The Z22 computer, manufactured by the company Zuse KG, served as the primary tool for early computational work initiated by Karl-Heinrich Weise at Kiel University. This early integration of electronic hardware into academic mathematics marked a significant shift in pedagogical and research methodologies, establishing a foundation for the institution’s future focus on informatics and applied mathematics.
Academic Foundation
Born in Gera in 1909, Weise pursued mathematics, physics, and astronomy during his formative years at Leipzig University between 1928 and 1930. He continued his education at the University of Jena, where he earned his doctorate in 1934. His thesis, supervised by Robert König, investigated the class problem of quadratic differential forms and appeared in the 1935 issue of Mathematische Annalen. Between 1934 and 1942, he held teaching roles at Jena.
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In 1942, Weise joined Kiel University, where he remained until his retirement in 1977. His tenure included serving as the university's rector from 1952 to 1953 and chairperson in 1956 and 1957. During the postwar era, he and Friedrich Bachmann led efforts to reestablish mathematical instruction. By 1971, he founded the Institut für Informatik und Praktische Mathematik, directing the facility until his departure from the faculty.
Computational Research and Legacy
Weise prioritized the application of electronic computers, collaborating with nuclear physicist Erich Bagge to establish a university computer center. He expanded the center’s capabilities by acquiring X1 and X8 models from Electrologica. Beyond his technical interests, his research focused on differential geometry and topology. He supervised numerous doctoral students, including Wolfgang Haken, whose own research on knot theory was prompted by Weise's lectures.
Fast facts
- Born: 1909, Gera
- Died: 1990, Kiel
- Doctoral advisor: Robert König
- Academic appointments: University of Jena, Kiel University
- Key award: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1978)
- Professional society: German Mathematical Society (President, 1956)
- Political affiliations: Sturmabteilung, National Socialist Flyers Corps, National Socialist German Lecturers League
- Selected work: Mathematische Grundlagen der Kartographie (1951)
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Karl-Heinrich Weise teach?
He focused on mathematics, with a specialized emphasis on differential geometry, topology, and the application of electronic computers to mathematical problems.
Which notable students studied under Weise?
His doctoral students included Wolfgang Haken, Bodo Schlender, Andreas Dress, Wolfgang Gaschütz, and Wilhelm Klingenberg.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1978
- Held posts at Kiel University and University of Jena
- Fields: mathematics and national socialism
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