We celebrate 50 years of computer science at RWTH Aachen University

The sparklers reveal it: Aachen’s computer science is 110 010 years old!

© Tim Lange

In the winter semester of 1972/73 the computer science program was opened, and the first students chose the then brand new and still pioneering subject. 

 

1972 marks the birth of the study course in Computer Science at RWTH Aachen University. We look back on 50 years in which Computer Science, after modest beginnings, has become a very important subject at our university. This success is reflected in the anniversary motto "The digital heartbeat of RWTH", which emphasizes the significant involvement of our department in many activities at our university. Computer science topics such as digitization, artificial intelligence, data science, data security, etc. now play a central role and have led to the creation of numerous overarching structures such as the profile area Information and Communication Technology and the Centers for Artificial Intelligence and for Simulation and Data Science. The importance of Computer Science for the other subjects represented at RWTH Aachen University is also evident in interdisciplinary teaching. The students and graduates of the course are sought-after workers both in the private sector and in broad areas of the academic world. This deep integration is also reflected in the activities of the anniversary week, which involve students and alumni, members of RWTH Aachen and associated universities as well as the economy.

 

Review of our anniversary activities 

 

Monday, 5. September (Informatikzentrum)
Poker Tournament	And the winner are...

Wednesdas, 7. September (Informatikzentrum)
Retirement Celebration of Sen. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hermann Ney	RWTH AI Colloquium on Speech and Language Processing

Thursday, 8. September (Aula Hauptgeäude)
Programming                    competition	In 3-person teams, programs for several tasks are written, submitted and immediately checked for correct results. Spectators are also welcome. Fotogallery
Lernen. Forschen. Grillen. at COMSYS	Celebrating the 75th birthday of Otto Spaniol and the 10th anniversary of COMSYS (only for invited guests)

 

Friday, 9. September (Informatikzentrum)
Company Contacts Fair	The company contact fair takes place from 12:00 to 17:00. Regional and national IT companies provide information about job offers, student internships and internships! As a special surprise there will be a raffle in which there will be more ribbons for the party on Saturday and a discounted Apollo admission including a free shot for Friday evening.
3MM, award ceremony of the Programming competition and Thesis Fuckup Session	Companies will present themselves during the 3-minute madness in a colourful programme, the prize for the programming competition will be awarded and the chairs will present their research, their open job offers and their work. Everything can go wrong with a thesis: at the fuckup session we talk about it.
Festive evening for invited guests	Prof. Dr. Christel Baier, TU Dresden, and Prof. Dr. -Ing. Ralf Steinmetz, TU Darmstadt, is awarded the honorary doctorate of RWTH Aachen. The keynote talk will be given by the President of the Society for Informatics, Mrs. Chrstine Regitz. Fotogallery

 

 

Saturday, 10. September (Mensa Vita)

Honours of graduates with a subsequent buffet*

We warmly congratulate all graduates on their graduation. The Rector of the RWTH, Prof. Rüdiger, the Dean of Faculty 1, Prof. Honerkamp, and the department spokesperson, Prof. Lakemeyer, extend their greetings. Prof. Baier, who was awarded an honorary doctorate, addresses all those present. Prof. Borchers leads through the programme, personally introducing and honouring all graduates.  The award ceremony for the best theses is not to be missed: Prof. Kowalewski presents the awards.  After a champagne reception and dinner, there is a big party: Band NYNE and four "DJ-Profs (Grohe, Honerkamp, Katoen, Wehrle) get the party started.   Fotogalllery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  © Martin Braun

Join us on a journey through 50 years of computer science at RWTH Aachen University. 

Recall the personalities and achievements of the past five decades and learn how the department has developed to its current importance. 
At the same time, we take a visionary look into the future and venture an outlook on the next challenges. 

The commemorative publication for the anniversary of computer science is available online. Original paper copies can be requested from Helen Bolke-Hermanns. 

 

We have been looking forward to the friendly support of regional and national companies for years. These are often long-lasting partnerships that allow us to plan and implement important activities for our graduates and students. We were also able to rely on this valuable support at the events on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Computer Science at RWTH Aachen and in the realization of this commemorative publication.