Unlimited possibilities

Exactly 50 years ago the first university computer science courses were established at the locations Karlsruhe, Dresden, Darmstadt, Munich and Saarbrücken. All five universities took this as an opportunity to celebrate together on 19.6.2019.

In addition to the official ceremony for the 50th anniversary in the morning with guests from politics, economy, and science, the KIT Faculty of Informatics also celebrated the end of the academic year 2018/2019 in the early evening with the farewell ceremony for the graduates and PhDs. The full-day program was rounded off in the lunchtime with two lectures by Prof. Jörn Müller-Quade and Jun. Prof. Franziska Mathis-Ulrich, who provided insights into computer science research with the topics "Cryptography Creates the Apparently Impossible" and "Innovations in Medical Robotics".

"Computer science in the age of digitalisation".
The important questions relating to the development and social impact of the discipline were addressed during the panel discussion (photo left) by Vice Dean Ralf Reussner, Vice President Oliver Kraft and Minister Theresia Bauer (from left to right) and during the demonstration of current research (photo right: Minister Bauer with Professor Michael Beigl). (Photos: Andreas Drollinger)

Dean Prof. Bernhard Beckert opened the academic ceremony in the early evening by welcoming the graduates, doctoral candidates, and all those present. A special greeting was addressed to the professors from the early days of computer science, who had come to the ceremony on behalf of Prof. Goos and Prof. Lockemann and who, along with numerous other professors, have contributed to the success of the program over the last 50 years.

This was followed by the annual dean's report on the highlights of the previous year, which include important events such as the Cybathlon or the KIT annual party, which this year focused on the topic of artificial intelligence. In addition, he provided insights into the personnel, content, and structural changes of the past year, which are not only manifested in the change from the course of studies in Information Management to Business Information Systems starting in the winter semester 2019/20, but are also reflected in the new professorships of the past years, and with topics such as AI, machine learning, and application-oriented research, the current trend areas are clearly shown.

Before the award ceremony, Mr. Beckert addressed the graduates once again and congratulated them with the words: "They have shown perseverance, continuity in learning and determination, and today they are receiving the symbolic reward in the form of the certificate of completion. The degree in computer science opens up the world to them. No matter whether they go into business, stay in research or start a start-up - with the degree from Karlsruhe they can choose their employer. Your possibilities are unlimited." He particularly encouraged all those who are thinking of pursuing a doctorate to follow this path.

The first awards were presented by the KIT Center Information - Systems - Technologies (KCIST), in cooperation with the Gisela and Erwin Sick Foundation and the KIT Foundation, to honor outstanding scientific work in the research field of KCIST.

The prizes were awarded for the first time this year and honored the best final thesis and the best dissertation in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

With the farewell of the 16 doctoral candidates and their sometimes spectacular and elaborate doctoral hats, the first part of the awarding of the certificates was rung in. Together with partners, such as Uniserv GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH and the Erika and Dr. Wolfgang Eichelberger Foundation, it is possible to award prizes for outstanding theses and doctorates every year: The laudations for the best application-oriented master's thesis as well as the prize for "Best Graduate" were held by Prof. Müller-Quade. Dr. Heiko Papenfuß was present for the presentation of the Uniserv Research Prize.

from left to right: SICK Science Prize, Research Prize "Algorithms for Efficient Data Processing", sponsored by Uniserv, Prize for the best application-oriented master's thesis, sponsored by Robert Bosch GmbH (Images: Andreas Drollinger / KIT)

In five groups, the graduates from computer science and information management were called upon to receive their congratulatory letters from KIT Dean Beckert. In order to complete the computer science program as one of the best 10% of all graduates, the grade 1.5 was to be achieved in the Bachelor's program and 1.2 in the Master's program.

The PhD students and graduates of the academic year 2018/2019 (Pictures: Andreas Drollinger / KIT)

Before the second part of the graduation ceremony, Dr. Sven Schmidt-Rohr presented in the traditional alumni lecture his way to success with his company ArtiMinds Robotics and recommended the graduates to take the step to self-employment. But not without pointing out that the entry into professional independence is also equivalent to a permanent exam phase.

With the farewell of the last graduate, the starting signal was given for the following faculty party, which is traditionally organized by the Fachschaft Informatik and the Forum Informationswirtschaft. This gave all visitors the opportunity to enjoy the evening in front of the Audimax.

We have put together some impressions of the event in our picture gallery.

Awards and prizes:

SICK's science prizes for the best final theses were awarded:

Matthias Grundmann (2017)

"Analysis and Evaluation of Analysis Methods for Topology Inference in the Bitcoin Peer-to-Peer Network"

Jonas Sour (2018)

"Faster Public Transit Routing with Unrestricted Walking"

SICK's science prizes for the best dissertations went to

Dr. rer. nat. Max Kramer (2017)

"Specification Languages for Preserving Consistency between Models of Different Languages"

Dr.-Ing. Florian Pfaff (2018)

"Multitarget Tracking Using Orientation Estimation for Optical Belt Sorting

Research prize "Algorithms for efficient data processing", donated by the company Uniserv: Dr. rer. nat. Timo Bingmann

Prize for the best application-oriented master's thesis, sponsored by Robert Bosch GmbH: Johannes Glöckle, M.Sc.

Prize for the best graduate 2018/19, donated by the Erika and Dr. Wolfgang Eichelberger Foundation: Jonas Rothfuß, M.Sc.

The KIT Faculty of Computer Science wishes all graduates and postgraduates every success and all the best for the start of their professional life and further studies!

We thank our partners and sponsors!

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Contact

KIT Faculty of Computer Science
Am Fasanengarten 5, building 50.34
76131 Karlsruhe
Phone: +49 721 608-43976
e-mail: absolventenfeier ∂does-not-exist.informatik kit edu