Szőllősi Istvánné Varga, Ilona

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Szőllősi Istvánné Varga Ilona

University of Szeged

Volume 45(1-4):91, 2003Acta Biologica Szegediensishttp://www.sci.u-szeged.hu/ABSSYMPOSIUMIn memory of Professor BélaMatkovics on the occasion ofthe 75th anniversary of hisbirth91Ilona Szöllôsi VargaDepartment of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universityof Szeged, Szeged, HungaryOn September 27-28, 2002, the Hungarian Free RadicalResearch Society, the Csongrád County Group of theAssociation of Hungarian Chemists, and the University ofSzeged held a joint scientific meeting in the House ofTechnology in Szeged. With the scientific programmeentitled “Free Radical Research 2002” we paid tribute to thememory of Professor Béla Matkovics on the occasion of the75th anniversary of his birth.Béla Matkovics was born on 12 July, 1927 in theHungarian town Csongrád. Following schooling in Bonyhádand Baja, he enrolled as a university medical student in thecity of Szeged, and received his medical diploma in 1951. Hethen joined the staff of the Department of Medical Chemistryof the Medical University in Szeged. Additionally, however,he continued his studies, and in 1955 he graduated in chem-istry from the University of Szeged. From this time on, heserved on the staff of the Department of Organic Chemistryof that  university. Among his more memorable achievementswere the organisation and commencement of teaching inbiochemistry within the programme for the training ofbiologists, wich began in 1964. He founded and directed theBiochemistry and Genetics Group at the University ofSzeged, which subsequently became the Biological IsotopeLaboratory.In 1964, Béla Matkovics received  the title of Candidateof Chemical Science from the Hungarian Academy ofSciences, and in the same year he was awarded his universitydoctorate. In 1994, he was granted a Doctorate in BiologicalSciences by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In 1995,he was appointed a full university professor. He retired in1997.His scientific activities initially involved the micro-biological transformation of organic compounds. He thenturned to the investigation of steroids, redox systems,oxidative transformations, and pathological changes causedby active oxygen radicals.Besides his scientific  and teaching work, he found timeto play an active role in the Csongrád County Group of theAssociation of Hungarian Chemists. He participated untir-ingly in the organisation of the series “Protein ChemistryPracticals” and “Szeged Course in Chromatography”.Unfortunately, the 30th of the latter course, in January 1999,had to be held without him.Rather than listing of his scientific achievements, hispublications and his awards, stress should be laid here on the“paternal” care and selfless readiness to help which heconstantly demonstrated towards his colleagues and studentsduring so many years. The opportunity to learn to master ahost of fundamental methods was ensured for a whole seriesof young researchers, all of whom were soon burrowingdeeply into the literature. Independently of what topic hehappened to be working on, he shared his research fields withmany colleagues.Professor Matkovics created a school in the field ofresearch into free radicals in Hungary, with particular regardto oxidative stress and antioxidants. Virtually all of thosecurrently carrying out research in this field in Hungary beganon the basis of his instructions and guidance. The presentwriter considers herself highly privileged to have had theopportunity to have been among his students, and to havebeen his colleague for close to 30 years.Sadly, at the height of his scientific powers,he was takenaway from us extremely suddenly on October 13, 1998.However, as clearly revealed at the meeting held in hishonour, his memory still lives on with tremendous and wide-ranging affection and respect.

In memory of Professor Béla Matkovics on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of his birth

http://acta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/22611/1/4791.pdf

In memory of Professor Béla Matkovics on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of his birth

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