President Milanović Meets with Most Prominent Croatian Physicist Goran Senjanović

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today theoretical physicist Professor emeritus Goran Senjanović together with professors of physics from the University of Split, Prof. Nikola Godinović, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Damir Lelas, PhD. Professor Senjanović is the most prominent and respected Croatian physicist in the world, and with his ideas and work he has attained the status of one of the world’s most renowned scientists in the field of elementary particle physics. 

Professors Godinović and Lelas presented to President Milanović the decisions of the Senate of the University of Split which established an honorary chair, the so-called chair position. The Centre for Theoretical Physics of the University of Split was established as a component that does not have the status of legal entity. Likewise, they acquainted him with the initiative to nominate Professor Senjanović as the first holder of the “chair” position and thus establish an internationally relevant Centre for Theoretical Physics.

At the meeting, they explained that this initiative is driven by the idea and attitude that even smaller universities should engage great scientists, as this could bring much-needed impetus and international relevance to the entire Croatian science. Moreover, they believe that this would also contribute to a “reverse brain drain” to Croatia. The professors emphasized that the creation of a chair position and the Centre for Theoretical Physics at the University of Split does not require large investments as there is no need to purchase expensive experimental equipment.

Attending the meeting alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Education Jadranka Žarković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta