The Happy Ending problem emerged from a 1933 gathering in Budapest, where George Szekeres and his colleagues contemplated a geometric proof proposed by Esther Klein. This encounter formed the basis for a lifelong partnership, yielding foundational research in combinatorial geometry and initiating a career that spanned continents, surviving the upheavals of twentieth-century history to influence mathematics in Australia and beyond.
Early Career and Migration
Born in Budapest in 1911, Szekeres graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 1933. He spent six years as an analytical chemist before the onset of World War II forced him to leave Hungary. Seeking safety from persecution, he relocated to Shanghai, China, where he worked as a leather chemist during the Japanese occupation. In 1948, he moved his family to Australia to accept a position as a lecturer at the University of Adelaide.
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Szekeres transitioned from chemistry to mathematics, establishing a prolific academic career centered on combinatorics and graph theory. He joined the University of New South Wales in 1963, serving as chairperson from 1972 to 1974. His scholarly output included the Erdős–Szekeres theorem, the development of Kruskal–Szekeres coordinates, and the identification of the Szekeres snark. Throughout his tenure, he remained active in pedagogical development, contributing to school mathematical olympiads and university undergraduate competitions.
Professional Recognition and Later Life
The Australian scientific community recognized his contributions through his election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1963 and the receipt of the Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal in 1968. He was a foundational member of the Australian Mathematical Society and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2002. After retiring in 1976, he maintained his research interests until his death in Adelaide in 2005 at the age of 94.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Budapest, Hungary
- Died: 2005, Adelaide, Australia
- Education: Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Academic Fields: Combinatorics, Mathematics, Chemistry
- Awards: Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal (1968), Member of the Order of Australia (2002)
- Positions: Chairperson, University of New South Wales (1972-1974)
- Languages: English, Hungarian
- Notable Work: Erdős–Szekeres theorem
Questions readers ask
What is the Happy Ending problem?
It is a combinatorial geometry problem posed by Esther Klein, which Szekeres and Paul Erdős generalized in a 1935 paper.
Did George Szekeres hold dual citizenship?
Yes, he held citizenship in both Hungary and Australia.
Achievements
- Notable work: Kruskal–Szekeres coordinates
- Affiliated with University of Adelaide and United States Air Force
- Educated at Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Worked as mathematician, university teacher and chemist
