Milestones in the life course of distinguished mathematicians and mathematically gifted adolescents .

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research on milestones (significant events, critical points, crystallizing experiments) in the course of life of outstanding mathematicians and mathematically talented adolescents. The work covers the period of approximately last 80 years. Four distinct group of mathematicians had received their education and pursed their scientific careers at that time: late, distinguished professors of mathematics, distinguished professors of mathematics who are still alive, PhD students and doctors of mathematical faculties, laureates of mathematical olympiads. The author’s intention was to indicate milestones – key events and moments in their history determined by the author (or those indicated by the interested) to reach the highest position and recognition in the field of mathematics. Those are, for example, important experiences in a person’s life that played a huge role in choosing mathematics as a direction for further development or reasserted that mathematics is the right choice. The considerations were based on a holistic, humanistic approach and a biographical approach from the perspective of Charlotte Bühler The course of human life. The techniques that have been used include document analysis and narrative interviews. According to the recommendations of Buhler’s results were presented graphically on the timelines.