Few figures have shaped Colombia’s academic and intellectual development as profoundly as Mario Laserna Pinzón. Known as the founder of Universidad de los Andes, Laserna envisioned an institution that would bring international academic standards to Colombia.
What makes his story particularly remarkable is his early intellectual relationship with Albert Einstein, whose mentorship and scholarly dialogue influenced Laserna’s ambition to create an independent university dedicated to research, critical thinking, and global collaboration.
Today, Laserna’s legacy extends beyond academia, reaching Colombian politics through his granddaughter Paloma Valencia, a prominent senator and national political figure.
A Global Academic Journey
Mario Laserna Pinzón was born on August 21, 1923, in Paris. Although his birth took place in France, his upbringing and intellectual formation were deeply tied to Colombia.
Laserna pursued studies across several prestigious international universities, including Columbia University, Princeton University, and the University of Munich, where he completed his doctorate in philosophy.
During his postgraduate studies at Princeton in the 1940s, Laserna encountered Albert Einstein, one of the most influential scientists of the twentieth century. Their interactions quickly evolved into intellectual exchanges about science, philosophy, and the nature of knowledge.
Despite his young age, Laserna engaged Einstein in conversations that reflected both curiosity and intellectual rigor, discussing topics ranging from theoretical physics to philosophical questions about scientific knowledge.
Founding Universidad de los Andes at Just 25
Inspired by the academic freedom and research culture he experienced abroad, Laserna returned to Colombia determined to create a similar environment in his home country.
In 1948, at only 25 years old, he founded Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá. His goal was to build a university independent from political and religious control, focused instead on academic excellence and international collaboration.
The university began modestly with 79 students and 16 professors, but Laserna’s international connections helped it gain rapid recognition.
Through his academic network, he invited some of the world’s leading intellectuals to join the university’s International Advisory Council, including:
Albert Einstein
John von Neumann
Oskar Morgenstern
Solomon Lefschetz
Einstein’s participation gave the new university immediate credibility on the global academic stage.
A Historic Gathering at Princeton
One of the most iconic moments of this collaboration occurred during a meeting of the university’s advisory board at Princeton in the mid-1950s.
A photograph from that gathering shows Einstein at the center, surrounded by prominent scholars including John von Neumann, Oskar Morgenstern, Samuel Wilks, Marston Morse, and Mario Laserna.
The image symbolizes a unique academic partnership between Colombian leadership and some of the most influential intellectual figures of the twentieth century.
A Life of Public Service and Intellectual Leadership
Laserna’s influence extended far beyond founding a university. Throughout his career, he served in numerous positions that connected education, politics, and diplomacy.
He was:
Rector of Universidad de los Andes
Rector of the National University of Colombia
A Colombian senator
Ambassador to France and Austria
Director of major publications such as Revista Semana and La República
His work reflected a broader vision of national development through education, intellectual debate, and international engagement.
The Lasting Impact of Mario Laserna Pinzón
Mario Laserna passed away on July 16, 2013, at the age of 89. Yet his influence continues through the institutions he helped build and the ideas he championed.
Today, Universidad de los Andes ranks among the top universities in Latin America, attracting thousands of students and researchers each year.
Laserna’s journey—from conversations with Albert Einstein to founding one of Colombia’s most respected universities—illustrates how intellectual curiosity and global collaboration can transform a nation’s educational future.
