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28.11.2003
The passion of research
Winners of the Scientific Award BMW Group 2003
Every two years, junior scientists from around the world submit their top-flight doctoral, graduate and masters theses for consideration. What they are vying for is the €70,000 BMW Group Scientific Award. This year's motto was "Passion for Innovation." University graduates from 20 countries took part and the jury has had a really tough job deciding amongst them these past weeks and months. Only six of the over 200 papers had to be selected as the winners of the international graduates' prize awarded by the BMW Group. The winners have now been selected.
3rd Prize, Graduate and Masters Theses: Dipl.-Inform. Frank Eggenstein, University of Dortmund
The thesis
Millions of people spend eight or more hours per day in an office. Everyone knows from experience that daylight illumination is much more pleasant than artificial lighting. The software developed in the course of Frank Eggenstein's thesis work facilitates the physically correct simulation of innovative daylight control systems based on a light simulation program. "Using this technique, a lighting planner or architect can predict how daylight will be distributed in a room by using an innovative light deflector," explains Frank Eggenstein. Special window panes are simulated that can steer or deflect light and are used for targeted aiming of the available daylight in the skylight sections of windows.
The researcher
Frank Eggenstein plays badminton once or twice a week, but his favourite hobby is chess. "Passion for Innovation," the motto of this year's BMW Group Scientific Award, is something Frank Eggenstein really lives. "That's the basic philosophy of scientists all over the world. Freed from purely political and economic interests, the primary impulse is to extend the limits of human knowledge and make the impossible possible." In future, Frank Eggenstein plans to keep his "Passion for Innovation" alive, earn his doctorate and find out if his ideas can be turned to market value.
2nd Prize, Graduate and Masters Theses: Mag. Robert Krimmer, Vienna School of Economics
The thesis
The internet is affecting more and more aspects of daily life and more and more people are becoming involved with experiencing this medium. What are some of the potentials that go beyond email communications, convenient internet shopping and access to mountains of information? What about exercising one's right to vote via the internet? In his paper, Robert Krimmer investigates whether or not voters are interested in "e-voting," the constitutionality of an internet-based election and which technical solutions are feasible and can actually be implemented. The example used by Mr. Krimmer is the Austrian University Student Organization Election of May 2003. On the subject of implementation of such a system at the national level, Robert Krimmer says: "In my opinion, it is realistic to state that it would be technically feasible to provide the possibility for Austrians to cast their ballots in the upcoming Austrian National Council Elections in 2006 by means of e-voting."
The researcher
New things have always attracted Robert Krimmer. Over ten years ago, when the internet, and Krimmer, were still very young, he spent his savings on a computer modem. Ever since, he has been fascinated by the global data highway, especially in view of its potential for electronic elections. Robert Krimmer is well aware of the social dimensions of this work and is therefore certain that: "Every researcher has a duty to become fully aware of the societal and moral consequences of his work and his knowledge." Young researcher Robert Krimmer's ambitions for the future go beyond the world of screens and keyboards: After receiving the Scientific Award BMW Group 2003 he wants to travel the globe. In particular he wants to experience the US, Australia and New Zealand.
1st Prize, Graduate and Masters Theses: Dipl.-Ing. Gerald Stieglbauer, University of Salzburg
The thesis
The graduating thesis of Gerald Stieglbauer makes a decisive contribution to solving certain problems in the field of programming of embedded systems. Embedded systems are computer system embedded in another technical system that is not characterized as a computer, for example a CD player or automotive navigation system. "To master the increasing complexity of embedded software, abstractions must be introduced," explains Gerald Stiegelbauer. "Suitable abstractions make it possible to compose partial systems while complying with the requirements of real time. This means, for example, that several functions can either be executed on an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) or moved between different ECUs." The thesis is based on the abstraction that goes by the name of Giotto, which was invented at the University of California at Berkeley that has already proved its value for embedded software and is available as an open standard. In his paper, this junior scientist has succeeded in integrating Giotto in the worldwide modelling tool Matlab/Simulink, thus making it accessible for industrial applications
The researcher
Gerald Stieglbauer is a "full-blooded" computer scientist who lives with other computer scientists in a completely networked commune in Salzburg. Besides hardware and software, Gerald Stieglbauer is also interested in Asian and European cinematic art. He is disappointed that the film has not yet been fully recognized as an art form. The "Mother of All Sciences," i.e. philosophy, is another field of interest of this junior research scientist. As a computer scientist, this discipline fascinates him mainly because of the plethora or information and communication that characterizes our age and the problems, and challenges, they imply.
3rd Prize, Doctoral Theses: Dr. Martin Aenis, Technical University of Darmstadt
The thesis
Mechatronics is the integration of mechanics and electronics. What this discipline has to offer us today is the possibility of developing machines that perform better and more reliably. Dr. Martin Aenis has demonstrated in his doctoral thesis work that the mechanical element magnetic bearing is more than just a bearing component. He explains: "With the help of magnetic bearings, certain incorrect or damaging conditions in rotating machines (e.g. pumps or turbines) can be recognized and diagnosed during operation." This means it will in the future be possible to construct machines that monitor themselves, at least in part. The upshot is that the magnetic bearing is both a machine component and a diagnostic tool. This two-in-one principle makes possible an integrated error diagnosis function without having to install additional components.
The researcher
"Research, and hence progress, is to my mind not possible without personal dedication and a passion for one's work. Implementation of such an attitude requires optimism, staying power, patience and ambition." With these words, Dr. Aenis fashioned this year's motto for the Scientific Award BMW Group into a personal confession. Dr. Aenis considers leisure time to be an important balancing factor in the life of a researcher. He spends his with sporting activities such as inline skating and skiing or with friends.
2nd Prize, Doctoral Theses: Dr. Fridtjof Siebert, University of Karlsruhe
The thesis
Both the quality and rate of software development have increased greatly in recent years, not least because developers can avail themselves of modern tools that manage a lot of the work involved by means of automatic services. An example of this is memory management, whereby a so-called garbage collector independently recognizes and recycles memory space that is no longer required. With the method developed by Dr. Siebert, a garbage collector, and thus modern development tools, can now for the first time be used in time-critical systems as well. Such systems include master computers in engineering applications such as those used in automobiles, aircraft, satellites and industrial automation systems.
The researcher
Dr. Siebert's thesis is already bearing fruit. The software developed in his dissertation, JamaicaVM, has resulted in the founding of aicas GmbH, where Dr. Siebert has been Director of Development since 2001. The company has specialized, and with success, in further development and sale of this tool to prominent customers. In his free time, Dr. Siebert is a passionate motorcyclist who loves to travel. The main themes of this year's BMW Scientific Award 2003 - Technology, Mobility and People means this to Dr. Siebert: "People are depending more and more on software technologies that make the mobility of our modern lifestyle possible."
1st Prize, Doctoral Theses: Dr. Tobias Brixner, University of Würzburg
The thesis
In his work, Dr. Tobias Brixner is following the example of the mediaeval alchemists who tried to transform lead into gold. His research also focuses on processing of certain substances to obtain other substances. The results of Dr. Brixner's scientific work can be summed up as follows: by means of light-based control of chemical reactions, the desired chemical products can be produced in a controlled and efficient manner, whereby undesirable secondary products can be avoided. Modern methods derived from physics and laser technologies are used to enter directly into molecular structures and break only the target chemical bonds. The molecules are exposed to specially formed, ultrashort, laser pulses. The optimized laser pulse form for the desired reaction is determined fully automatically by a computer program with learning features. "The concept may be a bit reminiscent of the `Replicator` in Star Trek," admits Dr. Brixner. "A container with the parent chemical substances is exposed to light pulses in a special way. The desired final product is produced so-to-speak at the push of a button."
The researcher
The roots of Dr. Brixner's passion for innovation were curiosity and an inner drive to grasp the natural world. This motivated him to study physics, which for him combines emotionality and rationality in a wonderful mixture. Interdisciplinary work has been a special challenge for Dr. Brixner since his field of research extends into different areas of science such as physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science and mathematics. In his private life, Dr. Brixner is an active fencer. "What I like most about the sport is the wide range of skills required of the athlete and the spirit of fair play," says Dr. Brixner about his hobby. He is currently still working at the University of California at Berkeley, but Dr. Brixner eventually wants to return to Germany to continue his university career.
The Awards for 2003
For the first time, this year's six winners received their awards during a closed meeting at Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Under the moderation of Michael Gleich - a science publisher and journalist - important international scientists were brought together, including the Nobel Prizewinner in Physics, Murray Gell-Mann. At this meeting, they discussed an interesting theme that is fairly new to science: complexity research. The discussions made it clear once again that it is cooperation between universities, research facilities and corporations that repeatedly produces unusual innovations. The six prizewinners are excellent examples of the valuable fruitfulness of such cooperative efforts.
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