Agli Tk Tm Hlh a Glimpse at Kurt Mehlhorn
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Honorary Doctorate Ceremony 8 November 2017, University of Patras, Greece A Glimpse at KKturt MhlhMehlhorn by Christos Zaroliagis Education & Career Date/Period Education & employment 29.08 .1949 Born in Ingolstadt (Bavaria, Germany) 1968 – 1971 Studies in Computer Science & Math at TU Munich 1971 – 1974 PhD studies in Computer Science, Cornell University, USA PhD Thesis: “Polynomial and Abstract Subrecursive Classes” Advisor Prof. Bob Constable 1971 – 1974 Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes 1973 – 1974 Cornell University Fellowship 1974 – 1975 Research Associate at the Department of Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes, Germany 1975 –today Professor of Computer Science, Universität des Saarlandes, Germany 1990 – today Director of the Max‐Planck‐Institute for Informatics, Saarbruecken, D 1995 –today Co‐founder of Algorithmic Solutions GmbH Patras 08.11.2017 2 Numbers Publications 400 Citations ≥ 18.870 Books 10 h‐index 69 Chapters in Books/Volumes 4 g‐index 228 Volume Editor 12 Journals ≥ 153 PhDs awarded 86 Conferences ≥ 187 Archived repositories ≥ 30 Top 12 world‐nurtures in CS research (2004) Awards/Distinctions 23 Editor in Journals 13 Patras 08.11.2017 3 Major Awards & Distinctions 1986: Leibniz‐Award, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 1989: Humboldt‐Award 1994: Karl‐Heinz‐Beckurts‐Award 1995: Konrad‐Zuse‐Award 1999: ACM Fellow 2004: Member of Leopoldina, Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften 2010: EATCS Award 2016: EATCS Fellow 2011: ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award 2014: Erasmus Medal, Academia Europaea 2014: Foreign Member, US National Academy of Engineering 2015: Foreign Associate, US National Academy of Sciences Patras 08.11.2017 4 Editor in Journals • ACM Transactions on Algorithms • Algorithmica (Springer) • Communications of the ACM • Computational Geometry: Theory and Applications, EiC (Elsevier) • Computing (Springer) • Information and Computation (Elsevier) • Infooaormation Processing Leeestters ((see)Elsevier) • International Journal of Computational Geometry & Applications (World Scient.) • Japan Journal of Industrial and Applied Mathematics • Journal of Discrete and Computational Geometry (Springer) • Journal of the ACM • Mathematical Programming Computation (Springer) • SIAM Journal of Computing Patras 08.11.2017 5 Books 1984 1984 1984 1986 1986 1989 1999 2008 2009 2014 2014 2014 2008 2011 Patras 08.11.2017 6 Academic Genealogy 242 descendants 35 from A. Tsakalidis J. Bernoulli 36 from M. Kaufmann O. Veblen A. Church 41 from H. Alt L. Euler J.R. D’Alembert E.H. Moore S. Kleene J. Lagrange P. S. Laplace H. A. Newton R. Constable S.P. Poison M. Chasles K. Mehlhorn Patras 08.11.2017 7 Key Features •Great solver of elementary problems Unique combiner • Unique ability in simplifying methods of theory & •Talented programmer practice • Inter‐disciplinary research • Gifted Teacher •Gifted Nurturer of new researchers Inspiring •Invests huge time in mentoring young scientists Patras 08.11.2017 8 Research Areas Computational Geometry Data Structures Computer Algebra Graph & Network Algorithms Combinatorial Optimization Algorith ms & Complexity Parallel Computing VLSI Design Algorithm Engineering Computational Complexity Bio‐inspired Computing PiProgramming Languages Patras 08.11.2017 9 Research Highlights Patras 08.11.2017 10 Research Highlight –1 Early work: elementary data structures & algorithms • Near‐optimal binary trees [Mehlhorn 1975, Mehlhorn 1977] – PblProvably near‐optilimal construction in O(n) time & space vs best previous O(n2) time & space optimal construction • Dynamic dictionaries (item search, insert, delete) – Dynamic perfect hashing [Mehlhorn etal, 1988] – Dynamic Interpolation Search [Mehlhorn & Tsakalidis, 1985] • Binary (O(log n)) search vs Interpolation (O(loglog n)) search • First result achieving expected O(loggglog n) search AND ins/del time for non‐ uniform distributions of input elements • Shortest Paths (n‐node, m‐arc network; integral weights in [0..C]) – First truly polynomial algorithm [Ahuja, Mehlhorn, Orlin & Tarjan, 1990] – O(m + n log C) time vs best previous O(n + mC) – Main idea: recycling (space) Patras 08.11.2017 11 Research Highlight –2 Bio‐inspired Computing • Physarum: slim mold (fungi) • Biologists: experimental observation of computational capabilities ‒ Physarum solves the maze (moves along shortest paths in searching for food) • [BifiBonifaci, MhlhMehlhorn, Varma, 2012]: first thilheoretical proof of the experimental observation ‒ Electrical networks & network flow theory techniques ‒ Diameter of tubes along shortest paths 1, others 0 ‒ Result in SODA 2012 & Journal of Theoretical Biology ()(2012) Patras 08.11.2017 12 Research Highlight –3 Library for Efficient Data types and Algorithms In theory, “theory” & “practice” are the same. In practice, they are not. Albert Einstein • First systematic effort to bridge Algorithmic Theory and Practice – Started in 1989 (with S. Naeher) – Book 1999 • Most successful Software Library of Algorithms & Data Structures today • Sustainability: Patras 08.11.2017 13 Research Highlight –4 Algorithm Engineering • Prime fdfounder of a NEW fldfield within CS&E • Major contributions – LEDA – Certifying programs • How one can be sure about the correctness of a program ? – Developed formal framework for checking Patras 08.11.2017 14 Other Main Achievements • Director of the Max‐Planck Institute for Informatics (MPII) 1990 – today – World‐class R&D Institute • Initiated (1990) • Initiated (1993) the prime algorithmic conference European Symposium on Algorithms • Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA • Vice‐president (2002 – 2008) of the Max‐Planck Society • European Research Council Member (2016 – today) • Prominent role in CS & ICT research agenda within Europe Patras 08.11.2017 15 Relation to • Research collaboration on basic research projects since 1988 • CEID members as pre‐ /post‐docs & research associates @MPII/Uni Saarlandes – Athanas ios Tsa ka lidis (1976 – 1988) – Christos Zaroliagis (1993 – 1999) – Marina Papatriantafilou (1995 – 1997) – Phillipas Tsigas (1995 – 1997) – Panagiota Fatourou (2000 – 2001) – Spyros Kontogiannis (2000 – 2003) – Dimitris Fotakis (2001 – 2003) – Evangelia Pyrga (2005 – 2010) – Spyros Angelopoulos (2007 – 2010) – Nikolaos Fountoulakis (2008 – 2011) • Sabbatical/short visits of CEID faculty @ MPII – Paul Spirakis – Peter Triantafillou – Athanasios Tsakalidis – Christos Zaroliagis Patras 08.11.2017 16 Personal‐ity Personal • Married to Ena Friedrischson –Three children (Uli, Stefi, Tim) – Four grandchildren Personalit y • Perspicacious • Disciplined & open‐minded • Generous • CltCulture d & optim is tic • Extremely good sense of humor •Great sportsman Patras 08.11.2017 17 Epilogue Kurt Mehlhorn • Eminent, talented, influential, visionary scientist & researcher •Gifted teacher and nurturer Privileged to have him as a collaborator, mentor, teacher, friend, and …. .… from today Honorary Doctorate of our University Patras 08.11.2017 18.