Artwork of the Month – Commemorative Plaque for Academician Dr. József Fülöp
The commemorative plaque, located on Calvary Hill in Tata and in the adjacent Geologist’s Garden, honors the memory of Academician Dr. József Fülöp (1927–1994), an academician and university professor who was a leading figure in Hungarian earth sciences and the popularization of geology, as well as the founder and long-time director of the Geologist’s Garden. The plaque, commissioned by Eötvös Loránd University, was erected in 1999.
The commemorative plaque, made of polished Jurassic-era red limestone, is secured by four metal fasteners to a monolith of red limestone—also from the Jurassic period and characteristic of the area—whose uneven surface reflects a temporal horizon, thereby symbolizing the connection between the past and the present. The text of the dedication, visible in the center, honors József Fülöp as an “outstanding figure in Hungarian geological research” and as the founder of the Geologists’ Garden on Kálvária Hill.
At the top of the commemorative plaque, an ammonite fossil—not part of the rock itself—protrudes from the plaque. The fossil is not merely a decorative element but also a well-known symbol of the earth sciences, symbolically referring to József Fülöp’s scientific legacy and his connection to our geological heritage.
József Fülöp (1927–1994), who would later become a state-awarded geologist, university professor, Doctor of Earth Sciences, and full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, enrolled in the geography and economics teacher training program at Pázmány Péter University in 1946. However, his interests soon turned toward the earth sciences. Beginning in 1948, he worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Geology, and in 1952 he completed his studies by earning a degree in geology, at which time he also began teaching as an assistant professor. From that point on, with only a few brief interruptions, his life became intertwined with the history of our university.
He held numerous positions throughout his career. At a very young age, from 1954 to 1956, he served as a geologist and specialist advisor in the Industry Department of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. From the latter year onward, he served as deputy director of the Hungarian State Geological Institute, and from 1958 to 1969 as its director; he then served as president of the Central Geological Office from 1968 to 1984. From there, his career path led him to the position of rector at ELTE, a post he held for two terms, until 1990.
He was appointed as a university professor in 1970. In 1967, he was elected a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and in 1976, a full member. Among other achievements, he is credited with establishing the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, as well as founding the Research Group of the Department of Geology at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the journal Acta Geologica Hungarica.
His monographs, which are still regarded as seminal works today, bear witness to his wide-ranging professional and scholarly activities, and his contributions to geological conservation can confidently be considered groundbreaking. Based on the geological and paleontological treasures he uncovered there, Kálvária Hill in Tata was designated a protected area of national significance in 1958 at his recommendation, and a portion of Mogyorós Hill in Sümeg was designated in 1976. Another outstanding achievement was the establishment of a high-quality educational center in Sümeg, located near the latter site, which served as the home base for a joint summer field course attended by geology and geophysics students from three Hungarian universities.
The Tata Geologist’s Garden (full name: ELTE Tata Geologist’s Garden – Nature Reserve and Open-Air Geological Museum Collection) opened its doors to the public in 1976 and will thus celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. The commemorative plaque honors the memory of an outstanding geologist and university professor, and also serves as a tangible reminder of an important era in Hungarian geological research, public education, and heritage preservation. The plaque is a central feature of every major celebration. It was also ceremonially honored with wreaths by future generations on the 50th anniversary of the area’s designation as a nature reserve, and this year, on September 11, 2026—the 50th anniversary of its public opening—the university administration, prominent figures from the city of Tata, representatives of scientific organizations, and representatives of the relevant ministry will be present for the most important part of the commemoration.
Text: Dr. Felkerné Kóthay Klára
Photo: István Szente