A discussion under the patronage of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, part of the seminar series dedicated to Solomon Marcus
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the University of Bucharest will host the „Numitorul Comun” („Common Denominator”) conference, bringing together members of the academic community for a thought-provoking conversation between renowned actress Maia Morgenstern and Professor Liviu P. Dinu, PhD, an expert in computational linguistics and faculty member at the University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Initiated by Professor Liviu P. Dinu, PhD, this discussion is part of the „Solomon Marcus” Seminar, organized under the patronage of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO. The event continues a series of tributes marking the centennial of Solomon Marcus’s birth, an anniversary recognized in UNESCO’s official 2025 calendar and celebrated across its 194 member states.
The event begins at 4:00 PM in the „Spiru Haret” Amphitheater at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bucharest.
During the discussion, Maia Morgenstern will share personal memories of her conversations with Solomon Marcus, reflecting on the depth of his ideas and how they influenced her both professionally and personally. She will also explore the contemporary relevance of his vision and how interdisciplinarity fosters a deeper understanding of both art and science.
The „Solomon Marcus” seminar at the University of Bucharest
A pioneer in mathematical and computational linguistics, Solomon Marcus made significant contributions to a wide range of disciplines, including mathematical analysis, theoretical computer science, semiotics, anthropology, biology, history, the philosophy of science, and education. His career was defined by interdisciplinarity, a theme he frequently explored: „At university, I realized that I approached mathematics through the lens of literature and theater, and later, I studied linguistics through the perspective of mathematics.”
For those passionate about mathematics, linguistics, and their intersections, 2025 marks an important milestone, the centennial of Solomon Marcus’s birth.
To honor his legacy, the Center for Language Technologies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bucharest, is organizing a series of events dedicated to his memory. The inclusion of his centennial in UNESCO’s official 2025 calendar underscores the global significance of his contributions. highlights the global significance of his contributions. These events reaffirm the lasting impact of his ideas in today’s academic world.
The „Solomon Marcus” seminar aims to preserve his legacy, ensuring that both the academic community and the wider public rediscover him as a key figure in Romanian science and culture – a thinker whose influence transcends borders, disciplines, and time
The „Common Denominator” between Maia Morgenstern and Solomon Marcus
Maia Morgenstern was introduced to Solomon Marcus through her parents, both graduates of the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Bucharest. They often reminded her that „mathematics is the queen of the arts.”
Born on May 1, 1962, Maia Morgenstern graduated from the Institute of Theater and Film Arts in 1985, where she studied under Professor Dem Rădulescu. She began her acting career at the Youth Theater in Piatra Neamț and has since become one of Romania’s most respected actresses.
Since 2012, she has served as the director of the State Jewish Theater and has delivered outstanding performances in plays such as: „Tonight: Lola Blau”, „The King’s Game”, „Driving Miss Daisy”, „Park Your Car in Harvard Yard”, „The Merchant of Venice”.
Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including Best Actress at the Emma Awards (London) for her portrayal of Mary in „The Passion of the Christ”. In 2003, the European Parliament in Strasbourg named her Actress and Woman of the Year. In 2017, she received an honorary doctorate from the West University of Timișoara, and in 2018, she was named an Honorary Citizen of Bucharest.
Solomon Marcus frequently explored education through the lens of theater, famously stating: „Education is found within the performance.”
In accordance with this idea, the centennial events will celebrate his legacy as a performance of ideas, where mathematics, linguistics, and culture converge. The discussion on March 5th will be a unique intellectual exchange, united by the common denominator of Solomon Marcus’s influence.
From mentor to disciple: a dialogue across generations
Professor Liviu P. Dinu, PhD, an expert in computational linguistics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bucharest, is the driving force behind this seminar series honoring Solomon Marcus’s legacy.
In an era shaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where perspectives on technology vary widely, Professor Dinu recalls Marcus’s openness to innovation. If Marcus were alive today, he would likely focus not on the risks of technological advancement but on the opportunities it presents.
Their relationship began during Mathematical Analysis courses in Dinu’s first year at university. Later, Solomon Marcus became his doctoral advisor in computational linguistics, guiding him in his dissertation, „Quantitative Aspects in the Study of Languages,” which earned him a PhD in 2003.
Professor Dinu’s research interests include: computational linguistics, natural language processing, information processing. He has also explored historical linguistics, investigating proto-word reconstructions, cognate word pair identification, and borrowing directions in language evolution. Some of his notable works include: „Verba volant, scripta volant? Don’t worry! There are computational solutions for protoword reconstruction.”, „Pater incertus? There is a Solution: Automatic Discrimination between Cognates and Borrowings for Romance Languages”, „RoBoCoP: A Comprehensive ROmance BOrrowing COgnate Package and Benchmark for Multilingual Cognate Identification”, „It takes two to borrow: a donor and a recipient. Who’s who?”.
The upcoming event is not just a tribute to Solomon Marcus but also a platform for dialogue and collaboration among researchers worldwide. Future guest speakers will include: Oliviero Stock, Professor Andrea Sgarro, PhD, Professor Alexandra Cornilescu, PhD, Professor Rada Mihalcea, PhD, and Professor Carlos Martin Vide, PhD. They will discuss how Marcus’s legacy continues to shape various scientific disciplines. The first seminar in this series, „Talking about Mathematics and Literature: Remembering Solomon Marcus”, featured writer Bogdan Suceavă as its inaugural guest.
