University Reform, the Claim for an Experimental Life, and “Free Studies” in the Periphery (1917-1922)

Abstract

Both the contemporary press and the subsequent historiographical tradition on the 1918 University Reform fail to record claims of the the student in favor of a scientific practice transformation in universities, mainly focused on its experimental dimension. From the perspective of the social history of Science, Technology and Medicine, we explore the student and scientific press of that period to assess to what extent this student rebellion must be completed with the recovery and analysis of the claims and proposals –precursors in Argentina and Latin America– in favor of the transformation of experimental life. We also intend to show that these proposals converged on call for of “free studies” as the main chosen channel for their concretion.