The academician

The staircase of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (in the background you can see the statue of György Bessenyei) (photo: Nextage Production Ltd.)

Although Mádl returned to his alma mater, the University of ELTE in Budapest in the late 1960s at the invitation of his former mentor, Professor Miklós Világhy, this did not mean a break in his academic ties or the abandonment of his academic duties. On the contrary: for decades, in addition to his academic work, he was involved in the work of various academic forums, in the organisation of scientific research and even in administrative tasks, by compiling plans for the publication of legal books. In the meantime, he gradually rose through the academic ranks: he defended his doctoral thesis (The Law of the European Economic Community) in 1974 and was elected a corresponding member of the Academy in 1987 and a full member in 1993. Although he concentrated primarily on teaching and research, he also took part in the administration of the Academy as Secretary of the Scientific Qualification Committee (TMB) from 1984 to 1990.

Following his political involvement in 1990, Mádl, although also responsible for science policy as Minister between 1990 and 1994, tried to keep his distance from academic affairs, mainly in order to avoid the increased media attention that accompanied his public work. Mainly as a consequence, although he always emphasised his attachment to the Academy and attended the annual general meetings as far as possible both as Minister and President of the Republic, he only followed academic affairs from a distance after the regime change of 1989.