Max Planck Institute for Computer Science
Encyclopedia
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
with a focus on algorithms and their applications in a broad sense. The research ranges from foundations (algorithms and complexity
Complexity
In general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
, programming logics) to a variety of application domains (computer graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
, geometric computation, constraint solving, computational biology
Computational biology
Computational biology involves the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavioral, and social systems...
). It is part of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany's largest society for fundamental research. The objective of the institute is to achieve an effect equally through scientific publications, software systems and by training the next academic generation.
The research institutes of the Max Planck Society have a national and international reputation as “Centres of Excellence” for pure research.
The institute consists of five departments and two research groups:
- The Algorithms and Complexity Department is headed by Prof. Dr. Kurt MehlhornKurt MehlhornKurt Mehlhorn is a German computer scientist. He has been a vice president of the Max Planck Society and is director of the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science.-Education:...
, - The Programming Logics Department was headed by Prof. Dr. Harald GanzingerHarald GanzingerHarald Ganzinger was a German computer scientist that together with Leo Bachmair developed the superposition calculus, which is used in most of the state-of-the-art automated theorem provers for first-order logic.He received his Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich in 1978...
(† June 3, 2004) - The Department Computational Biology and Applied Algorithmics is headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas Lengauer, Ph.D.
- The Computer Graphics Department is headed by Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Seidel
- The Databases and Information Systems Department is headed by Prof. Dr. Gerhard WeikumGerhard WeikumGerhard Weikum is a Research Director at the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science in Saarbruecken, Germany, where he is leading the databases and information systems department...
- Research Group Automation of Logic is headed by Prof. Dr. Christoph Weidenbach
Among other things, numerous awards indicate the success of the institute since it was founded. Professor Kurt Mehlhorn (in 1986) and Professor Hans-Peter Seidel (in 2003) received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...
, in 2003 Professor Thomas Lengauer received the Konrad-Zuse-Medal, and in 2004 Professor Harald Ganzinger
Harald Ganzinger
Harald Ganzinger was a German computer scientist that together with Leo Bachmair developed the superposition calculus, which is used in most of the state-of-the-art automated theorem provers for first-order logic.He received his Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich in 1978...
received the Herbrand Award
Herbrand Award
The Herbrand Award for Distinguished Contributions to Automated Deduction is an award given by CADE Inc. to honour persons or groups for important contributions to the field of automated deduction. The award is named after the French scientist Jacques Herbrand and given at most once per CADE or...
.
In the context of cutting edge research in Germany, the institute joins the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems
Max Planck Institute for Software Systems
The Max Planck Institute for Software Systems is a computer science research institute co-located in Saarbrücken and Kaiserslautern, Germany. The institute is chartered to conduct basic research in all areas related to the design, analysis, modeling, implementation and evaluation of complex...
(MPI-SWS), the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence
German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz , lit. German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, is one of the world's largest nonprofit contract research institutes in the field of innovative software technology based on Artificial Intelligence methods.DFKI was founded in 1988...
(DFKI) and the entire Computer Science department at the Saarland University in being involved in the Internationales Begegnungs- und Forschungszentrum für Informatik. This also offers many possibilities for obtaining further scientific qualifications.
Research School
The International Max Planck Research School for Computer Science (IMPRS-CS) is the graduate school of the MPII and the MPI-SWS. It was founded in 2000 and offers a fully funded PhD-Program (in cooperation with Saarland University
Saarland University
Saarland University is a university located in Saarbrücken, the capital of the German state of Saarland, and Homburg. It was founded in 1948 in Homburg in co-operation with France and is organized in 8 faculties that cover all major fields of science...
). Dean is Prof. Dr. Gerhard Weikum
Gerhard Weikum
Gerhard Weikum is a Research Director at the Max Planck Institute for Computer Science in Saarbruecken, Germany, where he is leading the databases and information systems department...
.