BUDAPEST: THE GOLDEN YEARS LECTURE
On the day following the symposium, October 5, 2007, the first of two von Neumann Memorial Lectures was held at Princeton University, on the theme “Budapest: The Golden Years—Early Twentieth Century Mathematics Education in Budapest and Lessons for Today.” The event began with the delivery of a paper “The Social Construction of Hungarian Genius 1867-1930,” by Tibor Frank, professor of history and director of the School of English and American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. This was followed by a panel discussion and a further contribution by István Deák, Seth Low Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University.
The
second von Neumann Memorial Lecture, “Living in von Neumann’s World:
Scientific Creativity, Technological Advancement, and Civilization’s
Accelerating Dilemma of Power” was held on the succeeding day, also at
Princeton. This addressed the ethical dilemma that John von Neumann faced
with his involvement in the Manhattan Project and which is equally relevant
to scientists today. It consisted of two contributions. The first was
by Nobel Laureate in Economics, Thomas Schelling, the second by George
Dyson, von Neumann biographer. These were followed by a panel discussion.
On the day following the symposium, October 5, 2007, the first of two von Neumann Memorial Lectures was held at Princeton University, on the theme “Budapest: The Golden Years—Early Twentieth Century Mathematics Education in Budapest and Lessons for Today.” The event began with the delivery of a paper “The Social Construction of Hungarian Genius 1867-1930,” by Tibor Frank, professor of history and director of the School of English and American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. This was followed by a panel discussion and a further contribution by István Deák, Seth Low Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University.
The
second von Neumann Memorial Lecture, “Living in von Neumann’s World:
Scientific Creativity, Technological Advancement, and Civilization’s
Accelerating Dilemma of Power” was held on the succeeding day, also at
Princeton. This addressed the ethical dilemma that John von Neumann faced
with his involvement in the Manhattan Project and which is equally relevant
to scientists today. It consisted of two contributions. The first was
by Nobel Laureate in Economics, Thomas Schelling, the second by George
Dyson, von Neumann biographer. These were followed by a panel discussion.| Participants |
| Moderator Paul D. Humke Professor of Mathematics at St. Olaf College, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Mathematics at Washington and Lee University; North American Director, Budapest Seminars in Mathematics Speakers |
István
Deák Seth Low Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University, New York Ronald L. Graham Irwin and Joan Jacobs Professor of Computer and Information Science, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, and the chief scientist of the California Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology Peter D. Lax Professor Emeritus, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University and member of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory where he worked on the Manhattan Project |
László Lovász Director of the Institute of Mathematics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest and President of the International Mathematical Union Vera T. Sós Professor, Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Marina von Neumann Whitman Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy, University of Michigan; daughter of John von Neumann |
