The Germany’s Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) yesterday opened in the University City of Heidelberg and has brought together the recipients of the most prestigious awards in mathematics and computer science with 200 outstanding young researchers in these fields, a statement from the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation (HLFF) indicated .
In the 10th HLF, over 30 award winners from mathematics and computer science as well as 200 selected young researchers from over 60 nations are taking part in this year’s forum, it said.
The forum as it opened yesterday in Heidelberg with numerous guests from science, business and politics it celebrates its 10th anniversary. The leading minds from mathematics and computer science have been meeting with promising young researchers for a week in Heidelberg, the statement indicated. At the HLF they have the opportunity to exchange ideas about current topics and developments in their areas of expertise, to make contacts and to face the challenges of our time together.
Jens Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research, in his greeting at the opening event of the 10th HLF.
Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research and Art in Baden-Württemberg, also praised the contribution that the HLF makes to supporting young researchers and warmly congratulated it on its 10th anniversary.Dr. emphasized the relevance of mathematics and computer science for the development of new technologies and the important role that young scientists in particular play in this.
The anniversary event promises a particularly diverse and inspiring program, which is characterized by the participation of numerous renowned scientists from the fields of mathematics and computer science – above all the winners of the Abel Prize, the ACM AM Turing Award, the ACM Prize in Computing, the Fields Medal, the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize and the IMU Abacus Medal. Topics range from current research on ChatGPT and other AI applications to why so many people don’t like math.
A central element that distinguishes the forum is its interdisciplinarity. “Interesting developments have taken place at the interface between mathematics and computer science,” says Prof. Dr. Anna Wienhard, Scientific Director of the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation (HLFF). “We are currently facing challenges that require approaches across disciplinary boundaries. It was visionary to decide on a joint HLF for mathematics and computer science.”
In addition to the scientific program, the main focus of the HLF is on personal encounters and interaction with and between all participants. “It is,” says the chairman of the HLFF board, Prof. Dr. Rafael Lang, “the informal atmosphere and the lively exchange that make the forum a very special experience for everyone. And this creates connections that go far beyond the HLF and continue to exist.”
The lectures and discussion rounds of the 10th HLF are freely available to the public via live stream on the HLF website and are then available on the HLF YouTube channel.
Another focus of the foundation is to draw public attention to the two disciplines of mathematics and computer science, to awaken interest in them and to sustainably strengthen them. In their mathematics and information technology station (MAINS) in Heidelberg, activities for all age groups take place all year round. The HLFF is supported by the Klaus Tschira Foundation, which promotes natural sciences, mathematics and computer science.
