The founding of the “Institute of Informatics” and the introduction of informatics as a subject at the former University of Karlsruhe (TH) in 1969 was a milestone in the success story of informatics in Germany. The predecessor of KIT was one of Germany's first facilities to recognize the importance of this branch of science and to firmly entrench it in an institute. KIT will celebrate the birth of the informatics degree on June 19, 2019 with a ceremony in the presence of Science Minister Theresia Bauer to which the media are cordially invited.
The age of digitalization is characterized by innovations in information technology. Electronic devices are omnipresent in everyday life. But 50 years ago, computers were pretty much non-existent outside the professional world, and the profession of computer scientists was unknown. The University of Karlsruhe (TH) changed all that, founded the “Institute of Informatics” and introduced the subject of informatics at the same time as four other universities. In 1972, the first informatics department was finally established in Karlsruhe.
In today's KIT Department of Informatics research is carried out on the major problems of our time such as autonomous, robotic assistance systems and artificial intelligence processes. Another beneficiary of current research and the long tradition at KIT is teaching. With a strong link to research, the graduates are prepared for current tasks in economy, science and society, not least stimulating the strong local founder scene in Karlsruhe.
KIT will celebrate the birth of the informatics degree on June 19, 2019 in a ceremony and with an expert panel on the topic of “Informatics in the age of digitalization” and a historic presentation by the founder of the KIT Department of Informatics, Professor Gerhard Goos.
Program
10:00 am Welcome speech
Professor Oliver Kraft, Vice President for Research at KIT
Professor Bernhard Beckert, Dean of the KIT Department of Informatics
Science Minister Theresia Bauer
Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz, mayor of the city of Karlsruhe
10:45 am Presentation on the history of informatics in Karlsruhe
Prof. em. Gerhard Goos, founder of the KIT Department of Informatics
11:15 am Panel discussion
“Informatics in the age of digitalization”,
with Theresia Bauer, Prof. Oliver Kraft and Prof. Ralf Reussner.
Chaired by: Markus Brock
11:45 am End of ceremony and visit by the minister to the accompanying exhibition
Location:
KIT Campus South
Audimax foyer and auditorium
Straße am Forum 1, 76131 Karlsruhe
After the event, members of the press will have the option of visiting the accompanying exhibition on “Informatics in Karlsruhe” together with Minister Theresia Bauer up to 12 noon and having a look at selected exhibits and demonstrators from the research partners – the FZI Research Center for Information Technology, Fraunhofer IOSB and KIT.
The media can register for the event atpr ∂does-not-exist.informatik kit edu.
More about the KIT Information · Systems · and Technologies Center (in English): http://www.kcist.kit.edu
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.