HLF Review 2013

Abel, Fields and Turing Laureates 

Meet the Next Generation 

1 

REVIEW 

2013

2

Mathematics as one of the oldest and computer science as a 

very young scientific discipline provide the grounds of today‘s 

highly engineered and modern life, and belong to our culture. 

Their social relevance will continue to grow. 

Dr. h. c. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Klaus Tschira 

Review 2013 

1st Heidelberg Laureate Forum 

September 22 – 27, 2013 

Published by the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation 

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Contents 

Welcome 

8 An Ambitious Goal 

12 Testimonials 

27 Powerful Science Communication 

28 Promoting the Sciences 

30 The Place to Communicate 

32 Conference Elements 

About the Forum 

16 Structure 

34 Participants - Facts & Figures 

36 Outreach Activities 

17 Organizers 

18 Supporting Institutions 

20 The Awards 

22 Selection Process 

23 Scientific Committee 

The Participants 

40 The Laureates 

44 Masters of Abstraction 

46 The Young Researchers 

24 Within Two Disciplines 

26 Encouraging the Next Generation 

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Communications 

52 Tools & Instruments 

54 Media Coverage 

56 Excursions to Local Institutions 

57 High School Visits 

Résumé 

78 Looking Forward 

80 Feedback Young Researchers 

82 Feedback Laureates 

84 Thank You 

85 HLF Team 2013 

HLF Diary 

60 Sunday, September 22 

64 Monday, September 23 

66 Tuesday, September 24 

68 Wednesday, September 25 

70 Thursday, September 26 

72 Friday, September 27 

5

Welcome 

6

7

Welcome 

An Ambitious Goal 

In the process of establishing the HLF as an extraordinary 

scientific event and making it known in 

the communities of mathematicians and computer 

scientists, the prize-giving institutions have 

been of invaluable help: 

“The Heidelberg Laureate Forum - HLF - is about 

building relationships between established scientists 

and young researchers. It is about catching 

advice, finding role 

models, mentors, maybe 

friends. In a nutshell: 

about networking. 

The HLF is not planned to 

be just another conglomerate 

of in-depth lectures. 

Nor is it intended to be a 

sequence of overview presentations. There are 

plenty of such conferences. The idea of the HLF 

is to create something different, something new. 

“I believe that communication is a 

key factor in the process of achieving 

scientific success and excellence; 

the HLF strongly supports the interaction, 

exchange and communication 

amongst researchers throughout all 

stages of their careers.“ 

The Alan Turing Award is given annually to one 

to three persons for outstanding merits in computer 

science by the Association for Computing 

Machinery (ACM). The International Mathematical 

Union (IMU) honors twice 

every four years one to four outstanding 

mathematicians with 

the Fields Medal and also the 

Nevanlinna Prize for important 

contributions to the theoretical 

foundation of informatics. The 

Norwegian Academy of Science 

and Letters donates every year 

the Abel Prize in Memory of Nils Hendrik Abel 

for eminent achievements in mathematics.“ 

The goal of the HLF is to awaken some interest 

and a rough understanding of mathematics and 

computer science, at least to create a more positive 

attitude towards these fields in the good 

willing laymen, the general public. 


in his opening speech on Sunday, Sep. 22, 2013 

Founder of the Klaus Tschira Stiftung and 

the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation 

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Welcome | About the Forum | The Participants | Communications | HLF Diary | Résumé 

“Today many conferences are run like trade fairs, 

with many parallel sessions, accompanied by 

When preeminent scientists have the chance to 

exchange their views on scientific issues without 

the pressure of having to rush to the next meeting, 

this will very likely help in promoting the 

disciplines involved. And when excellent young 

researchers are given the chance of partaking in 

these conversations, this will not only boost their 

motivation – it will result in successfully “passing 

the torch” on to the next generation. 

matchmaking events, etc. In addition, the digital 

communication channels 

Since mathematics and computer 

science are most relevant 

foster short exchanges 

“This very new event aims to unite 

and asynchronous interaction. 

Having time for an 

Institute for Theoretical Studies 

for the work of the Heidelberg 

the highly talented mathematicians 

and computer scientists of the day.“ 

open conversation, the 

(HITS), which is the affiliated 

length of which is determined 

research institute of the Klaus 

by the participants and not by some 

Tschira Stiftung, both institutions decided to 

pre-defined agenda, seems to be a luxury from 

establish the Heidelberg Laureate Forum as an 

a bygone era, one that many people think they 

event modeled for strong interaction between 

cannot afford anymore – not in a professional 

scientists.“ 

setting, that is. 

The organizers of the HLF are convinced that dialogues 

in an informal setting without any schedules, 

but with enough time for contemplating 

the issues at hand from different perspectives 

are just as important as academic teaching. 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h. c. Andreas Reuter 

in his greetings to the 1st HLF, Sep. 22, 2013 

Managing Director HITS and Scientific Chairperson 

Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation 

9

Welcome 

An Ambitious Goal 

“At a dinner party you would not like to admit being 

bad at English. Because everyone around you 

would give you a pretty strange look. Admitting 

to be bad at mathematics, however, would be a 

lot more comfortable: People would give you a 

smile, in full agreement and sympathy. But both 

math haters and math lovers agree on one single 

point: Mathematics 

is different. It is incomparable, 

unique. 

Being not a math lover, 

but a math admirer - I 

even dare to say: Mathe- 

matics is the queen of 

the sciences! There is no other science being 

that abstract, that pure, that beautiful. A world 

of its own, existing only in the human mind: Can 

science be more sublime? 

“No other science influences today’s 

life as much as mathematics and 

computer sciences do. An influence 

that is even growing - at a high pace.“ 

No wonder mathematicians and computer scientists 

have the reputation of being genii or, in 

the worst case, odd characters. So mathematics 

is mysterious on the one hand. But ordinary on 

the other. It’s ordinary because we meet mathematics 

and computer sciences wherever we go: 

Mobile phones, personal computers, automobiles, 

cash dispensers and even egg cookers - it’s 

nothing but mathematics and computer sciences. 

Many people are concerned about the power 

that computers have. And even more about the 

power that computers give. Science has to observe 

ethical limits, there is no question about 

that. We do not want to see everything that is 

possible turned into reality. 

But science and research will deliver 

us the solutions we desperately 

need: Climate change, growth of 

population, aging societies, loss of 

biodiversity, dwindling natural resources 

- the threats to our world 

are numerous. Without the help 

and advice, the wisdom and prudence of our 

scholars… we just won’t make it.“ 

Theresia Bauer, M. A. 

in her opening speech on Sunday, Sep. 22, 2013 

Minister of Science, Research 

and the Arts Baden-Württemberg 

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11

Review 

Testimonials 

“I greatly enjoyed the HLF and also the old city of 

Heidelberg which I first visited 75 years ago as 

a small boy. In considering the pattern of future 

meetings I hope special attention will be paid to 

the views of the young researchers. Such meetings 

are for their benefit.” 

Sir Michael Francis Atiyah, mathematician 

Fields Medal, 1966; Abel Prize, 2004 

“A great and imaginative concept, carried out 

with exceptional diligence and superb arrangements. 

Mixing laureates and young researchers 

is a superb idea. A wonderful time for the laureates 

to reunite with old friends. That‘s why I 

initially wanted to go. It worked.” 

Frederick Brooks, computer scientist 

Turing Award, 1999 

“The HLF was attended by about 200 students 

and young post-docs. They were from all over 

the world, all eager to meet, greet, listen and 

interact with their role models.” 

Srinivasa S. R. Varadhan, mathematician 

Abel Prize, 2007 

“As a computer scientist, working closely with 

mathematics, I cannot express enough thanks 

for this effort to highlight our highest achievements 

and thus the importance and excitement 

of the fields.” 

Madhu Sudan, computer scientist 

Nevanlinna Prize, 2002 

“Having both pure mathematicians and theoretical 

computer scientists together was an important 

novel component that I would urge be 

maintained.” 

Leslie Valiant, computer scientist 

Nevanlinna Prize, 1986; Turing Award, 2010 

“It was a wonderful meeting, the best designed 

and best executed meeting I have ever been to. 

Since these are joint meetings, they necessarily 

place emphasis on interactions between math 

and computer science, which is good.“ 

Efim Zelmanov, mathematician 

Fields Medal, 1994 

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“I have never imagined that a single week can 

be enough to personally meet several laureates, 

talk to dozens of young researchers, learn plenty 

of things, have a few new research ideas and 

discover a great city and its surroundings. HLF 

made this possible!” 

Ruxandra Olimid, Young Researcher 

“I am very grateful for having the opportunity to 

participate in it. It was really the best organized 

and managed event I have ever attended.” 

Siddharth Krishna, Young Researcher 

“Due to this Forum I found the like-minded who 

are working in various fields of mathematics 

and computer science in order to create scientific 

tandems.“ 

Alina Matyukhina, Young Researcher 

“It was such a nice and memorable experience 

for me (hope for all other participants too) to 

become a part of such a beautiful and elegantly 

organized event. Without any doubt, this is the 

best organized international event I‘ve attended 

so far.“ 

Prasun Ghosal, Young Researcher 

“It‘s been a wonderful week. I‘m sure it will have 

a long lasting effect on many of us and our careers.“ 

Ewa Syta, Young Researcher 

“I really enjoyed the trip to Germany meeting so 

many „giants“ in the world.“ 

“I had a fantastic time discussing with other 

young researchers and some of the laureates. 

My academic network was expanded tremendously 

at the Forum with opportunity for future 

overseas research visits and collaborations.“ 

Ibrahim Adeyanju, Young Researcher 

Chi Jin, Young Researcher 

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Structure 

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum is a one-week 

event combining scientific, network and outreach 

activities. 

To organize the Forum the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, 

a German foundation which supports the natural 

sciences, mathematics and computer science, 

founded the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation 

(HLFF). 

Each year the HLFF invites the winners of the 

most prestigious awards in mathematics and 

computer science, the Abel Prize, the Fields 

Medal (including the Nevanlinna Prize for contributions 

in “Mathematical Aspects of Information 

Science”), and the ACM Turing Award to participate 

in the Forum. 

Leibniz Center for Informatics. The candidates 

proposed by these organizations are reviewed 

by the Foundation’s Scientific Committee, which 

makes the final decision. 

The outreach activities are targeted both at the 

general public and at high school students in 

particular. 

Most of the scientific program of the Forum is 

accessible worldwide via livestreams and after 

the event as recordings in a media archive. 

Once the focus has been defined in close communication 

with the laureates and the Scientific 

Committee, applications from young researchers 

for participation in the Forum are solicited. The 

first phase of the application process is primarily 

handled by the award-granting organizations, 

supported by the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical 

Studies, Mathematisches Forschungszentrum 

Oberwolfach and by Schloss Dagstuhl, 

The formal agreement between the organizers and 

the award-granting institutions was signed in Oslo on 

May 22, 2012. 

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Organizers 

Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation (HLFF) 

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum is organized by 

the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation, a 

non-profit foundation which was established by 

the Klaus Tschira Stiftung (KTS) in 2013. 

Klaus Tschira Stiftung (KTS) 

In 1995, Klaus Tschira, physicist and co-founder 

of the software company SAP, established the 

Klaus Tschira Stiftung in Germany as a non-profit 

foundation. The Foundation promotes the natural 

sciences, mathematics and computer science 

and wants to raise appreciation for these fields. 

The KTS is among Europe´s largest non-profit 

foundations funded from private means. The 

foundation is jointly managed by Klaus Tschira 

and Beate Spiegel. See also page 28. 

Heidelberg Institute for 

Theoretical Studies (HITS) 

HITS is a private, non-profit research institute. As 

a research institute of the Klaus Tschira Stiftung, 

HITS conducts basic research from astrophysics 

to cell biology, with a focus on processing and 

structuring large volumes of data. The institute 

is jointly managed by Klaus Tschira and Andreas 

Reuter. See also page 29. 

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Supporting Institutions 

Association for Computing Machinery 

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, 

is the world’s largest educational and scientific 

computing society, uniting computing educators, 

researchers and professionals to inspire 

dialogue, share resources and address the field’s 

challenges. 

International Mathematical Union 

The International Mathematical Union (IMU) 

promotes, with its more than 70 member countries, 

the development of mathematics in any of 

its aspects, pure, applied, or educational. The 

IMU encourages worldwide cooperations in 

mathematics and organizes the International 

Congress of Mathematicians. 

The Norwegian Academy 

of Science and Letters 

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, 

founded in 1857, is a non-governmental, nationwide 

body which embraces all fields of learning. 

Its main purpose is to support the advancement 

of science and scholarship in Norway. The Abel 

Prize for excellent scientific work in mathematics 

is awarded every year by The Norwegian Academy 

of Science and Letters. 

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Mathematisches Forschungszentrum 

Oberwolfach 

The Mathematische Forschungszentrum in Oberwolfach 

(MFO) is a unique infrastructure in the 

field of mathematics and holds internationally 

a leading position, since it especially supports 

scientific research with its excellent facilities, 

highly qualified workshops and small “Research 

in Pairs” groups. 

Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz Center 

for Informatics 

The LCI is one of the leading research centers 

for computer science in the world. Since 1990 

it has organized seminars of the highest scientific 

caliber. The LCI fosters world-class informatics 

research by bringing together internationally 

renowned researchers and promising young scientists. 

Over 3,000 scientists from all over the 

world attend Dagstuhl events each year. 

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The Awards 

Abel Prize 

Turing Award 

The Abel Prize is an international prize presented 

by the King of Norway to one or more outstanding 

mathematicians. Named after the Norwegian 

mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), 

the Abel Prize and the Fields Medal have often 

been described as the “Mathematician’s Nobel 

Prizes”. It comes with a monetary award of Norwegian 

krone (NOK) 6 millions (approximately 

US$1 million). 

www.abelprize.no 

The ACM A.M. Turing Award is an annual prize 

given by the Association for Computing Machinery 

(ACM) to “an individual selected for contributions 

of a technical nature made to the 

computing community”. The Turing Award is 

recognized as the “highest distinction in computer 

science” and “Nobel Prize of Computing”. 

The award is named after Alan Mathison Turing, 

mathematician and reader in mathematics at 

the University of Manchester. As of 2007, the 

award is accompanied by a prize of US$250,000. 

http://amturing.acm.org/ 

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Fields Medal 

Nevanlinna Prize 

The Fields Medal is awarded every four years 

during the International Congress of Mathematicians 

(ICM) and is given by the International 

Mathematical Union (IMU). It recognizes outstanding 

mathematical achievement for existing 

work and for the promise of future achievement. 

Two to four medals are awarded to mathematicians 

who have to be of age less than forty years 

on January 1 of the Congress year. The Fields 

Medal, established in 1936 and named after the 

Canadian mathematician J. C. Fields, is one of the 

most prestigious awards in the field of mathematics 

and often described as the “Nobel Prize 

of Mathematics”. 

The Rolf Nevanlinna Prize is awarded, once every 

four years, at the International Congress of 

Mathematicians for outstanding contributions in 

Mathematical Aspects of Information Sciences 

and is given by the International Mathematical 

Union (IMU). An awardee’s 40th birthday must 

not occur before January 1 of the year of the 

Congress at which the prize is awarded. The prize 

was established in 1981 and named to honor the 

Finnish mathematician Rolf Nevanlinna. 

www.mathunion.org/ 

general/prizes/nevanlinna/details 

www.mathunion.org/ 

general/prizes/fields/details 

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Selection Process 

Undergraduates, PhD candidates and Postdocs in Mathematics and Computer Science 

are invited to apply for the HLF 

1300 applications 

Online Application Tool (application.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org) 

supported by the HLF Office 

600 submitted applications 

All submitted applications are prepared for review by the HLF Office 

International reviewers from mathematics; 

appointed by the IMU and the Abel Board 

in cooperation with the Scientific Committee 

International reviewers from computer science; 

appointed by the ACM 

in cooperation with the Scientific Committee 

Scientific Committee makes the final selection 

Invitation to selected candidates issued by HLFF 

100 Young Researchers 

from the area of mathematics 

100 Young Researchers 

from the area of computer science 

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Scientific Committee 

Members (sorted by last name): 

Jennifer Tour Chayes 

(Microsoft Research / ACM - Association for 

Computing Machinery) 

Klaus Tschira 

(KTS - Klaus Tschira Stiftung / HLFF - Heidelberg 

Laureate Forum Foundation) 

Gert-Martin Greuel 

(Universität Kaiserslautern / MFO - Mathematisches 

Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach) 

Juris Hartmanis 

(Cornell University / ACM - Association for Computing 

Machinery) 

Helge Holden 

(NTNU Trondheim - Norwegian University of 

Science and Technology / Abel Board) 

Srinivasa S. R. Varadhan 

(New York University / Abel Board) 

Reinhard Wilhelm 

(Universität des Saarlandes / LCI - Leibniz Center 

for Informatics) 

Jean-Christophe Yoccoz 

(Collège de France Paris / IMU - International 

Mathematical Union) 

Andreas Reuter 

(HITS - Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical 

Studies / HLFF - Heidelberg Laureate Forum 

Foundation) 

Dierk Schleicher 

(Jacobs University Bremen / IMU - International 

Mathematical Union) 

Young Researchers selected by the Scientific 

Committee. 

23


Within Two Disciplines 

In 2012, the Klaus Tschira Stiftung tackled a new 

challenge by organizing the Heidelberg Laureate 

Forum. In hosting the event, the Klaus Tschira 

Stiftung boosted its activities in promoting the 

disciplines of mathematics and computer science. 

The Foundation established the HLF to reach out 

to highly talented computer scientists and mathe- 

maticians from all over the world. The outstanding 

scientists from both 

disciplines, their bodies 

of research and their 

accomplishments 

for 

our modern, technology-based 

society are presented 

and talked about. This new project that is 

the HLF raises the bar. For the goal is to increase 

awareness for the two disciplines that are gene- 

rally considered to be abstract and peculiar. 

Moreover, the objective is to establish the HLF as 

a recurring event with a new format in the two 

scientific communities. 

“The book of nature is written in 

mathematical characters.“ 

In the HLF, the Foundation focuses on the two 

academic disciplines mathematics and computer 

science and the researchers who work in them; 

these disciplines have had little publicity in the 

public eye thus far. How many of us are aware 

that computer science and mathematics are 

revolutionizing our society faster than any 

other field? Computer scientists and mathe- 

maticians are considered to be solitary and 

grumpy hermits who focus on numbers. “Mathe- 

Galileo Galilei 

matics is so valuable precisely because 

there are so many enormously 

difficult problems to be solved, 

the Himalayas of mathematics,” 

says Alain Connes, French mathe- 

matician and winner of the Fields 

Medal. “Once we reach this summit, we’ll have 

a fantastic view.” 

Connes is, of course, talking about the unsolved 

millennium problems in mathematics published 

in 2000 by the Clay Mathematics Institute, yet 

it is easy to see how omnipotent the oldest science 

in the world is. It has joined forces with one 

of the youngest scientific disciplines, computer 

24


science, to create a range of new research areas, 

far beyond the hitherto borders of natural 

sciences. Whereas empiricism used to be the 

tool of choice for all quantitative sciences, today 

computer experiments are widely used in laboratories 

all over the world - and thus have become 

a part of our daily lives. Home cinemas, smartphones, 

the computerized work place: Mathematics 

and computer science can be found in all 

of them. 

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum provides a communication 

platform for the two disciplines that 

keep the world turning. 

And it provides the stories and faces behind the 

brilliant minds and their revolutionary achievements 

that push the world forward. 

Fields Medal Laureate Stephen Smale (left) and Turing Award Laureate Edmund Melson Clarke: Mathematics meets 

computer science. 

25


Encouraging the Next Generation 

The reasons for raising awareness for computer 

science and mathematics are manifold: As trillions 

of data sets are transferred every day via 

computer networks in today’s information- and 

knowledge-based society, there is hardly a job 

or a recreation that takes place without chips, 

networks or the internet; at the same time, the 

searchers in mathematics and computer science, 

but many of the recently established disciplines 

that fall under the umbrella term computational 

sciences and include technical, natural, cultural 

and social sciences could also quickly teeter off 

after a rapid rise. The “lack of specialists” is not 

limited to higher education. 

number of students enrolling in natural sciences, 

engineering and mathematics has dropped significantly. 

What will you do when the next generation of 

scientists is not large enough and thus the advances 

in society could run into a dead end? 

In the spring of 2013, roughly 

7.2 percent fewer students 

enrolled in these subjects at 

“It is the supreme art of the teacher 

to awaken joy in creative expression 

German universities compared 

and knowledge.“ 

to the previous year. 

Albert Einstein 

What‘s more, in some cases, 

the dropout rate in computer 

science has reached up to 50 percent. Even 

success stories, such as the steadily increasing 

number of top earners at American software 

companies and the constantly growing job market 

in the IT sector, do not keep prospective computer 

scientists from dropping out of programs. 

For the scientific community, this offers a perspective 

in an otherwise difficult time. In the 

long term, not only will there be fewer young re- 

Turing Award Laureate Feigenbaum is talking to the 

next generation. 

26


Powerful Science Communication 

The communication about science and its protagonists 

also plays a central role given the lack 

intensive exchange of ideas. The informal atmos- 

laureates and young researchers to enter into an 

of young researchers. Science communication 

phere allows the award-winning experts to fully 

can make science all the more fascinating and attractive; 

it raises a significant level of awareness 

embrace their role as mentors: 

of science in the long term and thus spurs motivation 

and inspiration to become a scientist and 

despite the obstacles in their daily research. In 

They can tell of how they reached their goals 

pursue such a career. An example from the past 

addition, they show how courage, endurance, 

shows the potential effect of targeted publicity: 

diligence, a bit of luck and the belief in their own 

As the awareness of the natu- 

capabilities can help to keep at 

ral scientist Alexander von 

it. In order to obtain the top positions 

in science, self-assurance, 

“What makes us human is the 

Humboldt’s work at the beginning 

of the 19th century 

confidence and courage to pro- 

ability to communicate with each 

other.“ 

grows, natural sciences is experiencing 

a boom at all le- 

essential. 

Karl Jaspers mote new and creative ideas are 

vels of society that continues 

to be prevalent today. 

“It is not about how the younger generation 

should do it, in technical terms. They know it 

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum invites today’s 

most talented mathematicians and com- 

rience, years of living“, Sir Michael Francis Atiyah, 

much better than I do. I can offer wisdom, expe- 

puter scientists to Heidelberg for a one-week 

Abel and Fields Laureate, began his talk. “There 

event event. Winners of the most prestigious 

will come the stage of not being successful, but 

scientific awards in both disciplines (Fields 

go through it. I had it, too!” 

Medal, Turing Award, Abel Prize and Nevanlinna 

Prize) come together with 200 selected young 

researchers from around the world. 

In addition to a unique scientific program, the 

Forum organizes a wide-ranging series of events 

to create a relaxing atmosphere that enables the 

27


Promoting the Sciences 

The Klaus Tschira Stiftung was established in 

1995 by the physicist Klaus Tschira. It is among 

Europe’s largest non-profit foundations funded 

from private means. The Klaus Tschira Stiftung 

promotes the advancement of natural sciences, 

mathematics and computer science and wants 

to raise appreciation in these fields. 

The commitment of the Klaus Tschira Stiftung 

ranges from kindergarten to schools, universities 

and research institutions all over Germany. To 

sustainably promote and boost selected topics, 

the Foundation maintains its own institutes like 

the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies 

or the Forscherstation - the Klaus Tschira Competence 

Center for Early Science Education. It 

educates kindergarten and primary school teachers 

how to spark the enthusiam for natural phenomena 

among young children. The National 

Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) in 

Karlsruhe trains scientists and students for the 

dialogue with the public. Last but not least: To 

organize the Heidelberg Laureate Forum the 

Klaus Tschira Stiftung created the Heidelberg 

Laureate Forum Foundation. 

The Klaus Tschira Stiftung created, launched 

and supports a wide range of initiatives to 

promote the sciences and their appreciation. 

28


HITS, the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical 

Studies, is the research institute of the Klaus 

Tschira Stiftung. It has become operational in 

January 2010. Today, around 100 scientists from 

15 countries work in 10 research groups. They 

conduct basic research in areas where large 

amounts of data are produced and analyzed from 

astrophysics to cell biology. The scientists are 

participating in international project consortia, 

such as the “Human Brain Project” in the life sciences, 

or the “Virgo Consortium” in astrophysics. 

One of the institute’s goals is to make both the 

scientific community and the public more aware 

of the importance of computer-based, datadriven 

science, especially in the natural sciences. 

Therefore, HITS has launched the “Journalist in 

Residence” program, a grant for experienced 

journalists with a focus on science. It gives them 

the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in all 

aspects of data-driven science. 

The institute is jointly managed by Klaus Tschira 

and the computer scientist Andreas Reuter, who 

both have initiated the Heidelberg Laureate 

Forum. 

Interdisciplinary work is important for the scientists from 15 nations who work at the HITS. 

29


The Place to Communicate 

Communication as a key factor for scientific 

success: Where else but in Heidelberg could a 

science event of this caliber be held? As one of 

the oldest university towns in Europe, Heidelberg 

looks back on a long tradition as a place for 

scientific excellence. The organizers specifically 

chose the lecture halls of the Ruperto Carola University, 

founded in 1386, to hold the HLF’s scientific 

program. 

In order to promote the scientific discussion and 

the cross-generational exchange of ideas beyond 

the academic environment, the HLF also 

selected additional venues to set the stage for 

its social program: 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Schwetzingen Castle 

Heidelberg Convention Center 

Charter Ship MS Merian 

Heidelberg Castle 

Marstall Cafeteria 

The courtyard of the university as a meeting point. 

30


A beautiful valley inspires. 

Insights from experience are passed on to the younger 

generation. 

The exchange of scientific ideas across generations. 

Be strong and hold on to your ideas, young 

researcher! 

31


Conference Elements 

Plenary Lectures 

Postdoc Workshops 

Plenary lectures were held by the laureates, in 

the morning sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

The choice of the lecture subject was entirely up 

to the laureate. Therefore, topics ranged from 

a technical subject to science and education or 

politics. The plenary lectures were limited to 30 

resp. 45 minutes, including a short discussion. 

Postdoc workshops were presented by 14 postdoc 

participants of the Heidelberg Laureate Forum 

in the afternoon sessions on Monday, Tuesday 

and Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Workshops ran in parallel sessions. 

32


Panel Discussions 

Social Events 

Panel discussions were held in the afternoon 

sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, from 

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Generally, the panel discussions 

were run by the laureates. The panel 

on Friday was dedicated to the question of how 

the 1st Heidelberg Laureate Forum worked out 

and which recommendations the participants 

wished to make for future events. Two presentations 

preceded the panel: one summary from 

the laureates’ perspective, and one from the 

young researchers’ perspective. 

Nearly every afternoon and evening extraordinary 

social events gave all participants the 

opportunity to meet outside the academic surrounding. 

This part of the HLF is an important 

and crucial aspect. 

During the 1st HLF the beautiful landscapes and 

sceneries of the Rhine-Neckar region were discovered. 

33


Participants - Facts & Figures 

Two hundred young researchers from roughly 

50 countries as well as 38 award-winning expert 

researchers accepted the invitation to attend 

the Forum. 

Facts on the Young Researchers: 

Young Researchers by Age 

The general consensus: The HLF, which is targeted 

at an international, cross-generational 

audience, will continue to be organized as a networking 

event that enhances both disciplines 

mathematics and computer science. 

Young Researchers by Gender 

Young Researchers by Academic Degree 

Young Researchers by Nationality 

Trinidadian, Tobagonian | Tunisian | Ghanaian | Vietnamese | Japanese | Argentinian | French | 

South Korean | Swedish | Ethiopian | Palestinian | Slovak | Nigerien | Cypriot | Fijian | Belarusian | 

Croatian | Bulgarian | Swiss | Cameroonian | Latvian | Mexican | Norwegian | Turkish | Colombian 

| Russian |Brazilian | Danish | Taiwanese | British | Belgian | Nigerian | Hungarian | Australian | 

Ukrainian | Greek | Romanian | Iranian | Austrian | Spanish | Canadian | Pakistani | Serbian | Indian 

| Polish | American | Italian | Chinese | German 

34


The HLF in Numbers: 

1300 applications worldwide 

38 laureates 

200 young researchers 

150 guests 

20 plenary lectures 

14 postdoc workshops 

3 panel discussions 

7 different social events 

Facts on the Laureates: 

Laureates by Age 

300 rooms were booked in 

24 hotels 

3900 cups of coffee 

1349 lunch meals in Marstall Cafeteria 

Laureates by Disciplines 

Laureates by Place of Work 

35


Outreach Activities 

Film Festival 

Benefit Concert 

The weeklong film festival that took place shortly 

before the opening of the 1st HLF at Karlstor 

Cinema was directed towards the general public 

with a special interest in science. This festival allowed 

visitors to get a closer look at the abstract 

world of mathematics and computer science 

directly from their cinema seats. Each day during 

the festival, one or two feature films, documentaries 

and short films were shown in which 

mathematics and/or computer science played a 

major role. 

The interaction of mathematics and computer 

science with music was on display during the SAP 

benefit concert on the first evening of the HLF. 

The concert was free to the public and donations 

were collected for the charity organization “Children 

for Tomorrow”. The concert entitled “Mozartiana 

con spirito scientifico” was performed 

by the SAP Symphony Orchestra under the direction 

of Johanna Weitkamp and took place at the 

Heidelberg Convention Center. 

36


Cube 

Photo Exhibition 

Even before the Forum started, guests and travelers 

were greeted by an imposing exhibit cube 

in the main hall of the Heidelberg train station. 

The cube displayed the core messages of the 

HLF: Inspiration, motivation and encounters. 

That the world of algorithms and numbers is not 

faceless was shown in the Old Town of Heidelberg: 

In a gallery set up by the Heidelberg Laureate 

Forum Foundation in a prominent open-air 

spot, portraits of the laureates taken by Peter 

Badge were presented before and during the 

Forum. 

37

Participants 

38

39

Participants 

The Laureates 

In 2013 the HLFF invited all living mathematicians 

and computer scientists who have received 

one or more of the most prestigious scientific 

awards in the two disciplines, namely the Fields 

Medal, Turing Award, Abel Prize and the Nevanlinna 

Prize. They all received invitations to come 

to Heidelberg for the 1st Heidelberg Laureate 

Forum. 

Thirty-eight of these outstanding scientists accepted 

the invitation. 

The laureates at the Opening Ceremony. 

40


Sir Michael Francis Atiyah 

Fields Medal, 1966; Abel Prize, 2004 

Charles William Bachman 


Manuel Blum 


Frederick Brooks 


Vinton Gray Cerf 


Edmund Melson Clarke 


Stephen A. Cook 


Fernando J. Corbato 


Gerd Faltings 


Edward A. Feigenbaum 


Shafrira Goldwasser 


Juris Hartmanis 


41

Participants 

John E. Hopcroft 


William Morton Kahan 


Richard Manning Karp 


Alan Kay 


Butler W. Lampson 


Curtis McMullen 


Silvio Micali 


Michael O. Rabin 


Dabbala Rajagopal Reddy 


Ronald L. Rivest 


Dana S. Scott 


Adi Shamir 


42


Joseph Sifakis 


Stephen Smale 


Richard Edwin Stearns 


Madhu Sudan 


Ivan Sutherland 


Endre Szemerédi 


Robert Endre Tarjan 


Charles P. Thacker 


Leslie G. Valiant 




Cédric Villani 


Vladimir Voevodsky 


Avi Wigderson 


Efim Zelmanov 


43

Participants 

Masters of Abstraction 

In 2012, the photographer 

Peter Badge was sent by 

the Klaus Tschira Stiftung 

on a worldwide journey. His 

task - supported entirely 

by the Foundation - to create 

portraits of all living recipients of the Turing 

Award, the Abel Prize, the Fields Medal and the 

Nevanlinna Prize. 

During his journey around the world, Peter Badge 

photographed the laureates. He met them at 

home or in their offices, wherever the laureates 

wanted: “Once, I flew with Ken Thompson in his 

private Cessna in San Francisco, then I spent two 

wonderful days with Joseph Sifakis on the island 

of Crete”, reported the artist. 

“I loved to meet all these wonderful scientists, as 

none of them seemed to be arrogant or self-opinionated,” 

Badge went on. Indeed, the meetings 

taught him to be humble: “All the laureates, who 

gave our society so much input for improvement, 

are absolutely unobtrusive.” 

A comprehensive series of wonderful photos 

was realized and published in the book ‘Masters 

of Abstraction’. 

Peter Badge was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 

1974. He began his career as a freelance artist 

and photographer in 1993. In 1995, he moved 

to Berlin to study art history and has been living 

and working there ever since. He concentrates 

on portraiture. 

Peter Badge has published numerous books, and 

his photographs have been printed in magazines 

and newspapers worldwide. His work is represented 

in various international private and public 

collections. Peter Badge is the Honorary Consul 

of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in 

Germany. 

44


The book ‘Masters of Abstraction‘ is published by the Klaus Tschira Stiftung/HLFF. For contact details see imprint page 86. 

45

Participants 

The Young Researchers 

The worldwide call for applications started in November 

2012. A few weeks later, the Scientific 

Committee of the Heidelberg Laureate Forum 

selected the 200 most talented candidates out 

of 600 submitted applications. 

At the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, they were 

given the opportunity to personally meet their 

scientific role models and spend nearly a week 

discussing research and getting advice for their 

career as a researcher. Moreover, they met 200 

fellow scientists from all over the world and discussed 

the latest research in their fields. This 

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity helps researchers 

at an early stage in their careers. 

Building Networks 

Being connected to fellow 

scientists is crucial 

for the future career of 

a young researcher. With many research issues 

becoming more and more complex, building networks 

has become essential for scientists from 

all disciplines. Exchanging ideas and thus learning 

new perspectives and angles about ongoing 

or future research projects is a vital element of 

successful science. 

“I have learned more than I learned 

in years.“ 

Emre Can Sertöz 

Emre Can Sertöz, Undergraduate from Turkey. 

While everyday research workdays usually leave 

little time for personal exchange, the HLF offers 

a colorful setting for scientific dialogues. Bushra 

Anjum, a junior professor in computer science, 

who works in Pakistan: “Having people 

from 49 countries in just one single 

building is an uncommon setting 

that you do not come across that 

very often - so people were trying 

to get to know each other, building 

their network. I think the Forum served this purpose 

really well.” 

This scientific dialogue across generations which 

facilitates networking for the researchers may 

even help establish connections for future projects. 

46


Meeting the Laureates: Role Models and 

Fellow Curious Thinkers 

While discussing research with fellow young researchers 

is always fruitful, discussing research 

with the most accomplished scientists often 

remains utopia. But the HLF raises this chance. 

However, approaching a Fields Medalist or a 

winner of the Turing Award at a talk can require 

courage sometimes. The social events at the HLF 

encourage all young researchers to engage in 

a dialogue outside the classrooms and lecture 

halls. The informal setting makes it easier for the 

young researchers to approach their scientific 

role models and ask them questions they might 

not dare ask in an auditorium with an audience 

of 250 people. Laura Schaposnik is a PostDoc in 

mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana- 

Champaign: “I mostly enjoyed these coffee breaks 

and the receptions and all these situations where 

one could talk openly with the laureates.” 

The morning sessions of the HLF included 20 plenary 

lectures. Listening to such a large number 

of laureates, all in one place, was a great inspiration 

to many of the young researchers. “The vision 

that these laureates have about the way the 

field works and the way the field evolves was really 

powerful to me”, says Gwen Spencer, a computer 

scientist from Dartmouth College in 

Hanover, New Hampshire. For her, it was the 

friendly and congenial atmosphere of the HLF 

which led to different perspectives on the laureates 

and ultimately a different style of conversations: 

“As a student you can be intimidated by 

the genius of your professor or the genius of a 

huge person in your field, but being here the 

laureates really engage with you just as a fellow 

curious seeker, a fellow thinker.” 

Laura Schaposnik (left) and Anthony Peter Young 

(center) with Fields Laureate Vladimir Voevodsky. 

The unique character of the HLF is achieved by 

the combination of outstanding scientific lectures 

with a colorful social program. By this, a 

dialogue encouraging atmosphere is created. 

“The thing that I loved the most is how they have 

interleaved different lectures and workshops 

with ample opportunity to socialize with those 

laureates, like coffee breaks and dinners and 

47

Participants 

The Young Researchers 

lunches”, says Bushra Anjum. Laura Schaposnik 

adds: “There were different types of laureates, 

some would come and introduce themselves. 

They wanted to know about you and to give 

advice. There were others that one had to approach, 

but everyone seemed very happy to 

talk.” Overall the assessment of the laureates 

engaging with the young researchers was genuinely 

positive. Bushra Anjum describes her experience 

with the laureates as a pleasant surprise: 

“I was completely taken aback by the way they 

Bushra Anjum, PostDoc from Pakistan. 

are approachable: they are very sociable and 

you can just talk to them, it’s very easy and that 

was something I did not expect.” 

says: “Seeing that the laureates had the same 

problems I have gives me the motivation and 

power to rise above my problems.” For Anthony 

However, it was not only the 

great scientific achievements 

that impressed and inspired 

the young researchers. Learning 

about the working processes 

of the laureates turned out 

“One thing I learned from them: Enjoy 

what you are doing even though 

you do not know if it’s going to 

make a lot of impact or not – just 

make sure you do something good.“ 

Peter Young, a PhD candidate 

from the United Kingdom, this 

was even the most important 

aspect of the Heidelberg Laureate 

Forum: ”They experienced 

all the same problems and told 

to be just as useful. And like 

us how they overcame them. Remotivating 

yourself is the most 

Mary Adedayo 

everyone else, the laureates’ 

working process was not even 

important thing I have learned.” 

ground to walk on. They faced issues and obstacles 

along the way and needed to learn how to 

overcome them in order to succeed. Emre Can 

Sertöz, a Turkish mathematician, who currently 

works at the Humboldt University in Berlin, 

48


Interdisciplinarity 

As mathematics and computer science overlap 

to a certain extent, the Heidelberg experience 

was also composed by the mixture of the two 

disciplines. Anthony Peter Young stated: “One of 

the recurring themes of this Forum; how different 

perspectives from different areas of science, 

in this case mathematics and computer science, 

has led to new interdisciplinary fields emerging 

and new questions being asked.” This process 

will eventually push the fields forward. 

Gwen Spencer, PostDoc from the USA. 

Mary Adedayo, PhD candidate from South Africa, is talking to Turing Award Laureate Ronald Rivest. 

49


Communicatio 

50

ns 

51


Tools & Instruments 

The HLF’s successful press work that caters to 

specific target groups covers the classic press 

relations as well as many other media channels 

and formats. In addition, the supporting institutions 

helped to spread the communications issued 

by the HLF. 

Live Broadcast 

An elaborate livestream setup made it possible 

to broadcast the laureates´ plenary lectures online 

on the HLF website. The lectures can still be 

accessed at any time online: 

www.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org/ 

event_2013/ 

Each lecture was taped and broadcast live on the HLF website. The diagram shows the videos with the highest total 

number of views (from Sep. 22 to Oct. 13, 2013). 

Scan this QR code with your smartphone 

to access the website directly. 

52


HLF Website 

Social Media / Blog 

The HLF has been online since October 2012: 

www.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org 

The website has been accessed by more than 

55,000 visitors so far. 

The most popular sidebar is the “news page” 

with a share of 60 percent of the top five homepages. 

To obtain a strong presence on the internet and 

in social media channels other than Facebook 

and Twitter and also to remain in contact with 

international students and researchers, the HLF 

deployed a blogger team specifically for such 

communication before, during and after the 

symposium: 

www.scilogs.com/hlf/ 

53


Media Coverage 

With over 50 articles in weekly and daily newspapers, 

on the radio and television as well as various 

online formats, the HLF gained the attention 

of media outlets and the general public at an 

international level. Besides the large number 

of national reporters, 15 international science 

journalists reported directly from Heidelberg, 

representing nearly all continents and reporting 

in many of the largest and most important formats. 

Every article and report is available upon 

request, please contact: 

media@heidelberg-laureate-forum.org 

Media Coverage Print 

Stadtblatt Heidelberg 

Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung 

Spektrum der Wissenschaft 

Handelsblatt 

Mannheimer Morgen 

Die Stadtredaktion 

Schwetzinger Woche 

Neue Züricher Zeitung 

Neue Züricher Zeitung am Sonntag 

EMBL etcetera 

RDi Press Espanol 

Media Coverage Online 

mwk.baden-wuerttemberg.de 

Neue Rundschau-hd.de 

Spiegel-online.de 

Morgenweb.de 

Wetenschap24.nl 

Spektrum.de 

Gehirn-und-Geist.de 

ScientificAmerican.com 

ScientificAmerican (Blog) 

Scilogs.com/hlf/ 

Uni-Heidelberg.de 

Juraforum.de 

Mrn-news.de 

cac.acm.org 

Stadtblatt.de 

rnf.de 

agenciasinc.es 

eusja.org 

rdipress.com 

HispanicBusiness.com 

Radio Bayan 

Sanguinik.de 

Blog@CACM 

Blogs (Scilogs.com) 

Number of Blogs 101 

Number of Hits 42,055 

54


Print Media 

Social Media 

55


Excursions to Local Institutions 

The 200 young researchers were offered the 

opportunity to visit various regional institutes 

and companies. These excursions were mutually 

beneficial to both the institutes and the young 

researchers. There were intensive discussions 

between hosts and guests. “The excursions to 

companies and institutes complemented the scientific 

workshops successfully”, said one young 

researcher. 

List of excursion sites on page 68. 

A chat with SAS representative Jürgen Fritz, Senior 

Director Marketing & Strategy, at the SAS German 

headquarters in Heidelberg. The corporation SAS produces 

software solutions and analytical tools for any 

business processes. 

Young researchers visited the exhibition “Project Inspiration” at the software company SAP AG, accompanied by Beate 

Spiegel, Managing Director of the KTS and Chairperson of the HLFF. The exhibition is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of 

the world leader in enterprise software and software-related services. 

56


High School Visits 

Some of the laureates visited local high schools 

and met students aged 10 to 18 years. The personal 

contact with a renowned scientist is going 

to spark their enthusiasm for the sciences. 

“The professor was relaxed, presented the difficult 

mathematical concepts in a coherent way 

and answered our questions in detail. We are 

inspired”, commented one of the teachers. 

List of schools on page 68. 

Nevanlinna Laureate Madhu Sudan in Schwetzingen, inspiring high school students and teachers alike. 

57

HLF Diary 

58

59

Sunday, September 22 

Welcome to Heidelberg 

As a networking event for the scientific communities 

of mathematics and computer science, 

the HLF must create a strong and sustainable 

relationship with the laureates. Service is key 

and no effort was spared to make the laureates’ 

stay in Heidelberg comfortable and memorable. 

Where necessary, the young researchers also received 

generous financial aid for travel expenses. 

Be it the shuttle service from and to Frankfurt 

Airport or support with further travel on to the 

next destination, the HLFF employees were 

happy to cater to every guest´s needs at one of 

the several hospitality desks available during the 

Forum. 

Registration desk for young researchers. 

Many talks right from the beginning. 

60


Time to Say Hello 

First meeting of the young researchers. 

49 different nations meet in Heidelberg. 

Seeing old friends and winning new ones. 

First meeting of the laureates. 

61

Sunday, September 22 

Opening Ceremony 

Mathematics and computer science - one of 

the oldest and one of the youngest scientific disciplines 

- have influenced modern life in more 

ways than any other field: 

One reason why representatives from science 

and politics sent their greetings. 

Standing ovations for the laureates. 

New Auditorium, Heidelberg University 


(Founder and Chairperson of KTS and HLFF) 

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Eitel 

(Rector of Heidelberg University) 

Theresia Bauer, M.A. 

(Minister of Science, Research and the Arts 

Baden-Württemberg) 

Dr. Eckart Würzner 

(Lord Mayor of the City of Heidelberg) 

Prof. Dr. Vinton Gray Cerf 

(President of the Association for Computing 

Machinery - ACM) 

Prof. Dr. Ingrid Daubechies 

(President of the International Mathematical 

Union - IMU) 

Prof. Dr. Kirsti Strøm Bull 

(President of The Norwegian Academy of 

Science and Letters) 

62


Reception & Benefit Concert 

Immediately following the impressive HLF opening 

ceremony, the intensive discussions and informal 

exchange of ideas began between the 

guests and across generations. The diverse 

social program during each day of the Forum 

fostered the open and active exchange among 

the participants. The first day ended with a 

benefit concert that was well received among 

the Heidelberg public. 

63

Monday, September 23 

Laureates‘ Plenary Lectures 

Dabbala Rajagopal Reddy 

“Who invented the Computer? Babbage, Zuse, 

Atanasoff, Turing or von Neumann?“ 

Curtis T. McMullen 

“Billiards and Moduli Spaces” 

Stephen Smale 

“Protein Folding” 

Edmund Melson Clarke 

“Model Checking and the Curse of Dimensionality” 


“Learning as the Source of Life’s Phenomena” 

64


Schwetzingen Castle 

The Barock Schwetzingen Castle once was a 

summer residence of the Palatinate Electors in 

the 18th century. It provided the perfect backdrop 

for a wonderful evening program on the 

second day of the HLF: At the beginning, the SAP 

Big Band played outside in the shining sun, and 

the guests were able to exchange their experiences 

from the day. The delicious dinner in the 

magnificent halls was supported by the software 

company SAP. 

65

Tuesday, September 24 


Avi Wigderson 

“Randomness” 

Madhu Sudan 

“Reliable Meaningful Communication” 


“Advice to a Young Mathematician” 

Richard Manning Karp 

“The Computational Lens on the Sciences” 

Silvio Micali 

“Proofs, Secrets and Computation” 

66


Oktoberfest / Get-Together 

As a particular treat, the international guests to 

the HLF were invited to a special Oktoberfest 

event in the Marstall Cafeteria of Heidelberg 

University. With freshly tapped draught beer and 

a Bavarian buffet, the participants were taken on 

a culinary journey to Bavaria that was supplemented 

by the folklore dancing of a whip-wielding 

group dressed in traditional costumes. The 

Munich professor Gerhard Hausladen gave a talk 

on the topic of “parametric construction”. 

67

Wednesday, September 25 

Outreach Activities 

Schools Visited by Laureates 

Institutes Visited by Young Researchers 

Ludwig-Frank-Gymnasium, Mannheim: 

Curtis T. McMullen 

Hebel-Gymnasium, Schwetzingen: 

Madhu Sudan 

Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Gymnasium, Hockenheim: 


Gymnasium Neckargemünd: 


St. Raphael-Gymnasium, Heidelberg: 


Privatgymnasium St. Leon-Rot: 

Shafrira Goldwasser and Avi Wigderson 

BioQuant (www.bioquant.uni-hd.de) 

DKFZ (www.dkfz.de) 

EMBL (www.embl.de) 

HITS (www.h-its.org) 

IWR (www.iwr.uni-heidelberg.de) 

MATCH (www.match.uni-heidelberg.de) 

MPIA (www.mpia.de) 

MPIK (www.mpi-hd.mpg.de) 

SAP (www.sap.com) 

SAS (www.sas.com) 

High school students enjoying a laureate´s lecture. 

The SAS German Headquarters in Heidelberg. 

68


Boat Trip on the Neckar River 

Nestled into the particularly charming landscapes 

of the lower Neckar valley, Heidelberg 

and the Rhine-Neckar region offer tourists a 

wide range of attractions. One of the most beautiful 

is certainly a boat trip upriver through the 

the rolling green hills of the Odenwald and to 

the castles of the Neckar valley. The HLF guests 

thoroughly enjoyed the views of the river and 

valley. The change of scenery gave the participants 

an opportunity to meet new people, make 

friends and give life to new ideas. 

69

Thursday, September 26 


William Morton Kahan 

“Desperately Needed Remedies for the Undebuggability 

of Large-Scale Floating-Point Computations in 

Science and Engineering” 


“System Design Science“ 

Vladimir Voevodsky 

“Univalent Foundations of Mathematics” 

Michael O. Rabin 

“Cryptography Applied to Financial Processes and 

Secure Auctions” 

70


Reception City of Heidelberg 

A new scientific event in the city of Heidelberg 

that attracts international guests and media did 

not go unnoticed at the City Hall. Heidelberg’s 

Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner invited the laureates 

and the HLF host Klaus Tschira to a reception in 

the historic City Hall. Würzner thanked the organizers 

for creating the international HLF and 

assured Heidelberg´s long-term support for the 

event. 

71

Friday, September 27 



“Scaling Limits” 

Alan Kay 

“Putting Turing to Work” 

Butler W. Lampson 

“Principles and Hints for Computer System Design” 

John E. Hopcroft 

“Future Directions in Computer Science” 

72


Closing Discussions at EMBL 

The impressive Klaus Tschira Auditorium is the 

heart of the EMBL Advanced Training Centre 

(ATC) and was the HLF´s largest meeting room. 

It features state-of-the-art technical equipment 

to ensure the best conditions for the Heidelberg 

Laureate Forum. The adjacent foyer area with 

823 m² provided ample space for all HLF activities. 

The ATC´s stairways are constructed like the 

architecture of the DNA - an idea of Klaus Tschira, 

which was realized in 2010. 

73

Friday, September 27 

Heidelberg Castle 

The fact that Heidelberg Castle is one of the most 

famous ruins in the world was reason enough to 

have the HLF guests take a closer look for themselves. 

A historic tour, a sunny reception on the 

representative balcony followed by a banquet in 

the historic ballroom of the castle: This is Heidelberg 

at its best! 

74


Farewell Ceremony 

Positive feedback from everyone involved: 

“We’ll see you next year!” 

“I wouldn’t change a thing.” 

“Both disciplines should continue to be a part of 

the HLF.” 

“Thank you for this wonderful experience.” 


Vinton Cerf 

Efim Zelmanov 

A young researcher 

Castle ballroom 

Klaus Tschira 

75

Résumé 

76

77

Résumé 

Looking Forward 

Scientific communication focuses on increasing 

the visibility and perception of researchers 

and their work in order to generate continued 

and sustained interest in science among a wide 

range of target groups. 

One long-term objective of science communication 

is to recruit young and highly talented researchers 

and to strengthen their ties to scientific 

research. Another goal is to secure funding 

and thus strengthening the individual disciplines 

in academic systems which are increasingly 

opening up to the private sector. 

Due to their level of complexity, the often very 

abstract contents of mathematics, computer 

science and the related scientific disciplines 

(computational sciences) usually elude the tried 

and tested tools used for scientific communication: 

While research on molecular architectures 

of pharmaceutically relevant substances can 

awaken the interest of the general public, mathematical 

research and its relevance in society is 

often misconceived: “What does it have to do 

with me? And I have never understood these 

topics”, is often what is heard when it comes to 

mathematics and computer science. Generating 

enthusiasm, attention and sustained interest for 

both disciplines is one of the greatest challenges 

in the work of the Heidelberg Laureate Forum 

Foundation. 

Another challenge for the future of the HLF, 

which is just as significant, is the scientific concept 

of the Forum: The HLF will continue to unite 

both disciplines in one symposium and will reserve 

100 spots for young researchers from each 

of these two fields. In order to meet the wishes, 

expectations and needs of both the young 

researchers as well as the highly experienced 

scientists of both disciplines and with their very 

diverse backgrounds and fields of interest, the 

organizers of the HLF have to make sure that all 

these participants are satisfied and that both 

sciences are equally represented. To this effect, 

the collaboration between all parties involved in 

the HLF will be intensified and strengthened. 

The feedback received after the first Forum underlines 

that the young researchers would like to 

have increased opportunity to be a part of the 

HLF’s scientific program. Accordingly, the criteria 

for workshops held by young researchers will 

be reviewed and revised. For instance, poster 

78


sessions will be introduced to give the young 

researchers the opportunity to present their 

scientific work. 

After a successful start the Heidelberg Laureate 

Forum Foundation will set the course for the 

next event: The high level already attained with 

the first Forum will be maintained and used to 

create a new international hub for both disciplines. 

The laureates, the young researchers, all guests, 

friends and supporters can certainly look forward 

to seeing how these challenges will be met, 

and above all the Foundation looks forward to 

seeing all at the 2nd Heidelberg Laureate Forum! 

“After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, 

plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are artists as well!“ 

Albert Einstein 

© Barth Sextic by Oliver Lab, IMAGINARY. 

Since its beginning in 2008 the traveling exhibition 

IMAGINARY received universal acclaim 

and broad media interest. The exhibition, which 

includes several programs for mathematical 

visualization, was prepared by the Mathematisches 

Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach in 2008 

as contribution to a nationwide science campaign, 

the Year of Mathematics. 

IMAGINARY uses visual and aesthetic components 

of mathematics and geometry as an eyecatcher. 

Often the amazingly beautiful images 

obey quite simple formulas. 

In summer and autumn 2014 the HLF will bring 

IMAGINARY to Heidelberg and the guests of the 

2nd Heidelberg Laureate Forum are invited to 

visualize their own mathematical formulas. 

79

Résumé 

Feedback Young Researchers 

The statistics of HLF’s young researchers reveals 

that the HLF organizers received applications 

from 49 countries (cf. page 20). 

The 200 young researchers, who were selected 

to participate, were asked for their feedback on 

the Forum: 

Fig. 1: The young researchers appreciated the possibilities for exchange during the social events. 

Fig. 2: Overall positive ratings from the young researchers for the panel discussions with the laureates. 

The latter evaluated the panels completely differently (see Fig. 8). 

80


Fig. 3: Enthusiasm of the young researchers for the Forum. 

Fig. 4: Suggestions from the young researchers how to improve the event. 

81

Résumé 

Feedback Laureates 

After returning home, the laureates were invited 

to participate in an online survey. Ten laureates 

completed the online questionnaire. 

Fig. 5: How frequently will you attend the HLF? 

Fig. 6: Detailed evaluation results. 

82


Fig. 7: Evaluation of the scientific program. 

Fig. 8: Evaluation of the panel discussions. 

83

Thank Résumé you 

Thank You 

The Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation wishes to express its sincere thanks and great appreciation 

for the invaluable engagement and support. 

Laureates 

SAP 

Young Researchers 

SAP Symphony Orchestra 

Scientific Committee 

EMBL 

Heidelberg University 

City of Heidelberg 

Local research institutes, 

companies and schools 

Melitta 

84


HLF Team 2013 

Chairperson HLFF | Managing Director KTS 

Klaus Tschira 

Chairperson HLFF | Managing Director KTS 

Beate Spiegel 

Scientific Chairperson HLFF | Managing Director HITS 


Head of Communications KTS 

Renate Ries 

Head of Conference Management HLFF 

Ruth Wetzlar 

Conference Organization & Outreach Activities HLFF 

Christiane Schirok 

Stephan Hölz 

Young Researchers Relations HLFF 

Yasmin Gürkan 

Alev Kaynak 

Communications HLFF 

Sabine Kluge 


Online Communications & Technical Coordination HLFF 

Tobias Wojtanowski 

Multimedia Design & Development KTS 

Bernhard Vogel 

Upcoming Meetings: 

2nd HLF: September 21-26, 2014 

3rd HLF: September 20-25, 2015 

4th HLF: September 18-23, 2016 

85

Imprint 

Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation 

Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 33 

69118 Heidelberg 

Germany 

Phone: +49 [0]6221 533-380 

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