The 2005 Turing Award was presented to Peter Naur for his pivotal role in defining the programming language ALGOL 60. As the sole Danish recipient of this accolade, he fundamentally reshaped the field through his focus on the structural design and performance of computer programs, moving away from purely formalist interpretations of software development.
From Astronomy to Informatics
Naur began his professional journey as an astronomer, completing his doctoral studies in 1957 with a thesis on the minor planet 51 Nemausa. However, his interaction with computing technology redirected his career path. By the late 1950s, he transitioned fully into computer programming and informatics, applying the same precision he had previously utilized in mapping the fundamental system of declinations.
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During his tenure at the Danish computing firm Regnecentralen from 1959 to 1969, Naur became a key contributor to the development of ALGOL 60. He served as the editor of the Report on the Algorithmic Language ALGOL 60, which introduced the notation later identified as the Backus–Naur form. Naur himself expressed a preference for the term Backus normal form, distancing himself from the formalist label often applied to his work.
Academic Influence and Datalogy
In 1969, Naur accepted a professorship at the University of Copenhagen, where he remained until 1998. He actively campaigned against the term computer science, advocating instead for the label datalogy or data science to better describe the study of data processes. This terminology saw adoption across Denmark and Sweden, influencing regional educational curricula that prioritized project-based learning and practical applications over abstract mathematical theories.
Empiricism and Synapse-State Theory
Beyond his technical output, Naur explored human cognition through an empiricist lens. He developed the Synapse-State Theory of Mental Life, arguing that science should focus on observable facts rather than speculative connections. His broader research, documented in texts like Computing: A Human Activity, synthesized his views on software architecture, psychology, and the rejection of programming as a strictly mathematical discipline.
Fast facts
- Born: 1928, Frederiksberg
- Died: 2016, Herlev
- Doctoral Degree: 1957, University of Copenhagen
- Turing Award: 2005
- Computer Pioneer Award: 1986
- Primary Language: Danish
- Spouse: Christiane Floyd
Questions readers ask
Why did Peter Naur dislike the term computer science?
He believed the field was better described as datalogy or data science, arguing these terms more accurately represented the study of data processes.
What is the Backus–Naur form?
It is a notation system used to describe the syntax of programming languages, which Naur helped standardize during his work on ALGOL 60.
Achievements
- Turing Award — 2005
- Notable work: Q54961187
- Held posts at Regnecentralen, Technical University of Denmark and University of Copenhagen
- Educated at University of Copenhagen
- Fields of research: astronomy, computer programming, computer science and informatics
