Ruđer Josip Bošković, one of the greatest and most famous Croatian philosophers and scientists (1711-1787), was born in Dubrovnik, where he was educated at the Jesuit Collegium. He was a member of the Royal Society of London, the St. Petersburg Academy and Accademia dell'Arcadia, a corresponding member of the French Royal Academy of Sciences and a professor at many European universities.
The highly delicate task of repairing cracks in the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican was entrusted to R. Bošković, confirmation that he was regarded as a leading European authority in static computations and civil engineering. At the request of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Bošković solved the problem of the stability of the Royal Library (now the National Library) in Vienna. He was also the founder of the Brera Astronomical Observatory near Milan. Bošković’s theory of forces anticipated modern physics by almost two centuries.
On the occasion of 300th anniversary of the birth of Ruđer Josip Bošković, one of the greatest and most famous Croatian philosophers and scientists, Croatian Parliament proclaimed Year of 2011, The Year of the Ruđer Bošković in Croatia.
To commemorate this great figure, who placed Croatia and Dubrovnik on the European scientific map two centuries ago, the Ruđer Bošković Institute, City of Dubrovnik and Diocesan Secondary School Ruđer Bošković in Dubrovnik (formerly Jesuit Collegium Ragusinum attended by young Bošković), have organized an international scientific symposium, From Ruđer Bošković to Today: Contribution of Croatian Scientists to the World Scientific Heritage. Symposium will be held in Dubrovnik from May 29 to June 2, 2011, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Professor Ivo Josipović, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Jadranka Kosor.
The Opening Ceremonies of the symposium will be held in Dubrovnik on May 29, 2011, starting at 8:30 p.m., where a number of cultural programs will help conjure the atmosphere of Bošković's 18th-century Dubrovnik.
The Opening Ceremonies will begin with the protocol of entry to the city at the Ploče Gate, reminiscent of the protocol followed during the period of the Republic of Dubrovnik, after which the guests will be escorted to the Dubrovnik Cathedral where a lofty eulogy to Bošković will be read, the same text that was read in his memory on behalf of the Rector and Senate of the Republic of Dubrovnik during Bošković’s Funeral Mass in May 1787 in this very place.
Then soloists, a choir and orchestra will perform a Requiem composed in Bošković’s memory at the request of his great friend, Miho Sorgo-Sorkočević, by Julije Bajamonti, an esteemed 18th-century Croatian physician, writer and composer. At the time of Bošković’s death, the score of the Requiem arrived too late to be performed the Funeral Mass,, so this will actually be the first time that the Requiem will be performed in the Dubrovnik Cathedral in his memory, as the Republic originally intended to honor him.
After the program in the Cathedral, the guests will be directed to the Rector's Palace across the street, where the program will continue with speakers and a reception.
The symposium will feature lectures by: Ivo Šlaus, Rolf Heuer, Daniel Denegri, A. J. Stewart Smith, Goran Senjanović, Ivica Kostović, Paško Rakić, Boro Dropulić, Reshef Tenne, Vlasta Bonačić Koutecky, Tonica Valla, Davor Pavuna, Miroslav Radman, Brenda Andrews, Igor Štagljar, Davor Solter, Branimir Šikić, Hedvig Hricak, Siniša Volarević, Dmitrij Krainc, Slobodan Vukičević, Zlatko Bačić, Goran Ungar, Vladimir Hlady, Branko Ruščić, Werner E. G. Müller, Ivica Martinović and Catherine Brechignac.
On May 31, 2011, an all-day program will be organized on the island of Lokrum to provide approximately 70 young scientists from the Ruđer Bošković Institute and all the Croatian universities with world-renowned scientists.
In addition to the extensive scientific part of the symposium program, there will also be additional activities, including a historical tour of the city, Ruđer's Paths in Dubrovnik, to acquaint the participants with the beauties of Dubrovnik, from the house where Bošković was born to the family summer residence. Participants and guests will also be able to observe the night sky from the Dubrovnik ramparts and attend concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events.
This jubilee anniversary will truly be a unique event in our country, that will contribute to the creation of a specific brand, based not only on a brilliant scientist as Ruđer Bošković was, but on Croatia as a country that has the potential to positively change society through science.
To commemorate this great figure, who placed Croatia and Dubrovnik on the European scientific map two centuries ago, the Ruđer Bošković Institute, City of Dubrovnik and Diocesan Secondary School Ruđer Bošković in Dubrovnik (formerly Jesuit Collegium Ragusinum attended by young Bošković), have organized an international scientific symposium, From Ruđer Bošković to Today: Contribution of Croatian Scientists to the World Scientific Heritage. Symposium will be held in Dubrovnik from May 29 to June 2, 2011, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Professor Ivo Josipović, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Jadranka Kosor.
The Opening Ceremonies of the symposium will be held in Dubrovnik on May 29, 2011, starting at 8:30 p.m., where a number of cultural programs will help conjure the atmosphere of Bošković's 18th-century Dubrovnik.
The Opening Ceremonies will begin with the protocol of entry to the city at the Ploče Gate, reminiscent of the protocol followed during the period of the Republic of Dubrovnik, after which the guests will be escorted to the Dubrovnik Cathedral where a lofty eulogy to Bošković will be read, the same text that was read in his memory on behalf of the Rector and Senate of the Republic of Dubrovnik during Bošković’s Funeral Mass in May 1787 in this very place.
Then soloists, a choir and orchestra will perform a Requiem composed in Bošković’s memory at the request of his great friend, Miho Sorgo-Sorkočević, by Julije Bajamonti, an esteemed 18th-century Croatian physician, writer and composer. At the time of Bošković’s death, the score of the Requiem arrived too late to be performed the Funeral Mass,, so this will actually be the first time that the Requiem will be performed in the Dubrovnik Cathedral in his memory, as the Republic originally intended to honor him.
After the program in the Cathedral, the guests will be directed to the Rector's Palace across the street, where the program will continue with speakers and a reception.
The symposium will feature lectures by: Ivo Šlaus, Rolf Heuer, Daniel Denegri, A. J. Stewart Smith, Goran Senjanović, Ivica Kostović, Paško Rakić, Boro Dropulić, Reshef Tenne, Vlasta Bonačić Koutecky, Tonica Valla, Davor Pavuna, Miroslav Radman, Brenda Andrews, Igor Štagljar, Davor Solter, Branimir Šikić, Hedvig Hricak, Siniša Volarević, Dmitrij Krainc, Slobodan Vukičević, Zlatko Bačić, Goran Ungar, Vladimir Hlady, Branko Ruščić, Werner E. G. Müller, Ivica Martinović and Catherine Brechignac.
On May 31, 2011, an all-day program will be organized on the island of Lokrum to provide approximately 70 young scientists from the Ruđer Bošković Institute and all the Croatian universities with world-renowned scientists.
In addition to the extensive scientific part of the symposium program, there will also be additional activities, including a historical tour of the city, Ruđer's Paths in Dubrovnik, to acquaint the participants with the beauties of Dubrovnik, from the house where Bošković was born to the family summer residence. Participants and guests will also be able to observe the night sky from the Dubrovnik ramparts and attend concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events.
This jubilee anniversary will truly be a unique event in our country, that will contribute to the creation of a specific brand, based not only on a brilliant scientist as Ruđer Bošković was, but on Croatia as a country that has the potential to positively change society through science.
