František Josef Gerstner

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František Josef Gerstner (February 23, 1756, Chomutov – July 25, 1832, Mladějov) was Czech physicist and engineer.

Gerstner studied at Jesuits gymnasium in Chomutov, then mathematics and astronomy at faculty of philosophy in Prague (1772–1777). In 1781 started to study medicine in Vienna but after short while he decided to work in astromonical observatory instead. In 1789 be became professor of mathematics.

In 1795 Gerstner become member of government commission trying to improve higher technical education in Austrian empire. On his suggestion the old Česká stavovská inženýrská škola (an engineerng school in Prague) was rebuilt into modern polytechnic in 1803. Gerstner became director of the polytechnic in 1806 and also professor of mechanics and hydraulics. He taught here until 1823 (when he stopped due to an illness). The polytechnic exists until now as Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT).

Institute for artificial intelligence and cybernetics research at ČVUT bears name Gerstner Laboratory. [1]

[edit] Work

From his published works the most important were Theory of waves (1804) and Handbuch der Mechanik (1831, Handbook of mechanics) in three volumes, with 1400 subscribers.

He concentrated on applied mechanics, hydrodynamics and river transportation. He helped to built first iron works and first steam engine in Czech lands. In 1807 he suggested horse drawn railway between České Budějovice and Linz (which was actually built in 1827 - 1829 by his son František Antonín Gerstner).