institute, ITA. In 1964, he created the first university in the region: the National University of Córdoba, of which he was founder and twice Rector. In 1965 in Montería, he created the first departmental night high school on the Atlantic Coast. He supports the opening of INEM Lorenzo María Lleras, providing the land for its construction. Likewise, he supports the creation of the Cecilia de Lleras School and the approval of the José María Córdoba National School.

University of Sinú

In 1974 he founded the Higher Educational Corporation of Córdoba (Cesco), which in 1980 became the Sinú University Corporation and in 2004, through Resolution No. 4973 of the Ministry of National Education (MEN), obtained recognition as a university, calling itself since then Universidad del Sinú -Elías Bechara Zainúm-,1 Institution since 2019 is Accredited in High Quality by the MEN (Ministry of National Education). Elías Bechara Zainúm held important local, regional and national positions, among which are: Mayor of Montería, Senator of the Republic and councilor of the municipalities of Montería, Cereté and Los Córdobas. He was the first regional president of SENA; first President of Public Improvements; President of the Association of Higher Education Institutions of the Atlantic Coast; President of the Board of the Hospital San Jerónimo de Montería; first President of the Cotton Growers Association of Córdoba; first President of the Urrá Project.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zainum, Elías Bechara Colombian educators 2013 deaths 1920 births University of Cartagena alumni People from Córdoba Department Heads of universities and colleges in Colombia Colombian people of Syrian descent Colombian people of Lebanese descent