The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro can trace it's origins back to a series of academies formed in the 18thC, gathered together as the "Escola Politécnica" (Polytechnic School in 1792. After institutional reforms in 1937 the name changed to the University of Brazil. Today the University is the largest Federal university in Brazil and it's main campus is housed on the Ilha do Fundão, an artificial island created in 1950 by the merger a set of smaller islands.