Milutin Milankovic

world famous scientist from Belgrade University

virtual exhibition

Milutin Milankovic (Dalj 1879 – Belgrade 1958), the world famous astronomer and geophysicist, author of mathematical theory of cyclic change of Earth's climate due to insolation fluctuation, was a professor of Belgrade University from 1909. till his retirement. He graduated at High Technical School in Vienna, where he also got a Ph.D. – the first Serb who ahcieved this in the field of technical sciences; professionall engagement in civil engeneering throughout Austro-Hungarian empire followed untill 1909.

''I lived in an empire, in a kingdom and in a republic, as a free citizen, enlisted in a marriage, army and state offices. I lived through two Balkan and two World wars, in warring country each time, I was on the battlefield and a prisoner in war camp, I rested in jails, languished while internated, suffered under hostile occupation. But beside all that, I enjoyed everything pleasant and beautiful that I found by looking for it, or by running into it by chance.''

''In my scientific vocation I have found a pleasent shalter, for I was protected by it from many turbulences that shook the world. Under that roof I have prepared and equiped my scientific workshop, segregated from the wider world but in constant spiritual connection with famous scientists, I have created my scientific area, my indisputable spiritual property. In this workshop I have spent fourty years including short breaks writting and publishing my papers. ''

Milutin Milankovic was a member of Serbian Royal Academy and Yugoslav Academy of Science and Arts from 1920, he become honorary member of Matica srpska in 1927, he was vice-chairman of Serbian Academy of Science and Arts for three terms from 1948 and he was a member of Academy of Natural Sciences in Hale.

Today he is widely recognised as one of the greatest scientiset who studied Earth ever.