P003600 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2001-05-25 human Rosanne Walker; Annette Alafaci updated 2026-02-24 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P003600b.htm person Szekeres George AM FAA AACR2 29 May 1911 28 August 2005 Place of Birth Budapest, Hungary Place of Death Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Mathematician George Szekeres was Professor of Mathematics at the University of New South Wales from 1963 until his retirement in 1976. He was heavily involved in setting problems for the high schools mathematics competition run by the University of New South Wales and for the yearly problem competitions for undergraduate students organised by the Sydney University Mathematics Society. His research was in the area of number theory, combinatorics and analysis.

After completing a Diploma in Chemical Engineering at the Technological University in Budapest, George Szekeres worked in a leather factory in Hungary for several years. He and his wife Esther then fled to China in 1939 to escape the rising anti-Semitism in Europe. He soon took up a job working as a leather chemist and then in an American air force base as a clerk.

In 1948 the University of Adelaide offered Szekeres a post as Lecturer in Mathematics. That was the start of his career in academia in Australia which lasted just under thirty years. He remained at the University of Adelaide until 1963, when he took up a Professorship in Pure Mathematics at the University of New South Wales. He retired from all academic duties in 1976 and the following year, the university bestowed him with an Honorary Doctor of Science.

George Szekeres was a highly regarded and awarded scientist: The Australian Mathematical Society created the George Szekeres Medal in his honour in 2001 and in 2002 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

1933 1939 Career position - Industrial employment in Hungary 1939 1948 Career position - Industrial employment in Shanghai, China 1948 1963 Career position - Lecturer then Senior Lecturer then Reader in Mathematics, University of Adelaide 1956 2005 Career position - Founding Member, Australian Mathematical Society 1961 1963 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Mathematical Society 1963 1976 Career position - Professor of Mathematics, University of New South Wales 1963 2005 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1968 1968 Award - Lyle Medal, Australian Academy of Science 1971 1975 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Mathematical Society 1972 1974 Career position - President, Australian Mathematical Society 1976 1976 Life event - Retired 1977 1977 Award - Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc), University of New South Wales 1993 1993 Award - B. H. Neumann Award for Excellence in Mathematics Enrichment (jointly), Australian Mathematics Trust 1 Jan 2001 1 Jan 2001 Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and science in pure mathematics 2001 2001 Award - George Szekeres Medal of the Australian Mathematical Society created in his honour 2002 2002 Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service to mathematics and science, particularly as a contributor to education and research, to the support and development of the University of New South Wales Mathematics Competition and the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Team The University of New South Wales (1958 - )

Professor of Mathematics 1963 - 1976

 Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal, Australian National Research Council and Australian Academy of Science (1935 - )

Awarded the Medal 1968

 Australian Mathematical Society (1956 - )

President 1972 - 1974, Foundation Member 1956 - 2005

 George Szekeres Medal, Australian Mathematical Society (2002 - )

The George Szekeres Medal has been awarded by the Australian Mathematical Society since 2002

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1963 - 2005

 B. H. Neumann Award for Excellence in Mathematics Enrichment, Australian Mathematics Trust (1992 - )

Received the Award (jointly) 1993

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Szekeres, George (1911-2005)

Trove

 'Szekeres, George', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Szekeres, George Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Australian Academy of Science The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2019 Journal Article: Obituaries: Peter Gage, Renfrey Potts, George Szekeres Obituaries: Peter Gage, Renfrey Potts, George Szekeres 2005 Newsletter, Australian Academy of Science 63 August-November 10-11 Journal Article: John Markus Blatt 1921 - 1990 Szekeres, G. John Markus Blatt 1921 - 1990 1990 Gazette (Australian Mathematical Society) 17 73-4 Resource: BH Neumann Award recipients Australian Mathematics Trust BH Neumann Award recipients Australian Mathematics Trust 2025 Resource: Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal Australian Academy of Science Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2023 Journal Article: George Szekeres Giles, J. R.; and Wallis, Jennifer Seberry George Szekeres 1976 Journal of the Australian Mathematical Society Series A 21 385-92 Journal Article: George Szekeres FAA AO 29.5.1911 - 28/8/2005: Esther Szekeres-Klein 20/2/1910 - 28/8/2005 Cowling, Michael George Szekeres FAA AO 29.5.1911 - 28/8/2005: Esther Szekeres-Klein 20/2/1910 - 28/8/2005 2005 Gazette of the Australian Mathematical Society 32 4 221-4 Journal Article: George Szekeres 1911 - 2005 Cowling, M. G.; Hunt, D. C.; and Steele, J. D. George Szekeres 1911 - 2005 2019 Historical Records of Australian Science 30 1 49-57 Resource Section: Interview with Professor George Szekeres (1911-2005), mathematician Jubb, Imogen Interview with Professor George Szekeres (1911-2005), mathematician Australian Academy of Science 2004 Interviews with Australian scientists Journal Article: The UNSW Cadets: pioneers at the birth of a new university Barber, Michael The UNSW Cadets: pioneers at the birth of a new university 2025 Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 158 1 32-49 Journal Article: Thomas Gerald Room 1902-1986 Hirschfeld, J. W. P.; and Wall, G. E. Thomas Gerald Room 1902-1986 1987 Historical Records of Australian Science 7 1 109-122