Academy Members

Janko Zvonimir

Acadcemic titles:

• professor emeritus
• professor Dctor of Science

Membership in the Academy:

• corresponding member – Department of Mathematical, Physical and Chemical Sciences (12/3/1992 – 4/12/2022)

Zvonimir Janko, is a prominent Croatian mathematician, professor emeritus of the University of Heidelberg. He was born on July 26, 1932 in Bjelovar, where he attended elementary school and gymnasium. He graduated in 1956 from the Faculty of Science in Zagreb. He was expelled from the University for two years for laying a wreath at the grave of Dr. Ante Starčević. In the meantime, he worked at the Gymnasium in Široki Brijeg (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1956-1961). He received his Doctorate in Mathematics from the Faculty of Science in Zagreb in 1961. From 1962 to 1968, he resided in Australia, first as a researcher at the Australian National University in Canberra and then as a full professor at Monash University in Melbourne. Since 1968.do 1972. Janko spent time in the U.S. as a visiting professor at Princeton University and as a full professor at Columbus State University (Ohio). From 1972 until his retirement (2000), he was a full professor at Heidelberg.

Zvonimir Janko is known for his achievements in the theory of finite groups. The most significant are the discoveries of new sporadic simple groups, now known as “Janko’s groups”. He also left an indelible mark on the projective plane theory  and designs.

Professor Zvonimir Janko participated in postgraduate teaching at the Mathematical Department of the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, gave a series of lectures in Zagreb, Split and Mostar. He is an associate and mentor to many Croatian and foreign mathematicians. During his work at Heidelberg, his help to Croatia in various forms was noted.

He has been a correspondent member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts since 1992.