Ernő Rubik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernő Rubik
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Rubik in 2014
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| Born | 13 July 1944 Budapest, Hungary
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| Occupation | Inventor, designer, businessman |
| Years active | 1971−present |
| Employer | Rubik Brand Ltd. (U.S.) |
| Known for | Puzzle designer of Rubik's Cube, inventor, architect, professor |
| Title | Chairman |
| Board member of | Judit Polgar Foundation |
| Spouse(s) | Ágnes Hégely |
| Parent(s) | Ernő Rubik |
Ernő Rubik (Hungarian: [ˈrubik ˈɛrnøː]; born July 13, 1944) is a famous inventor from Hungary. He is best known for creating the amazing Rubik's Cube in 1974, along with other puzzles like Rubik's Magic and Rubik's Snake.
Even though he's famous for his puzzles, Ernő Rubik also works hard to encourage young people to learn about science. He helps organizations like Beyond Rubik's Cube and the Rubik Learning Initiative. These groups want to get students excited about science, math, and solving problems from a young age.
Rubik studied art and architecture in Budapest, Hungary. While he was a professor, he enjoyed building geometric models as a hobby. One of these models was an early version of his famous cube, made from 27 wooden blocks. It took him about a month to figure out how to solve his own puzzle!
The cube turned out to be a great way to teach about math. In 1977, a Hungarian company started selling it. By 1980, the Rubik's Cube was sold all over the world. Millions of cubes were sold, and many books were written to help people solve the puzzle. After the cube became so popular, Rubik opened his own studio in 1984 to create new designs. One of his other popular toys was Rubik's Magic.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ernő Rubik was born in Budapest, Hungary, on July 13, 1944. He has lived in Hungary his whole life. His father, also named Ernő Rubik, was an aircraft engineer. His mother, Magdolna Szántó, was a poet. Ernő Rubik has often said that his father was a big inspiration for him.
His father was a highly respected engineer who designed gliders. He was known around the world for his work. Ernő Rubik said that his father taught him a lot about working hard to create something new. He said his father could "move a hill" and would always finish what he started.
From 1958 to 1962, Rubik focused on sculpture at a special art school. Then, from 1962 to 1967, he studied architecture at the Budapest University of Technology. After that, from 1967 to 1971, he studied interior architecture and design at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design.
Rubik believes that his university education was very important in shaping his life. He said that schools helped him learn skills that need a lot of practice and hard work, especially with a teacher's help.
Career and the Rubik's Cube
Becoming a Professor and Inventing the Cube
From 1971 to 1979, Rubik taught architecture at the Budapest College of Applied Arts. During this time, he created designs for a three-dimensional puzzle. In 1974, he finished the first working model of the Rubik's Cube. He applied for a patent for his puzzle in 1975. In an interview, Rubik explained that he was looking for a good project for his students.
He said he was always fascinated by space and how objects change it. He thought about how things move in space and time, and how they affect people. He believes the cube came from this interest and his search for ways to express these ideas.
Rubik started with blocks of wood and rubber bands. He wanted to make a structure where the pieces could move without falling apart. He used wood because it was easy to work with in his university workshop. He made the first cubes by hand, cutting the wood and using elastic bands to hold them together.
He showed his new puzzle to his class, and his students loved it. Rubik realized that the cube's simple design meant it could be made easily and might be popular with many people. Since his father had several patents, Rubik knew how to apply for one for his invention.
He then tried to find a company in Hungary to make the cube. This was difficult because Hungary had a strict planned economy at the time. Finally, he found a small company that worked with plastic and made chess pieces. The cube was first known in Hungary as the "Magic Cube."
In 1979, Rubik gave a US company called Ideal Toys the right to sell the Magic Cube. Ideal Toys changed the name to the Rubik's Cube before it was introduced to the world in 1980. It took over six years from the first model to mass production. The Rubik's Cube quickly became a huge success worldwide. It won many "Toy of the Year" awards and became a symbol of the 1980s. So far, over 350 million Rubik's Cubes have been sold, making it one of the best-selling toys ever. There are now many sizes, from 2x2 to 21x21.
Other Inventions by Rubik
Besides the Rubik's Cube, Ernő Rubik also invented other popular puzzles. These include Rubik's Magic, Rubik's Snake, and Rubik's 360.
Later Career and Other Work
In the early 1980s, Ernő Rubik became the editor of a game and puzzle magazine. In 1983, he started his own company, Rubik Stúdió, where he designed furniture and games. In 1987, he became a full professor. In 1990, he became the president of the Hungarian Engineering Academy. There, he created the International Rubik Foundation to help talented young engineers and designers.
He attended the 2007 World Speedcubing Championship in Budapest. He also gave a talk and signed autographs at a conference about math and art in 2010. In 2009, he was made an honorary professor at Keimyung University in South Korea.
In the 2010s, Rubik spent a lot of time working on Beyond Rubik's Cube. This was an exhibition focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM fields). The exhibit traveled around the world for six years. It opened on April 26, 2014, at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. At the opening, Rubik gave talks, led tours, and met with the public, including famous speedcubers.
Rubik is also a member of the advisory board for the USA Science and Engineering Festival.
Influences on Ernő Rubik
Ernő Rubik has mentioned several people who greatly influenced his work. These include Leonardo da Vinci, whom he sees as a true Renaissance man. He also admires Michelangelo, who was a painter, sculptor, and knew many things. Artist M. C. Escher, known for drawing impossible shapes and exploring the idea of infinity, also inspired him.
When it comes to writers and thinkers, Rubik admires Voltaire, Stendhal, Thomas Mann, Jean-Paul Sartre, Hungarian poet Attila József, Jules Verne, and Isaac Asimov. In architecture, he looks up to Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier.
Personal Life
Rubik says he has loved books his whole life. He believes books helped him learn about the world, nature, and people. He especially enjoys reading science fiction. He also likes nature walks, sports, sailing on Lake Balaton, and gardening. He says collecting succulents (plants that store water) is his favorite hobby.
Prizes and Awards
- 1978 – Budapest International Trade Fair, Prize for the Cube
- 1980 – Toy of the Year: Federal Republic of Germany, United Kingdom, France, USA
- 1981 – Toy of the Year: Finland, Sweden, Italy
- 1982 – Toy of the Year: United Kingdom (second time)
- 1982 – The Museum of Modern Art in New York added Rubik's Cube to its permanent collection
- 1983 – Hungarian State Prize for showing and teaching about 3D structures and for inspiring scientific research
- 1988 – Juvenile Prize from the State Office of Youth and Sport
- 1995 – Dénes Gabor Prize for achievements in innovation
- 1996 – Ányos Jedlik Prize from the Hungarian Patent Office
- 1997 – Prize for the Reputation of Hungary
- 2007 – Kossuth Prize, Hungary's most important cultural award
- 2008 – Moholy-Nagy Prize from the Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design
- 2009 – EU Ambassador of the Year of Creativity and Innovation
- 2010 – USA Science and Engineering Festival Award (Outstanding Contribution to Science Education)
- 2014 – Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen (The highest Hungarian state honor)
- 2014 – Honorary Citizen of Budapest
Images for kids
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Rubik in 2014
See also
In Spanish: Ernő Rubik para niños
