From Borůvka to Modern Algorithms: MU’s Faculty of Science Commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Solution to the Minimum Problem

The result achieved by Czech mathematician Prof. Otakar Borůvka in 1926 became a significant milestone in the development of graph theory and is still applied today in a number of fields of science and technology. Borůvka’s minimum problem relates to finding the most efficient way to connect points in a network, and its principles have gradually become the basis for other algorithms.

The anniversary will be commemorated on September 30, 2026, with a festive program that will link the history of Czech mathematics with a look at its current significance.

The program will feature mathematics, history, and meetings with notable figures

The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Central Cemetery in Brno, where wreaths will be laid at the memorial to Prof. Otakar Borůvka. The program will also include a short religious service with a sermon by Fr. Ing. Josef Stuchlý, SI, M.A.

Starting at 2:00 p.m., the program will continue at Prof. Borůvka’s villa on Roubalova Street. Visitors can look forward to a garden party featuring the cimbalom band Burčáci and “mathematical excursions”—lectures dedicated to Otakar Borůvka and his legacy.

The main academic program will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Karel Engliš Auditorium at the Faculty of Law, Masaryk University. It will be moderated by Prof. RNDr. Zuzana Došlá, DSc., from Masaryk University.

Two prominent figures in Czech and global mathematics will speak:

• Prof. Robert Endre Tarjan of Princeton University, one of the world’s leading computer scientists and mathematicians and a Turing Award laureate. In his lecture, he will present a century-long history of the development of algorithms based on Borůvka’s minimum problem.
• Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Nešetřil, DrSc., from Charles University, a leading Czech mathematician and expert in combinatorics and graph theory. In his lecture, he will focus on the mathematical, social, and applied implications of Borůvka’s famous article.

The afternoon program will also include a tribute marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Sylva Šantavá, CSc., who studied mathematics and physics at the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University from 1946 to 1950 and, under the guidance of Prof. Borůvka, devoted herself to the theory of differential equations. In 1966, she became the first Czechoslovak associate professor of mathematics.

The evening will conclude with an informal social gathering featuring Moravian wine and cimbalom music by the band Burčáci.

A Legacy That Has Endured for a Century

Borůvka’s work contributed significantly to the development of Czech mathematics, and his results extended beyond the scope of the original mathematical problem. Borůvka’s algorithms became an integral part of the development of graph theory and continue to influence, for example, algorithm design and analysis, computer science, and other technical applications.

Registration is required for the ceremonial gathering. Registration is free and can be completed by emailing info@otakarboruvka.cz.