Professor Jan Flis’s road to geography

Abstract

In the study, the authors presented Jan Flis’ road to geography. They emphasized four significant facts in the Professor’s biography which had, in their opinion, impact on his choice of future field of study and professional career. He attended an eight-year Jan Długosz public middle school in Nowy Sącz; a classical school with Greek and Latin courses. The school education provided him with excellent knowledge of Polish, which resulted in conciseness of his works, as well as in uncompromising attitude as far as native language and geographical terminology correctness are concerned. His scouting activity, which started in Nowy Sącz and was continued during the first years of his university studies in Cracow, had impact on his choice of teacher’s profession. Professor Jan Flis improved his organizational skills through his scouting work; he took wide range of actions during the World War II (teaching director of a middle school and a secondary school in a scouting camp for Polish youth in Samloszolles-
Sziko, Hungary) and after the war - he worked in the Institute of Geography in the Jagiellonian University, then in WSP in Cracow and the Polish Geographical Society. Jan Flis’ choice of geography studies was the consequence of his infatuation with his homeland landscape and mountain hiking, as well as meeting professor Jerzy Smoleński. As a middle school pupil, J. Flis would listen to professor Smoleński’s talks and lectures on sightseeing and geomorphology of the Karpaty Mountains, which he delivered in Nowy Sącz to popularize geography. Jan Flis was exceptionally interested in the lectures and equally fascinated by professor J. Smoleński. The authors also focused on professor’s war experiences and their impact on the subject of his publications and lectures on the Middle East, Northern Africa and Italy.