Portuguese University has very ancient origins which affiliate in the request driven to Pope Nicolas IV, dated from 1288, of the creation of a general study, in Lisbon. The University Headquarters changed until 1537 and in that break of time was in Lisbon or in Coimbra. It was definitely tranfered to Coimbra, in 1537, where remained as the only institution of the country. It was only in XIX century that higher education reappears in the capital: Medical and Surgical School of Lisbon (1836), Pharmacy School (1836), Polytechnic School (1837) and the Higher Course of Letters (1859).

These four schools were united in the Universidade de Lisboa, by the University Constitution of 19 April, 1911 ? created by the decree of 22 March, 1911 ? changing their denomitions to those everyone know today. Lately, more changes in these faculties happened and more research and education institutions were enclosed. It is the case of the Bacteriology Institute Câmara Pestana, the Geophysics Institute Prince D. Luiz, the Institute of Vocational Couselling, the National Museum of Natural History (which includes Bocage Museum, Botanic Garden and Museum and Mineralogical and Geological Museum) and the Science Museum.

• Centro de Matemática e Aplicações Fundamentais, Universidade de Lisboa