Francisco A. González Redondo

La organización de la educación matemática en la Junta para Ampliación de Estudios: el Laboratorio y Seminario Matemático

Created in 1907, the Junta para Ampliacion de Estudios e Investigaciones Cientificas (JAE) started in 1910 a complete pedagogical transformation in university disciplines through the establishment of different centres devoted to research and teaching, both in Humanities and the Sciences. In the particular case of Mathematics, it would not be until 1915 when the first organization of a Laboratory conceived as Mathematical Seminar was undertaken with the aim of introducing modern Mathematics in Spain. But, as it is shown in this article, it will be a sui generis centre, created and based more upon wilfulness and personal flexibility than in that formal institutionalization proper of a public centre for High Education, and its formal evolution, previous to Spanish Civil War, is documented in detail in this paper for the first time.

El criterio de relevancia científica y la organización histórica por generaciones de la ciencia española

If the contribution to the Arts from our country has being traditionally a reference at international levels, it has taken several centuries to the Spanish Science for gaining a place close to that from our most advance among our neighbours. In fact, soon before the outbreak of the Civil War we had almost got it, as has being remarked by many historians of our scientific past. In this article a new historical organization of Spanish Science is advanced. Taking into account the criterion of the international relevance of their respective scientific contributions, a new historical category is added to the traditional ones of generations of genius and intermediate generations: that of the tutorized generations, which is conveniently characterized.

Prehistoria de la matemática y mente moderna: pensamiento matemático y recursividad en el Paleolítico franco-cantábrico

In the present article, we begin by reviewing the different types of symbolic records produced by prehistoric groups from the oldest probable origins of the modern human mind. Next, we review some of the most outstanding prehistoric pieces related to counting, enhancing the relevance (both quantitatively and qualitatively) of this type of piece in the Franco-Cantabrian region. These reviews lead us finally to note the tremendous relevance, within this context, of four horse-bone plaques from the Altamira Cave, dated in the Solutrean period (18,500 years). These small plaques, apparently constituting a coherent group of interrelated elements, are proposed here as the representation of a recursive process, recursion being a feature proposed as proper and exclusive of human language.

Los científicos en la organización y la gestión de la universidad: una visión histórica.

The models of University organization and management can be studied from very different and complementary points of view. In this article the participation of two eminent scientists are studied, namely Blas Cabreras (Rector) and Juan Negrins (Secretary of the Faculty of Medicine) contributions at Madrids Central University General Council at the beginning of the thirties. The analysis fulfilled, of an essential historical character, is based upon unpublished documents, namely the Councils Libro de Actas, whose first meeting took place on the 6th of March of 1930. As a whole, the study will aloud the detection of the various approaches to University organization and management. We will show those difficulties an experimental physicist as Blas Cabrera will suffer as Rector, opposite to the impressive qualities as organiser that can be seen in a physician and politician as Juan Negrin, whom, through his role should be considered undoubtedly the Councils alma mater.

Educación y sociedad en España. 1929-1931: el conflicto estudiantil en y desde la Universidad de Madrid.

Entre 1929 y 1931 se vivio en Espana un periodo de agitacion social que cambio el panorama politico desde una Dictadura en el marco de una Monarquia a la proclamacion de la II Republica. En todo el proceso el mundo universitario, en general, y el estamento estudiantil, en particular, jugaron un papel de excepcional relevancia. Aunque las motivaciones fueron muchas y de muy variadas naturalezas, el detonante de no pocas movilizaciones fueron las diferentes leyes educativas promulgadas durante la Dictadura tanto para el Bachillerato como para la Universidad. El momento espanol presente, en el que se van sucediendo y sucederan los manifiestos, las protestas y las manifestaciones ante la Ley Organica de Universidades y la subsiguiente Ley de Calidad para la ensenanza no universitaria, ha traido a los medios el recuerdo de lo acontecido hace ya mas de setenta anos. En este trabajo detallamos lo sucedido entonces basandonos tanto en material de hemeroteca y fuentes bibliograficas como en documentos de archivo ineditos.