Mathematical life in Prague in the 1950's and 1960's. (Q2856945)

A concise summary of the organisational changes in Prague mathematical circles from the Second World War (1939) to the Prague Spring (1968) is presented. The article chronicles the Nazi closing of Czech colleges and universities and their reopening in 1945, the creation of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University (1952), and organizational changes of mathematical research institutes as Soviet models of science organizations (e.g., separation of research and teaching, establishment of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences). Relatively large space is devoted to the activities of the Union of Czech Mathematicians and Physicists, suppressed in wartime and again in the early 1950's. It was resurrected when its president, F. Kahuda, became the Czechoslovak Minister of Education, and continued to play an important role in mathematics education and popularization, even though its former publishing house and printing press had been confiscated along with all corporate property.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 1330.01007].