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Bernardino Rivadavia and the Natural Sciences

2012; Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia e Instituto Nacional de Investigación de las Ciencias Naturales; Volume: 14; Linguagem: Inglês

10.22179/revmacn.14.192

1853-0400

Víctor A. Ramos,

History of Science and Natural History

Bernardino Rivadavia and the Natural Sciences. The contributions of Rivadavia to the development of science in general, and in particular the natural sciences are analyzed during the Revolución de Mayo and subsequent years. His contributions are highlighted in four stages, first as Secretary of the Primer Triunvirato (1811-1812), then as Plenipotentiary Minister in Europe (1814-1820), continuing as Minister of the Governor of Buenos Aires (1821-1824), and finally as President (1826-1827). The four stages have in common a constant concern for science education, by creating and restoring academic institutions, and the aggrandizement of the country. The events of those years with very critical situations, such as the “Conspiracy of the Spanish”, the maintenance of the independence army, the war with the Brazilian Empire, besides the local fighting, despite its gravity, not deviating him from his deep convictions that science would contribute to the future development of the country. The University of Buenos Aires and the Natural History Museum should be eternally grateful to him for their foundation and initial impulses.