Budapest: The Golden Years
Early Twentieth Century Mathematics Education in Budapest and Lessons for Today
Panel Discussion
October 5, 2007
3–6 p.m.
Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall
Princeton University
A panel discussion of John von Neumann, Hungarian education, and early twentieth century mathematics, Budapest: The Golden Years is the first of two public events that comprise the von Neumann Memorial Lectures. The event is sponsored by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and the John Templeton Foundation.
The panel will use their familiarity with the life, times, and person of John von Neumann to explore the circumstances of his education and upbringing, as well as those of the many other creative and productive mathematicians and scientists from that time and place. The panel will attempt to bring to life for the audience the spirit of Hungary in those years.
The starting point for the discussion is The Social Construction of Hungarian Genius, 1867–1930, a paper by Professor Tibor Frank, an historian of Hungarian exiles. The paper will be available for distribution at the event.
Von Neumann’s influence on mathematics and computer science, involvement in the development of game theory, and work in nuclear physics as a member of the Manhattan Project make him one of the most important figures in the fields of mathematics and science. Von Neumann was a member of Princeton’s faculty in the early 1930s, and in 1933, with Albert Einstein, became one of the original six mathematics professors at the Institute for Advanced Study.
This event will be held on October 5, 2007 from 3–6 p.m. in 219 Aaron Burr Hall. Contact: Jayne Bialkowski at jayne@princeton.edu.
