My Recollections as a Student of Prof. R.E. Kalman and Life as a Student at His Center [Historical Perspectives]

I received my Ph.D. in 1979 from the University of Florida under the supervision of Prof. R.E. Kalman. While I was his student and a member of the Center for Mathematical System Theory, the Center attracted the world´s best systems and control theory researchers. Visitors of high caliber were invited to speak at the Mathematical System Theory seminar as well as system theory-related courses. Some stayed for an extended period of time as members of the Center. The seminars were intensive and vibrant. The contents were rigorous, but intuitive ideas were also emphasized. It was understood that we needed to have clear ideas about the established body of knowledge to develop a new theory or method.