Founded in 1870 and consistently ranked among the world’s top 100 universities, the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen) is not only Germany’s largest engineering school, in several subject areas (such as mechanical engineering and materials science) it is also the best one. The Faculty of Mathematics, Computer science, and Natural sciences is one of nine faculties at the RWTH Aachen University.It comprises five sections for mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry and biology. The faculty was founded in 1880 and produced several notable individuals like Arnold Sommerfeld and Nobel laureates Philipp Lenard, Wilhelm Wien, Johannes Stark or Karl Ziegler. Peter Debye studied physics at the RWTH Aachen and won the Nobel Prize in 1936.
The mathematics section, located in the building Pontdriesch 10-12, decided to put the individual Gömböc 1870, carrying the year of foundation of the University, on permanent exhibit at the main entrance of the building (indicated by red arrow in the picture above).
Gömböc 1870 was handed over by Gergő Szilágyi, general consul of Hungary in Düsseldorf to professor Michael Westdickenberg, chairman of the section mathematics (see upper picture). Professor Aloys Krieg, professor of mathematics and vice rector for teaching of RWTH Aachen, also gave a speach at the ceremony (picture below).
The production of Gömböc 1870, a 180mm tall model madefrom clear plexiglass, was supported by Mr Ottó Albrecht.