Béla Gyires

After graduating from university, he taught at a high school for 4 years and then at a college for 2 years. In the meantime, in 1941, he obtained a doctorate in humanities.

Between 1945 and 1951, he taught at the predecessor institution of the Kossuth Lajos University of Debrecen (KLTE), then at the Mathematics Seminar (later: Department of Mathematics) of the Faculty of Natural Sciences (TTK) of the KLTE – from 1946 as a private teacher. From 1952, he was a candidate of mathematical sciences. From that time on, he was the head of the Mathematical Statistics Department of the Probability Calculus Department of the Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; from 1958 to 1974, he was the head of the Institute.

In parallel, between 1952-1962 he was the first associate professor and head of the Department of Probability and Applied Mathematics, which he founded at the KLTE TTK, and a university professor until 1980. Between 1966-1969 he was the dean of the KLTE TTK. From 1980 he was a scientific advisor. From 1994 he was a professor emeritus. From 1996 he was an honorary doctor of the KLTE.

His scientific organizing activities are also significant. In addition to the founding of the above department, he is also responsible for the establishment of the university Computing Center, founded in 1967. He played a decisive role in the launch of the education of probability, mathematical statistics, computer science, and informatics. In 1972, on his initiative and under his leadership, the training of programming mathematicians was introduced, which was prepared together with the lecturers of ELTE and the József Attila University of Szeged. (Thus, in 1972, education began according to a curriculum agreed upon at all three universities.)

Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences since 1962, corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences since 1987, and full member since 1990. Member of the Mathematics Committee, Computer Science Committee and Social Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Member of the Debrecen Academic Committee. Honorary President of the Bolyai János Mathematical Society. Honorary President of the Mathematics Committee of the Natural Sciences Society (TIT). Honorary member of the Hungarian Society of Natural Sciences.

Initially, he dealt with number theory and algebraic issues. His results in matrix theory are internationally recognized. Some of these are related to his main research area, probability theory and mathematical statistics. He is a member of the editorial boards of Acta Mathematica, Alkalmazott Matematikai Lapok, Periodica Mathematica and Publicationes Mathematicae.

His awards: Order of Merit for Work (silver: 1971; gold: 1979); State Award (1980); Pro Universitate Award (KLTE, 1984); Pál Bugát Memorial Medal (1985); István Hatvani Award (1993); Memorial Plaque on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of KLTE (1999); Middle Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (1999); Neumann Award (NJSZT, 1999).