Filozofska istraživanja, Vol. 26 No. 3, 2006.
Review article
Croatian Women Followers of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity in the Period until 1950
Ankica Valenta
Abstract
The Croatian Jesuits were in the forefront of world scientific developments, and had a major role in Croatian culture and science. Many Croatian Jesuits have made a significant contribution in the field of natural sciences. However, beside those who are already famous (Hermann of Dalmatia, Marko Antun de Dominis, Frederik Grisogono, Frane Petrić, Marin Getaldić, Ruđer Bošković et al.), there are others whose contributions have not been appreciated until now. Thus, there is a need for new research that would add to our knowledge about the role CroatianJesuits played in field of natural sciences. History shows that Croatian scientists have contributed
to the European cultural heritage also in the field of natural sciences. In the 18th century, science had been gradually institutionalized, while in the 19th century, the bases for systematic
and modern scientific development had been formed. At the beginning of the 20th century, in 1905, Albert Einstein introduced new concepts into physics, and these new ideas found its followers also in Croatia. Here should be paid a tribute to two women who, together with many other Croatian scientists, have been the followers of the theory of relativity.
Zdenka (Makanec) Blašković (17 September 1894, Zagreb – 16 August 1971, Zagreb) published the following works: O relativnosti: I. Relativnost brzine, gibanja i energije (On relativity: I. Relativity of speed, movement and energy, 1917); O relativnosti: II. Relativnost vremena (On relativity: II. Relativity of time, 1917); Prilog neeuklidskoj statici. Počeci L statike i rješenje dosadanjeg paradoksa: disertacija (A contribution to non-Euclidean statics. Beginnings of L statics and solution of a prior paradox, 1922).
Mira Hercigonja (19 January 1897, Rijeka – 9 February 1988, Zagreb) published the following works: Prilog geometriji Lobačevskog: doctoral thesis (A contribution to Lobatchevski’s geometry: a PhD thesis, 1931); Boškovićevi pseudonimi (Bošković’s pseudonyms, 1955); Le tableau des nombres premiers (The image of prime numbers, 1955); Materijalna tačka u prostoru Lobačevskoga:
1. Varićakova pretpostavka (Material point in Lobatchevski’s space: 1. Varićak’s supposition, 1961).
Keywords
theory of relativity; Albert Einstein; Zdenka Makanec; Mira Hercigonja
Hrčak ID:
11167
URI
Publication date:
5.10.2006.
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