University of Buenos Aires: Its 190th Anniversary (1821-2011): A Good Opportunity to Say Something About Bioengineering [Retrospectroscope]

Argentina´s revolution ended on 25 May 1810, culminating in the declaration of independence from Spain on 9 July 1816. A long period of war and anarchy followed, during which several geographically central districts (provinces), part of the previous viceroyship of the Río de la Plata, formed a rather loose confederation (not really a country) led by the Province of Buenos Aires, which was the biggest and strongest and acted as representative in international relationships and affairs. Within that unstable frame, there were people with broad visions of the future who, in spite of the situation, thought of the cultural and scientific development of the nascent country. So, on 12 August 1821, the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) was created by an edict under the initiative of Bernardino Rivadavia, then government minister of the Province of Buenos Aires [1] (Figure 1). The edict was obviously cosigned by the governor of the province, General Martín Rodríguez. It remained as a provincial university until 1881, when it became a national university. It must be remembered that Argentina was declared a federal republic in 1853 with the establishment of a constitution. Justo José de Urquiza was elected as president under that constitution. By 1862, all provinces were united.