Abstract: The Laboratory of Colonial Agricultural and Technology, part of the High
Institute of Agronomy (I.S.A.), Lisbon, was inserted into the “politics of scientific
research and education” of the National Board of Education ( J.E.N.) 1929-1936.
From the role played by its Director – Carlos de Mello Geraldes – we can have an
archeology of ideas on the role of colonial agronomy research and scientific practice
as applied to economic development, in terms of competition and comparability of
European. This paper opens perspectives on building scientific networks in Portugal
in the first half of the 20th century, as well as pointing different mechanisms to achieve
the public understanding of science agronomic, associated with the teaching of
the I.S.A., present in international publications, taking a prominent place in scientific
Congress. A case study that can open a debate on the existence of a (real) scientific
policy for the country and its relationship with research institutes and higher
education resulting from J.E.
