Dubrovnik Airport set to be named after prominent Croatian scientist

Dubrovnik Airport (Photo credit: Suradnik13/CC BY-SA 4.0)

In a significant step towards honouring the renowned and historically significant Croatian scientist, Ruđer Bošković, a meeting was held at Ranjina Palace to discuss adding his name to Dubrovnik Airport. 

The initiative to add Ruđer Bošković’s name to the name of Dubrovnik Airport was launched during the commemoration of the great scientist’s 300th birth anniversary, and it will now be implemented operationally.

During the meeting, it was emphasised that Dubrovnik’s, Croatia’s, and the world’s luminary, Ruđer Bošković, has not been adequately honoured for his contributions to humanity. 

“Therefore, this serves as a fitting way to express our gratitude and recognition,” the Dubrovnik-Neretva County said in a statement.

The meeting marked the official commencement of the procedure required to realise this initiative. The necessary actions will be undertaken in accordance with the Government of the Republic of Croatia through appropriate acts at the society’s assembly. 

The meeting, initiated by County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić, was attended by the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, and a representative from the Municipality of Konavle, who is also the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dubrovnik Airport, and Mario Curić, representing the airport’s co-owners. 

In addition, the Director of Dubrovnik Airport, Viktor Šober, along with his colleagues, the Mayor of Dubrovačko Primorje, Nikola Knežić, and City Councilor of Dubrovnik, Krešimir Marković, were also present.

Born in Dubrovnik, Ruđer Bošković (1711-1787) made significant contributions to various fields of science, particularly in the areas of physics and astronomy. His most notable work was in the field of theoretical physics, where he proposed a model known as the “Bošković’s atomic theory.” This theory described atoms as indivisible particles with a central point of force, called a “point particle,” and surrounding forces that determined their interactions. This model anticipated many concepts in modern physics, such as the idea of atomic forces and the concept of “action at a distance.”

Ruđer Bošković (Photo: Public domain)

In addition to his work in physics, Bošković also made important contributions to mathematics, optics, geodesy, and astronomy. He conducted extensive observations of the Moon and published a comprehensive work on the topic. Bošković also worked on the determination of the shape of the Earth and proposed a method for measuring the equatorial and polar axes.

Beyond his scientific endeavours, Bošković was deeply interested in philosophy and wrote extensively on metaphysics, ethics, and theology. His contributions to science and philosophy had a profound impact on subsequent generations of scientists and thinkers. His ideas and theories influenced the development of modern physics and continue to be studied and appreciated to this day.