DESTINATION CROATIA: ICAME 2013

The Ruđer Bošković Institute of Croatia is the organizer of the forthcoming International Conference on the Applications of the Mössbauer Effect, to be held in Opatija on the Adriatic coast of Croatia.

In this brief account we will try to give some facts about Croatia, its people and their contribution to science and technology. Croatia is both a Central European and Mediterranean country, and owing to its geographical position it is culturally diverse. Croats came down to the Adriatic Sea thirteen centuries ago. Originally a Slavic people, they founded a new homeland where they met the Illyrians, the Romans and Greek colonists. The tradition and culture of these ancient peoples left significant traces in the history of Croatia. For many centuries Croatia has been surrounded by different cultures, Italian, German, Hungarian, and has been partly exposed to Oriental influences through the several centuries of Turkish presence. Thus Croatia became a unique destination in Europe for many tourists from all over the world. Croatia is also a country with a long-standing industrial tradition.

There are several universities, the oldest among them the University of Zagreb, founded in 1669, and many scientific institutions, notably the Ruđer Bošković Institute located in Zagreb. Educated people, men of letters and science in the spirit of their times first emerged in the Middle Ages in the Croatian towns along the Adriatic coast, under the influence of Venice and the Italian Renaissance. Of the many towns in that age one stands out in particular, jewel of the Mediterranean, the city of Dubrovnik, which for many centuries was known as the Republic of Dubrovnik. The poet Marko Marulić of Split was a central figure of the period. His epic poem Judith written in Croatian marks the birth of Croatian literature. Herman Dalmatin (astronomy, translations of important Arabic texts), active in Spain and France at the beginning of the twelfth century, is considered to be our first scientist. Ivan Česmički-Pannonius (a poet with interests in astronomy and astrology), Pietro Buono (a theoretical alchemist in Trogir), Gjin Gazulli-Gazulus (an astrologist, in Dubrovnik) also contributed to the sciences in the medieval period. In the seventeenth century Croatia gave several great scientists, such as Marin Getaldić (optics, in Dubrovnik), Marko Antun De Dominis (theory of the rainbow; the telescope, Split) and Faust Vrančić (a famous constructor and engineer, in Šibenik and Padua).

Ruđer Bošković, the greatest of them all, was born in Dubrovnik in the eighteenth century, and active in Rome, Milan and Paris. His concept of the structure of matter published in the work Theory of Natural Philosophy had a strong influence on the development of physics of the time, and we consider this a most valuable Croatian contribution to the world of science. In 19th century, Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer founded the South Slav Academy of Arts and Sciences (today: Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) in Zagreb. Nikola Tesla, born in Smiljan, was our greatest representative in the field of technical sciences, and it is impossible to imagine today’s world without his inventions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is the only scientist from all the Slavic nations to have had a physical unit named after him (the Tesla, for magnetic flux). In the twentieth century Lavoslav Ružička (of Vukovar) and Vladimir Prelog (of Osijek) were awarded Nobel Prizes for chemistry. We must not forget Andrija Mohorovičić (the Moho discontinuity) who is one of the most prominent earth scientists of the 20th century, as well as Milutin Milanković (born in Dalj), recognized as a founder of cosmic climatology.

OPATIJA

This elegant tourist destination has the longest tradition of tourism in Croatia. The very attractive geographic position, warm sea, lush green scenery and pleasant climate were dominant factors for the development of its tourism in 19^th century. Built mainly at the turn of the 20^th century, Opatija has remained in complete harmony with Nature right up until the present day. Many famous persons of 19^th and 20^th centuries left their traces in the history of Opatija.

The climate in Opatija is relaxing and refreshing due to a relatively constant temperature (winter average 7.0 ^oC, summer average 21.9 ^oC) due to continuous circulation of air and aerosols. Summer temperatures are relatively low because of cool breezes to come from the Učka Mountain. Well-maintained public gardens, the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the Lungomare, well-kept beaches and fountains, many villas and hotels, all together, are present in nice harmony. Opatija is also a place for business meetings throughout the entire year as well as a centre for convention tourism, scientific gatherings and congresses. Many lovely towns and villages are surrounding Opatija with their local folklore, food and drinks. The region of Istria and Kvarner is rich with many places and monuments dating from ancient up to modern times. In Roman times the region was called Terra Magica. Opatija is very near to Rijeka, a large harbour, cultural and university centre of this region.

The Conference will be held in the Congress Center of the Grand Hotel Adriatic in Opatija