In Place of a Foreword: Mathematics like poetry : Andrzej Lasota 1932-2006

Gacki, Henryk

English

Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Śląskiego RE-BUŚ

             Title: In a Place of a Foreword  Author: Henryk Gacki  Citation style: Gacki Henryk. (2016). In a Place of a Foreword. W: H. Gacki, J. Zwierzyńska (red). "Mathematics like poetry : Andrzej Lasota 1932-2006" (S. 9-10). Katowice : Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego. iiiiiiiiIn Place of a ForewordDear Readers,You now hold in your hands the book dedicated to the memory ofProfessor Andrzej Lasota.Professor Andrzej Lasota was a great mathematician and an excep-tional man. Anyone who met him could not remain indifferent. He exerteda great influence on those who had the honor and pleasure to work withhim. According to one of the leading American specialists, James A. Yorke,Professor Lasota’s approach to probabilistic treatment of dynamical sys-tems “was adopted by the Berkeley school of dynamics and became one ofthe foundations of nonlinear dynamics.”In recognition of his achievements he received many awards, includ-ing a Władysław Orlicz medal, a Wacław Sierpiński medal, the HonoraryMembership of the Polish Mathematical Society (of which he was also anordinary member). He was also a full member of the Polish Academy of Sci-ences. He was invited to give a talk on an International Congress of Mathe-maticians, which took place in 1983 inWarsaw. By a decree of May 22, 2001,Senate of the University of Silesia bestowed on Professor Andrzej Lasotathe title of Doctor honoris causa of the University of Silesia.To honor his memory, since 2008 the University of Silesia has beenholding commemorative lectures. Three booklets about him have also beenpublished. I have the honor and pleasure of being the organizer of thoselectures and the author of those booklets. This year, 2016, on the tenthanniversary of Professor’s passing away, we present you with this bookdevoted to His memory.The book consists of three parts. It begins with the Professor’s biogra-phy, illustrated by numerous pictures. Part two contains reprints of textsand interviews with Professor Lasota. Part three consists of recollectionsof Professor Andrzej Lasota, written by his family, friends, colleagues, col-laborators and students.This book could not have been written without the support and helpof many people that I would like to acknowledge here.First I want to thank Professor Andrzej Lasota’s family, particularly hisdaughters: Barbara, Hanna and Natalia, who reacted enthusiastically tothe idea of writing this book and have been supporting me in this decisionfrom the beginning. They included their own memories, depicting ProfessorAndrzej Lasota’s private, family side. I thank them dearly for agreeing topublish Professor’s pictures and making many of them available.iiiiiiii10 In Place of a ForewordI thank friends, colleagues, collaborators and students of ProfessorAndrzej Lasota for the memories, warm words and kind support to thisproject. The memories written by them brought me smiles and tears. I senta proposal to write a few words to everyone who has ever had an extended,personal contact with Professor Lasota. I am very glad that so many ofthem decided to include their memories in the book. My heartfelt thanksto those who agreed to reprint their interviews with Professor AndrzejLasota. I want to thank the translators, Doctor Piotr W. Cholewa andDoctor Mateusz Jurczyński, and Doctor Gabriela Marszołek for valuablelinguistic input.Among Professor Andrzej Lasota’s friends it is impossible not to men-tion one person, who has supported me with advice and kind words fromthe beginning, supported in making contacts when needed and took carefor the articles to appear on time: Professor Michael C. Mackey. I want toexpress my deepest gratitude.From the beginning, the book was supposed to be available free ofcharge and it was possible thanks to many people I am grateful. All the au-thors, without a moment’s hesitation, waived their payment. Many institu-tions sponsored publishing costs of this book – in such form and print run.Of them, I owe special thanks to: Professor Andrzej Kowalczyk, Chancel-lor and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Silesia in Katowice, ProfessorAlicja Ratuszna, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chem-istry of the University of Silesia in Katowice, Professor Maciej Sablik, Headof the Institute of Mathematics of the University of Silesia in Katowice,Professor Łukasz Stettner, Head of the Mathematical Center for Scienceand Technology, Institute of Mathematics of the Polish Academy of Sci-ences, Professor Feliks Przytycki, Head of the Institute of Mathematics,Polish Academy of Sciences, and Doctor Kazimierz Dębowski, CEO of theboard of the Noma 2 company. They have my deep gratitude.The publishing of a book is not only a great joy, but also difficultediting work spanning many months – from the idea and the creation ofthe first concept to its final form, including general editing throughout. Itis the ideas and turning them into reality, it is the process of collectingmany different materials and putting them together in a coherent way.These tasks were undertaken wholly by Ms. Joanna Zwierzyńska, to whomI remain in debt.Professor Andrzej Lasota was my Mentor and Friend. It is a great joyto me to give you this book and I hope it will evoke you as profoundemotions as it has brought me.Henryk Gacki

In a Place of a Foreword

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