The Mathematical Gymnasium Belgrade flourished under the leadership of Milan Raspopović, who directed the specialized institution for 32 years. His administrative tenure, beginning in 1970, oversaw a period of academic dominance where students from the school frequently composed the entirety of the national delegations representing Yugoslavia and Serbia at international scientific competitions.
Early Career and Curriculum Development
Raspopović participated in the commission for the establishment of the Mathematical Gymnasium in 1963. He joined the faculty as its first professor of physics in 1966, where he collaborated with Chief Scientific Advisor Emilo Danilović to design the school’s inaugural physics curriculum. He taught electronics and physics at the institution while simultaneously holding lecturing positions at the University of Belgrade, the University of Niš, the University of Kragujevac, and the University of Montenegro.
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He held a Doctor of Sciences degree from the University of Belgrade, where he successfully defended his thesis regarding the influence of Ludwig Boltzmann on physics and philosophy. Outside his administrative roles, Raspopović authored or co-authored more than 30 physics textbooks and assignment collections. These materials, often developed in partnership with other faculty from the Mathematical Gymnasium, achieved the highest circulation rates across Serbia, Montenegro, and the former Yugoslavia, serving technical and general science secondary students.
Institutional Performance
Under his guidance as principal and director, the Mathematical Gymnasium attained significant international results. Alumni of the school went on to earn approximately 2,000 PhDs. In 1974, seven out of eight members of the Yugoslav team at the International Mathematical Olympiad were students from the school; the team secured two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. By 2010, the school-specific focus remained, with the Serbian national team consisting exclusively of Mathematical Gymnasium students.
Retirement and Recognition
Raspopović retired from his administrative duties in 2002, transitioning into an active role within the Mathematical Gymnasium Scientific Board and the Mathematical Gymnasium Trust. In February 2015, the Republic of Serbia awarded him the Sretenje Order, 3rd class, in recognition of his service to the nation’s educational and pedagogical landscape. He died in 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 1936
- Died: 2025
- Nationality: Serbian
- Education: University of Belgrade School of Electrical Engineering
- Role: Principal and Director of Mathematical Gymnasium Belgrade, 1970–2002
- Awards: Sretenje Order (3rd class), 2015
Questions readers ask
How long did Milan Raspopović lead the Mathematical Gymnasium?
He served as the school's principal and director for 32 years, from 1970 until his retirement in 2002.
What was the subject of his doctoral thesis?
His PhD thesis, defended at the University of Belgrade, examined the impact of Ludwig Boltzmann’s teachings on physics and philosophy.
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