Do you know who was the organizer of the first telephone concert in Europe between Lviv and Zhovkva? This is an outstanding scientist of Lviv Polytechnic Gostkowski baron Roman (1837–1912) – a professor of railway transport theory, a scientist of European level with a wide and diverse range of interests.
He studied at the Tsisar-Royal Real School and the Vienna Polytechnic. For a long time he worked as an engineer on the southern railway of Vienna and Lviv. In 1874 he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Technical Academy and received the title of Associate Professor. Until 1884 he worked at the Polytechnic School at the Department of Rail Transport Theory.
His teaching career was interrupted due to his transfer to Vienna, where Roman Gostkowski became the head of the state railway branch. In 1890 the scientist returned to Polytechnic School to the newly created Department of Rail Transport Theory.
The main direction of his research was the theory of railway traffic and operation of rail transport. He was one of the first in Austria-Hungary to study the use of electricity in rail transport.
Professor Gostkowski was the first chairman of the Society of Engineering Graduates (Towarzystwo ukończonych techników), which was later renamed Lviv Polytechnic Society, where he delivered 43 reports. In 1897–1898 he was the Rector of the Polytechnic School. Gostkowski is the author of numerous publications and a textbook on the theory of railway traffic.