The Legacy of George Olah

Abstract

The life of George Olah exemplifies the fate of Hungarian scientific excellence in the 20th century. He was talented and a hard worker, but he could not remain in his country and had to seek a new life in the West. His life-long scientific interests developed in the Budapest Technical University helped him to overcome obstacles and he became a leading chemist of worldwide fame. His qualities and flexibility in both scientific research and practical applications serve as a brilliant example for generations to come.