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Romanian professor
Confidence of the scientist Nicolae Vasilescu Karpen in electricity power was so great, that he believes that it participates, basically in all phenomena that we encounter, whether it's gliding flight of gulls or the strength of reinforced concrete, not to mention machines and electrical equipment.
Born in Craiova in 1870, N. Vasilescu-Karpen followed firstly high school in Craiova, and then National School of Bridges and Highways in Bucharest, he graduated it as class leader, in 1891. He completed his studies in Paris, where graduated, in turn, School of Electricity (1901), Faculty of Sciences (1902), getting general physical certificates, industrial physics, mechanics and chemistry. In 1904, he obtained his doctorate at the Sorbonne with a thesis on the magnetic effect of moving bodies - subject, then, the focus of researchers.
Karpen has begun his academic career in France, as professor of electrical engineering at the University of Lille (1901-1902). He refused the offer to remain abroad, at a French university and returned home. Here he taught electricity and electrical engineering from 1905 to 1940, until his retirement. He was a long time Director of the National School of Bridges and Highways, then rector of the Polytechnic School of Bucharest between years 1920-1940.
Liberal scholar, N. Vasilescu-Karpen, in his position, made significant contributions to the transition of Romanian school, from higher technical education, focused solely on construction issues, as it was the old School of Bridges and Highways, to a higher complex technical education, with many specialties. Also Vasilescu-Karpen had the merit of having helped create a radio specialty in Bucharest Polytechnics. "Many leaders of the Romanian science and technology, many generations of engineers, trained by the eminent scholar and distinguished professor-engineer - writes Acad. Professor Remus Răduleţ - always will keep alive the memory of one who tried to raise Romanian science and technology in the world technological concerns.”
Area of his concerns was also very wide, covering research on atomistic, mechanics, elasticity, electricity, electrochemistry, telegraph, telephone, long distance, construction, geophysics, biology. He was the author of the first history of physics in Romania (1937). In the field of electromagnetism, he formulated a general principle, in relation to the distribution of field lines. Also, in his lectures he gave up the concept fictitious magnetic mass, used then, generally to teaching magnetism. Also N. Vasilescu-Karpen proposed since 1909, using current cable telephony carriers for long distances, and thus being a precursor of what we today name carry currents. His research in electric cells led to the development of new types of cells - so-called K cells - and also to the original theory of free electrons or solvated.
His scientific activity was blended with the administrative one, N. Vasilescu-Karpen activated some time in Post administration, and later, he was director (1907) and president (1928-1936) of the Council of Technical Education. He also earned the birds flight mechanism, gave an original explanation on concrete shrinkage around iron, set out new ideas on the nature of osmotic pressure and surface tension. Member of the Academy in 1922, N. Vasilescu-Karpen was also honorary member of the French Society of Electricians.
He remains a figure of scientist who devoted his life to his complex researches, which he saw near practical life, always seeking original solutions in all areas of science. Also, he encouraged many young scientists and inventors in their efforts to complete the scientific creation and was among the first who popularized in our country sonic principle of Gogu Constantinescu, "Coandă effect", discovered by Henri Coandă. He enjoyed great longevity (94 years), working until the last years of his life in the realm of discovery and invention. At one of his birthday celebration, great physicist Ştefan Procopiu wrote: "very few scientists have a scientific activity so long, continuous and enthusiastic".
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variant spelling:
Vasilescu Karpen, Nicolae
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Curriculum vitae
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* 1870
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Craiova Romania
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born
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1891
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Bucuresti
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Engineer
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1901
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Paris
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1901 - 1902
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Lille
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Associate professor
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1902
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Paris
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Degree in industrial physics, mechanics and chemistry
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1904
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Paris
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Ph.D.
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1905 - 1940
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Bucuresti
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Professor
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1920 - 1940
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Bucuresti
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Rector
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1922
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Bucuresti
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Full member
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† 1964
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Bucuresti
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died
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