SES CHARLES V. SCHAEFER, JR.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
STEVENS SOCIETY OF MATHEMATICIANS SEMINAR

The Scottish Book


Prof. Lawrence Narici
St. John's University



Wednesday, October 14, 2009
2:00pm
Kidde 104


Abstract:  "The book, please". That was all Banach had to say to the waiter at Café Szkocka, The Scottish Café in Lwów, Poland when he entered. "The book" in which Banach and others wrote problems and solutions and notes is what later became known as The Scottish book (Ksiega Szkocka). The regulars who gathered at The Scottish Café with Banach in the period between the wars, especially on Saturday evenings after the mathematical seminar, included Nikodym, Steinhaus, Orlicz, Mazur, J. Schauder, A. Lomnicki [Banach's thesis advisor], and Saks. "Sadly" in regard to the latter because they were all murdered by the Nazis. Lebegue visited from time to time but said of the Polish menu that he only ordered when "the menu was well-defined." This is a story of the place, the era, and the people--especially Banach--who so profoundly affected the mathematics of the 20th century and beyond.


Refreshments served at 1:45pm.
Dept of Mathematical Sciences • Stevens Institute of Technology • Hoboken, NJ • (201) 216-5449