Reinhard Wilhelm

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Reinhard Wilhelm has had deep and lasting impact on informatics and computing research through 20 years of effective leadership as Scientific Director of the Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz Center for Informatics in Saarland, Germany. Dagstuhl provides a truly unique research setting for computer scientists, bringing together researchers from complementary areas for week-long intensive workshops that often catalyze new research collaborations and research directions.

In the 20-year period between the inception of Schloss Dagstuhl in 1989 until the end of 2010, the Centre has hosted close to 800 seminars and perspective workshops, hundreds of additional events such as summer schools, and over 30,000 guests. The relaxed environment, away from normal distractions, fosters an intensity of engagement among conference participants that is rarely found at other computing research venues. Participants come from all over the world and the relatively low cost has resulted in strong participation by students.

As Scientific Director, Dr. Wilhelm's careful stewardship of the scientific program has been pivotal to Dagstuhl's success. He guides the choice of seminar topics, emphasizing seminars that bring together groups with common interests but limited prior contact, and is invariably present on-site to advise seminar organizers. He has also taken the lead in fund-raising, in overseeing major renovations, and in planning a new building. His attention to details, such as the library, the art that graces the buildings, and the adjacent grounds has resulted in environment that is highly conducive to building collegial and productive relationships. In all of these ways, Dr. Wilhelm's contributions to fostering the intellectual health of computing research are unsurpassed.

In addition to his service to Schloss Dagstuhl, Dr. Wilhelm has enhanced the reputation of the Computer Science Department at Saarland University through his research and service. Dr. Wilhelm was awarded the 2010 Federal Cross of Merit by the German Government and the 2009 Konrad-Zuse Medal for outstanding contributions in Informatics.