On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the invention of the Rubik's Cube, world-famous inventor Ernő Rubik was the guest of Széchenyi István University and the Municipality of Győr on 12 September. The anniversary was celebrated with a Rubik's Cube competition and a panel discussion in the lobby of the Győr Innovation Park, in the building known as “The Cube”.

It started as a tool aiming to help in learning and has been a worldwide success for 50 years: millions of people still play with the Rubik's Cube, named after one of the most famous Hungarians, Ernő Rubik. The inventor of the logic and creativity developing cube is 80 years old this year, and to celebrate the milestone anniversary he visited Győr to share his experiences and thoughts with the audience at the Innovation Park of Széchenyi István University in Győr.

The former Biscuit factory, the Cube, is now the home of science, industry and technological development, so it is no coincidence that the local government and the University organised the Rubik's Cube celebrations in Győr. The event also included a competition for primary and secondary school pupils, as well as university students, where participants had to prove their speed in a multi-round competition. The game, initially known as the "Magic Cube", is popular with the younger generations, with many children staying in the Cube’s lobby for the panel discussion following the competition.

Inventor Ernő Rubik visited the Cube building at Széchenyi István University's Innovation Park in Győr on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Rubik's Cube (Photo: András Adorján)

On behalf of the Municipality of Győr, Mayor Dr Csaba András Dézsi, welcomed the guest of honour of the event, looking back with gratitude to his memories of the Rubik's Cube. He said that Ernő Rubik had created a lasting value for the whole world, which still appeals to young people growing up in the world of the Internet. "It is fantastic that the inventor of the Rubik's Cube himself was present at the first Rubik's Cube Championship in Győr. I hope the initiative will continue and the game will become even more popular among young people," he said.

Dr Ferenc Friedler, Vice-President of Scientific Affairs and Rector of Széchenyi István University, reflected on the occasion as a lecturer and researcher. "Ernő Rubik developed this cube as an educational visualization tool to help students think. This is also our task as educators: not only to give young people lexical knowledge, but also to develop their way of thinking," he said, adding: "As a researcher, the challenge is to find new solutions and achieve new results, something the inventor excelled at, as he created a timeless value with the Rubik's Cube.”

During the panel discussion, Ernő Rubik said that the title of his book was “Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All”, because the Rubik's Cube has had a similar effect everywhere, regardless of nation, and still has the same effect today, wherever we go in the world. He noted that some countries use the cube in nursing homes to prevent dementia. "For me, this cube illustrates that curiosity can drive you to learn new things and make the effort to get results," he said.

The inventor of the spatial, logical game credits playfulness and task-oriented fun, among other things, for the success of his inventions. He said there is no secret, but the Rubik's Cube is unique: "The impact of the tool is enhanced by a universal code system, the colours, to which people can emotionally connect. The game is at the frontier of several fields, creating a new category that has become very attractive to young people who want to explore."

At the end of the talk, the inventor also gave a message to students of the University: “Curiosity is a basic human trait that we must allow. If we are really curious about something, let's try to find out the answer to the question we have. It is the most exciting thing in the world.”

Gallery (András Adorján):