This academic pedigree is constructed by following the transmission of knowledge through a sequence of sustained mentor/student relationships. The relation of dissertation advisor to advisee is a typical means for this intellectual transmission in recent times. In earlier times, the mentor/student relationship might not involve thesis advising and might even occur outside an academic context. Where there is no institutionalized advising relation, we do the best we can. This admittedly means that the chronologically earlier parts of the tree are a generous mixture of fiction and fact.
The academic legacy of Vladimír Kučera originates in the field of philosophy and theology, and throughout the centuries, it moves to mathematics, astronomy, physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and control engineering. Naturally, going backward in time, many different paths of successive intellectual influence can be found that would include Vladimír Kučera. The present path is the longest we were able to build. On the other hand, many different academics would surely share the various early parts of this tree.
The academic ancestral line of Vladimír Kučera is a witness of the emergence and development of engineering education in Prague. The oldest engineering school, the Estates School of Engineering, was founded in Prague in 1707 by the Holy Roman Emperor in response to a petition submitted by Christian Josef Willenberg and then transformed into the Polytechnic Institute in 1803 by Frantz Josef Ritter von Gerstner. In 1869, the school was separated into two institutes, with Czech and German languages of education. Since 1920, the name of the Czech school has been Czech Technical University in Prague.
The tree nicely documents the intellectual networks and circles arising around great personalities such as Basilios Bessarion and Leonardo da Vinci during the era of humanism and renaissance, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler during the scientific revolution, and Joseph Stepling and Frantz Josef Ritter von Gerstner during the industrial revolution. An example of a modern scientific network includes the Czech-French-Mexican cooperation of the tandem Vladimír Kučera – Michael Šebek. In addition, many interesting relations can be seen by following the side branches of the tree.
The transmission of knowledge also occurs through research collaboration. The research collaborators of Vladimír Kučera add a further dimension to the genealogy tree and document a global character of the present-day research.
For each person, the pedigree chart lists the following information, if known: the place and date of birth and decease; thesis title, year and school; thesis advisor; the field of research; employers; the main positions and recognitions. This brief information is completed and supported by primary as well as secondary sources, often available online. The sources that are available online are cited as of September 15, 2013.
Acknowledgment – The guidance and help of Prof. Marcela Efmertová and Dr. Jan Mikeš, Czech Technical University in Prague, in building the engineering part of the tree (Gerstner to Trnka) is greatly appreciated. The mathematical part of the tree (Clavius to Tesánek and Collinus to Bacháček) was generated thanks to the advice of Prof. Martina Bečvářová, Czech Technical University in Prague, and Prof. Ivana Čornejová, Charles University in Prague. The remaining early parts of the tree were traced in Wikipedia and in the Mathematics Genealogy Project. The personalia of the living researchers included in the tree are based on private communication.
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A Graduate Student Fable
One day, a Rabbit sat in the forest, busily typing on a laptop. A Fox approached the Rabbit and, intrigued, asked what was going on.
“I’m typing my thesis,” said the Rabbit.
“What is the topic of your thesis?” the Fox was curious.
“It’s called Why Rabbits Eat Foxes.”
“That’s crazy,” said the Fox, “everyone knows that foxes eat rabbits, not the other way around. I’m going to eat you right now!”
“But wait, why don’t we step into my den and discuss this,” said the Rabbit, and the Fox agreed. Soon, the Rabbit emerged from the den, but the Fox did not.
The following day, a Wolf emerged from the bushes and saw the Rabbit typing. It was the same story, except this time, the thesis title was Why Rabbits Eat Wolves. The outcome was the same: The rabbit emerged from the den, but the Wolf did not.
The day after, a Bear happened to see the Rabbit working again. It is the same story, except this time, the thesis title was Why Rabbits Eat Bears. Same outcome: the Rabbit came out of the den, but the Bear did not.
At this time, a Lion emerged from the den and roared his anger: “Any other questions to ask my student?”
Moral: The subject of your dissertation doesn’t matter. All that matters is who your advisor is.