Scientific Article

History and activities in acoustics at the Civil Engineering faculty of STU Bratislava and in Slovakia during the past 100 years

STU Bratislava, Department of Materials Engineering and Physics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Radlinského 11, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia

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Received: 30 April 2025
Accepted: 1 August 2025

Abstract

This paper outlines the history and activities related to acoustics in Slovakia during the 20th century, focusing specifically on the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Slovak Technical University (STU) in Bratislava. The research in acoustics is presented within a historical context that has been notably turbulent in the Central European region. Consequently, the article examines the research and education in acoustics separately for the period before 1989 and the period following the fall of communism. It shows how the development of acoustics as a scientific discipline has been influenced by historical, political, and economic factors, particularly by several waves of emigration from Slovakia to Western EU and North America. The article is based on accessible information in the university library, historical research performance, testimonies of retired professors and colleagues, visits to university archives, and the archives of the Catholic Church. Finally, this paper presents recent research activities at STU Bratislava, the largest and technical university in Slovakia, within national and European frameworks. It outlines the focus of scientific work and education for future architects, civil engineers, and material scientists.