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Romanian professor
Pompiliu Nicolau followed "Carol I" high school of Craiova, during 1902 and 1910. Exceptional student, he obtained in 1909 and 1910 first place in competitions organized by the Mathematical Gazette and after baccalaureate exam he was declared high schools honorary prizewinning pupil. During 1910 and 1915 he attended study on the National School of Roads and Bridges. Following the good results in school he had the privilege to perform in the years 1911, 1912 and 1913 practice abroad (Florisdorf workshops in Vienna, the hydroelectric plant of Vouvry and the Rhone Valley sites). On July 15, 1915 he obtained diploma with distinction "Magna cum laude" and he was employed engineer Class III at the Department of Education and Construction, Ministry of Public Works, where he conceived and lead works of two very difficult mountain roads (Novaci-Obârşia Lotrului and Cărbuneşti -Voineasa). He does not forget his passion for water power plant operation and in 1916 forwards to the Ministry of Public Works the work “Utilization problem of Jiu’s High Valley as a driving force”.
After the period initially spent in London, where he documents on the operation of hydraulic energy (especially careful studying the works developed by Water Power Resource Committee), he goes to Norway (country at that time known to use hydraulic energy). He engages on the enterprise that dealt with construction of the dam on the river Glomen Solbergfoss, to be informed in detail on the phases of construction of a dam. Later he engages in hydroelectric plants at Ryukanfoss and Vammafoss, to learn how to exploit the hydroelectric plant. In 1921 he returned to the country being named director of waterfalls in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. In 1922, the rector Victor Vâlcovici calls him as a substitute teacher at Department of Hydraulics and Hydraulic Plant.
The work at the Polytechnic School of Timisoara is divided into two distinct periods 1922-1941 and 1949-1972. Strong personality, professional knowledge and ability to work made professor Nicolau, that, besides teaching, to take much more positions: a member of the National Electricity Commission in 1925, technical adviser to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and between 1923 and 1927 designs and supervisors the city's sewerage works in Craiova. In 1928, he was dean of the Department of Mechanical and Electrical. Because he was deeply involved in the Student Circle Electro mechanics activity, he was elected honorary president between 1927 and 1934.
He was a teacher with more grace; many students who followed the lectures of Hydraulics said that they were simply an intellectual delight: innovative ideas met with great clarity of exposure. In the first period, he taught, in addition to Hydraulics, also Machinery Hydraulic and Hydroelectric Plants courses. Pompiliu Nicolau played a significant role in founding the Laboratory of Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machinery, made during the economic crisis in the years 1929-1932. It was used in early years for completion of degree paper; each student was required to achieve design of a turbine and then trying it in the laboratory. These later served for conducting numerous scientific researches, many of them required by industry.
Professor Nicolau was a man who wove sharp intelligence with exceptional training, moral probity with laws respect and above all impressive courage to support his own opinions, regardless of social position of speaker. Last trait will lead to numerous conflicts with both colleagues and officials. As a result of professional competence, in 1941 he was called to occupy an important position in Antonescu’s government.
On 07/11/1947 he was entrusted with setting up Institute of Agronomy in Craiova. He will be the first rector of the Institute and later dean of the Faculty of Land Development. It is emphasized that in Craiova he found a specialized laboratory.
Appointed in 1949 professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering Polytechnic Institute of Timisoara and Head of the Department of Water technology, he will remain in those positions until retirement and then will continue as a teacher consultant.
He wrote over fifty works on problems of fluid mechanics and hydraulics, but particularly dealt on the need of different rivers complex arrangement. For example we quote a few titles: Study on spatial the whole Jiu basin, Full planning study of the Olt river, from source to Turnu Rosu, Mures River Development Studies from source to Lipova, Agricultural land drainage planning study through underground drain and artificial sprinkling with groundwater use in the Banat plain.
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variant spelling:
Nicolau, Pompiliu
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Curriculum vitae
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* 1891
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born
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1915
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Bucuresti
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Engineer
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1922
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Timisoara
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Professor
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1928
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Timisoara
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Dean
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1947
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Craiova
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Rector
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† 1972
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Timisoara
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died
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