The city of Santa Fe is shocked after the discovery last Friday, April 3, of the body of Silvina Dragoa prominent CONICET researcher, who was shot to death in her home. The main suspect is his partner, who was found dead in the same place in what is being investigated as a femicide followed by suicide.
The discovery and investigation
The incident was discovered last Friday, April 3, in a home located at 7600 1° de Mayo Street, in the capital of Santa Fe. According to the first expert reports, Drago’s body had multiple bullet wounds. In the same room was the body of his partner, a 64-year-old man, shot in the head and with a firearm next to him.
The prosecutor’s office specializing in femicides is working at the scene to reconstruct the couple’s last hours, although the main hypothesis points to a direct attack by the man on the scientist before taking his own life.
Who was Silvina Drago
Silvina Drago, 55 years old, was a renowned figure in the Argentine scientific field. She worked as an independent researcher in the Institute of Food Technology (Intec)dependent on CONICET and the National University of the Litoral (UNL).
His work focused on food science, with special emphasis on the development of products to combat malnutrition and the fortification of foods with iron. His career not only included pure research, but also active teaching and training of fellows.
Science with social impact: the legacy of Silvina Drago
Silvina Drago’s work in the Institute of Food Technology (ITA) It was characterized by a constant search for nutritional solutions for the most vulnerable sectors. His specialty was mineral bioavailabilitya critical field that studies not only how much of a nutrient a food has, but how much of that nutrient is actually absorbed and used by the human body. Their research allowed them to optimize processes iron and zinc fortification in mass consumption foods, fundamental tools to combat childhood anemia and malnutrition in the country.
Innovation in product development
As an independent researcher at CONICET, Drago led pioneering projects in the formulation of foods based on legumes and cereals. His work was key in the development of gluten free products of high nutritional quality and in the use of soy derivatives to create economical and protein foods. It was not limited to the laboratory: its vision integrated process technology with food chemistry, ensuring that functional ingredients could be incorporated into complex food matrices without losing their effectiveness or altering their flavor.
Training of human resources and academic excellence
Beyond his publications in high-impact international journals, his mark remains in the training of new generations of scientists. As a teacher of the National University of the Litoral (UNL) and director of numerous doctoral theses and CONICET scholarships, Silvina was a dedicated mentor who promoted scientific rigor with a deep sense of professional ethics. Her ability to transform complex findings into practical applications for the national food industry positioned her as a reference consultant in public health and food safety policies.
The CONICET message
CONICET issued an official statement expressing its «deep pain and dismay» at the murder. In addition to sending its condolences to family and colleagues, the organization stressed the need to strengthen public policies for the prevention and eradication of gender-based violence.
«His loss represents an irreparable blow for Argentine science and for those who shared his path of dedication and academic excellence.»they stated from the institution.
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