[INVITED LECTURE] Prof. Vjekoslav Kovač, PhD
"Problem solving at the level of mathematical research"
A major part of mathematical research can be identified as solving abstract problems. Since problem-solving techniques can also be useful to scientists in other areas, we will quote general advice to young researchers by some of the greatest mathematicians. Then we will discuss the impact and the status of questions asked by the late Paul Erdős, who was said to be “a prince of problem solvers and the absolute monarch of problem posers”. We will end the talk with case studies of particular Erdős problems for which the speaker was able to contribute to the solution.
Prof. Vjekoslav Kovač, PhD
Vjekoslav Kovač started working at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Science back in 2003, leaving it only for a 5-year Ph.D. at UCLA and a 1-year visit to Georgia Tech, supported by the Fulbright scholarship. He is a mathematician with expertise in analysis and probability, interested in all aspects of problem solving. Faculty of science awarded him the Young scientist award in 2012 and an award for popularization of science in 2024. He was also awarded the Croatian national award for science for the year 2023.