Prof. RNDr. Jiří Wiedermann, DrSc.

Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Institute of Computer Science
Tel: +420 2 6605 3520
Fax: + 420 2 8658 5789
E-mail: jiri.wiedermann@cs.cas.cz

 

 

Jiří Wiedermann belongs to the first generation of computer scientists graduating in former Czechoslovakia. He works in informatics since the beginning of his scientific carrier in nineteen seventies. His research interests include ad-hoc networks, algorithms (design and analysis), algorithmic systems, applied algorithmics, artificial intelligence, artificial life, cognitive systems, computational complexity theory (incl. non-uniform complexity theory), datastructures, distributed computing, embodied robotics, information technology, intelligent algorithms, languages and automata, machine learning, non-standard computational models (amorphous computing, molecular computing, nano-computing, super-Turing computability, etc.), networks and network modeling, network algorithms, neurocomputing, parallel computing, philosophy and computing, theoretical computer science, and more.  In these fields he published two monographs and more than 150 papers in scientific journals and conference proceedings.  Some of his results have entered the monographs and textbooks in computer science. By his invited talks, publications and activities in organization of important European and national computer science conferences he contributed to the development of informatics both at national and international level. In nineteen nineties he acted as the vice-president of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS). Between 2000 and 2012 he served as the director of the Institute of Computer Science of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Professor Wiedermann was a member of the board of directors of ERCIM (European Research Consortium in Informatics and Mathematics) (1997-2010) and is a member of Academia Europaea (London) and of the Czech Learned Society (Prague).

Biography:

Prof. of  Computer Science, Charles University, Prague,  2004
Assoc. Prof. of Computer Science, Charles University, Prague,  2000
DrSc. degree in computer science, Comenius University, Bratislava, 1993
CSc. (equiv. of PhD) in computer science, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, 1980
                                                                                  RNDr. degree, Comenius University, Bratislava, 1974
                                                                                  M.Sc. degree, Comenius University, Bratislava, 1971

Position:

Research Interests:

Theoretical computer science, computational complexity; models of sequential and parallel computational systems; neurocomputing; amorphous computing; non-standard computing; complexity of data structures and algorithms; artificial intelligence, artificial life, embodied cognition, history and prospects of informatics; philosophy of computing.

Projects:

1.        ALTEC (Algorithms For Future Technologies), deputy coordinator,  EU project, participants: University of  Bordeaux, Bratislava, Budapest,  Prague, Saarbrücken, Utrecht, Warszaw; total budget: 500 000 ECU, 1992-1995

2.        HYPERCOMPLEX (Complexity Issues in High Performance Computing),  Czech Grant Agency, 1995-1997,  700 000 CZK

3.        ALTEC-KIT (Keep in Touch),  follow-up on the  ALTEC project, , INCO-COPERNICUS, local coordinator (with the participation of  Charles University), 1997-1998

4.        Machine  models and computational complexity, Czech Grant Agency,  1999-2001, 1 200 000 CZK

5.        Soft Computing: theoretical foundations and experiments, Czech Grant Agency, 2000-2002, 2 350 000 CZK

6.        New Information Technologies – Theoretical Foundations, Methodology, Tools and Applications (Institute’s Research Project, Ministry of Education and Science) , 1999-2003

7.        Mathematics, Computer Science and Cybernetics: Methods, Tools and Applications (Institute’s Research Project, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic), 2000-2004

8.        Specialized computational models in contemporary computer science, Czech Grant Agency, participants: Charles University and Technical University, Ostrava, 2 640 000. CZK

9.        Computer Science for Information Society: Models, Algorithms, Applications. Institute‘s Research Project, 2005-2011

Teaching:

1.      Models of Sequential and Parallel Computers (Charles University) (1995-2006)

2.      Hora Informaticae (a weekly seminar on complexity theory running since 1994, Charles University and Institute of Computer Science AS CR)

3.      Committee for doctoral dissertations (DSc) defense in informatics and cybernetics AS CR, Chairman,  since 2011 

Editorship:

1.      Proceedings of MFCS'86, LNCS Vol. 233, Springer Verlag 1986 (with J. Gruska and B. Rovan)

2.      Proceedings of MFCS'95, LNCS Vol. 969, Springer Verlag 1995 (with P. Hájek);

3.      Proceedings of SOFSEM'95, LNCS Vol. 1016, Springer Verlag, 1995 (with  J. Staudek a M. Bartošek

4.      Proceedings of ICALP'99, LNCS Vol. 1644, Springer Verlag (with  P. van Emde Boas and M. Nielsen)

5.      Proceedings of SOFSEM‘00, Vol. 1963, Springer (with V. Hlaváč and K.J. Jeffery)

6.      Proceedings of SOFSEM’06, Vol.  3831, Springer  (with G. Tel, J Pokorný, M. Bieliková, J. Štuller)

Honors and Memberships:

·         Member of  Academia Europaea (London, UK), section Informatics, since 2006

·         Member of the Czech Learned Society, since 2003

·         Member of the Board of Directors of the ERCIM (European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics), 1997-2010

·         EATCS (European Association for Theoretical Computer Science): vicepresident  1997-2002; council member 1995-2003; member 1993-2009

Invited Talks:

·         FCT'85 (Fundamentals of Computer Science),  1985, Cottbus, NDR

·         23rd semster in the International Banach Center,Warszaw, 1985

·         Summer school "Parallel Algorithms and Architectures", 1988, 1990,   Czechoslovakia

·         IMYCS'90 (International Meeting of Young Computer Scientists), 1990, Czechoslovakia

·         konference FAIR'91 (Foundations of Artificial Intelligence), 1991, Poland

·         MFCS'92 (Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science), 1992, Czechoslovakia

·         Kurt-Gödel Gessellschaft Colloquium, Wien, 1994, 1997, 1999

·         SOFSEM: Current Trends in Theory and Practice of Informatics, 1995, 1997, 2001, Czechoslovakia

·         Workshop on Computability, Complexity, and Logic WCCL'96, Usedom, 1996, Germany

·         IVth South American Workshop on String Processing'97, Viňa del Mar, Chile, 1997

·         MFCS'98, Czech Republic 1998

·         MFCS‘2001,  Slovakia, 2001

·         ECAL‘2001 (European Colloquium on Artificial Life), Praha, 2001

·         euCognition (The European Network for the Advancement of Artificial Cognitive Systems), Inaugural Meeting, Nice 2006

·         DCFS‘2007 (Descriptional Complexity of Formal Systems), Slovakia, 2007

·         CiE‘2008 (Computability in Europe – Logic and Theory of Algorithms), Athens, GR, 2008

·         Physics and Computation  2009 (a satelite event of Unconventional Computation 2009), Ponta-Delgada, Azores, Portugal

·         SOFSEM‘2012, Czech Republic, 2012

·         Computability in Europe CiE 2012, Cambridge, 2012

·         IFIP TCS (Theoretical Computer Science) 2012, Amstrerdam, 2012

Conference Chairmanships:

·         MFCS’95, ( Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science)

·         ICALP’99 (International Colloquium on Automata, Programming and Languages)

·         SOFSEM’95, 2000; 2006

·         SOFSEM Steering Committee Chairman 1996-2000

Conference Committees:

·         MFCS (1981, 1984, 1994); Graph-Theoretic Concepts in Computer Science (1993, 1994); Theoretical Computer Science – Exploring New Frontiers of Theoretical Informatics, 2000, 2002; ALGOSENSORS  2004; 2006;

·         Machines, Computations, and Universality MCU 2007

·         Developments in Computational Models DCM 2009

·         SOFSEM 2008, 2009

·         Bio-Inspired Models of Network, Information and Computing Systems BIONETICS 2010

·         Physics and Computation P&C 2010

·         Theory and Practice of Natural Computing TPNC 2012

Scientific Council Memberships:

Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno (since1998); Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague (2000-2002; 2008-); Faculty of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, Czech Technical University (since 2000-2006); Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Bratislava (1995-2002); Technical University Liberec (2001-2009); Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague (2002-2005; 2008-2012);

Editorial Board:

·         AI Communications (European Journal on Artificial Intelligence)

·         Neural Network World

Selected Publications[1]

  1. Wiedermann, J.: The many forms of amorphous computational systems. In: H. Zenil (Ed.): A Computable Universe. Understanding Computation and Exploring Nature As Computation, 2012, 243-256, Singapore: World Scientific
  2. Wiedermann, J.: Amorphous computing: a research agenda for the near future
    Natural Computing, Vol. 11, Issue 1, 2012 pp. 59-63
  3.  Wiedermann, J. : Thirty years of collaboration with Jan van Leeuwen: In search of understanding computation. Bulletin of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science, 2012, Vol. 108, 148-160
  4. Wiedermann, J.: A computability argument against superintelligence. Cognitive Computation, Cognitive Computation, 2012, Vol. 4, No. 3, 236-245  

5.      Wiedermann, J.:  On the Road to Thinking Machines:  Insights and Ideas (Invited Session Talk) To appear in:  Turing Centenary Conference Computability in Europe (CiE) 2012 - How the World Computes. LNCS, Springer, 2012

  1. Wiedermann, J.: The Many Forms of Amorphous Computational Systems. (Invited) In: H. Zenil (Editor): A Computable Universe: Understanding Computation & Exploring Nature As Computation. World Scientific Publishing Company, 2012, to appear

7.      van Leeuwen, J., Wiedermann, J.: The computational power of Turing’s non-terminating circular a-machines. (Invited) In: S. B. Cooper, J. van Leeuwen (Eds), Alan Turing - His Work and Impact, Elsevier Publ., 2012, to appear.

  1. van Leeuwen, J., Wiedermann, J: Computation as an Unbounded Process. Theoretical Computer Science, accepted  (2012) (ISSN: 034-3975)

9.      Wiedermann, J.:Towards Computational Models of Artificial Cognitive Systems That Can, in Principle, Pass the Turing Test. (Invited paper) In: SOFSEM 2012. Theory and Practice of Computer Science. (Ed.: Bieliková, M.) - Berlin: Springer, 2012, pp. 44-63 (ISSN 0302-9743)  (Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 7147)

  1. van Leeuwen J., Wiedermann, J.: Name Resolution by Rewriting in Dynamic Networks of Mobile Entities. In: Rainbow of Computer Science. Dedicated to Hermann Maurer on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday. Berlin, Springer, 2011. (Ed.: Calude, C.; Rozenberg, G.; Salomaa, A.), pp. 215-227 (ISBN 978-3-642-19390-3) (Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 6570)
  2. Wiedermann, J.: Complexity of Nondeterministic Multitape Computations Based on Crossing Sequences. In: Description Complexity of Formal Systems. (Ed.: Holzer, M.; Kutrib, M.; Pighizzini, G.) - Berlin: Springer, 2011, pp. 314-327 (ISBN 978-3-642-22599-4) (SSN 0302-9743) Held: DCFS 2011. International Workshop on Descriptional Complexity of Formal Systems /13./. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 6808)
  3. Petrů L., Wiedermann J.: A Universal Flying Amorphous Computer In: Unconventional Computation. (Ed.: Calude, C.; Kari, J.; Petre, I.; Rozenberg, G.) - Berlin: Springer, 2011, pp. 189-200 (ISBN 978-3-642-21340-3) (ISSN 0302-9743) Held: UC 2011. Unconventional Computation /10/. Turku (FI), 06.06.2011-10.06.2011
    (Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 6714)
  4. Wiedermann, J.: The singularity might indeed be near, but the next interesting level of intelligence is too far.  In: AISB 2011. Computing & Philosophy. - (Kazakov, D.; Tsoulas, G.) - York : The University of  York, 2011, pp. 73-79 (ISBN 978-1-908187-03-1) Held: AISB 2011. York (GB), 04.04.2011-07.04.2011
  5. Wiedermann, J.: Nanomachine Computing by Quorum Sensing. In: Computation, Cooperation, and Life. Essays Dedicated to Gheorghe Paun on the Occasion of His 60th Birthday. Berlin : Springer, 2011 - (Ed.: Kelemen J., Kelemenová A.), pp. 203-215 (ISBN 978-3-642-19999-8) (Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 6610)
  6. Wiedermann, J.: Amorphous Computing: A Research Agenda for the Near Future. Natural Computing, published online 20 August (2011) (ISSN: 1567-7818)
  7. Wiedermann, J.: A High Level Model of a Conscious Embodied Agent. International Journal of Software Science and Computational Intelligence, Vol. 2, No 3 (2010), pp. 62-78 (ISSN 1942-9045)
  8. Wiedermann, J.: On Super-Turing Computing Power and Hierarchies of Artificial General Intelligence Systems.  In: Artificial General Intelligence. - (Baum, E.; Hutter, M.; Kitzelmann, E.) - Amsterdam: Atlantis Press, 2010, pp. 196-197 (ISBN 978-90-78677-36-9) Held: AGI 2010. International Conference on Artificial General Intelligence /3./. Lugano (CH), 05.03.2010-08.03.2010
  9. Petrů L., Wiedermann, J: On the Universal Computing Power of Amorphous Computing Systems. Theory of Computing Systems, Vol. 45, No 4 (2009), s. 995-1010 (ISSN 1432-4350)
  10. Wiedermann, J., Pardubská D.: Wireless Mobile Computing and its Links to Descriptive Complexity. International Journal of Foundations of Computer Science, Vol. 19, No 4 (2008), pp. 887-913 (ISSN 0129-0541)
  11. Wiedermann Jiří, Petrů L.: Communicating Mobile Nano-Machines and their Computational Power. In: Nano-Net 2008. Revised Selected Papers.(Ed.: Cheng, M.) - . Berlin : Springer, 2009, pp. 123-130 (ISBN 978-3-642-02426-9) Held: Nano-Net 2008. International Conference on Nano-Networks /3./. Boston (US), 14.09.2008-16.09.2008 (Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering. 3).
  12. Wiedermann, J.: Autopoietic Automata: Complexity Issues in Offspring-Producing Evolving Processes. Theoretical Computer Science, Vol. 383, No 2-3 (2007), pp. 260-269 (ISSN 0304-3975)
  13. Wiedermann Jiří, Pardubská, D.: On the Power of Broadcasting in Mobile Computing. In: New Computational Paradigms. Changing Conceptions of what is Computable. Berlin : Springer, 2008 - (Ed.: Cooper B., Löwe B., Sorbi A.), pp. 195-209 ( ISBN 978-0-387-36033-1)
  14. Wiedermann, J., van Leeuwen, J.: How we Think of Computing Today?. (Invited.) In: Logic and Theory of Algorithms. (Ed.: Beckmann, A.; Dimitracopoulos, C.; Löwe, B.) - Berlin: Springer, 2008, pp. 579-593. (ISBN 978-3-540-69405-2) Held: CiE 2008. Conference on Computability in Europe /4./. Athens (GR), 15.06.2008-20.06.2008 (Lecture Notes in Computer Sciences. 5028)
  15. Wiedermann, J., Pardubská, D.: Wireless Parallel Computing and Its Links to Descriptive Complexity. Invited talk, DCFS‘2007 (Descriptive Complexity of Formal Systems), High Tatras, Slovakia, 2007
  16. Wiedermann, J., Pardubská, D.: On the Power of Broadcasting in Mobile Computing. Chapter in: B. Cooper, B. Loewe, A. Sorbi (eds.), New Computational Paradigms: Changing Conceptions of What Is Computable. To appear in LNCS Springer-Verlag, New York Inc., 2007.
  17. Wiedermann J., Petrů L.: Computability in Amorphous Structures. Computation and Logic in the Real World. (Ed.: Cooper, S.; Löwe, B.; Sorbi, A.) - Berlin: Springer, 2007, pp. 781-790 (ISBN 978-3-540-73000-2) Held: CiE 2007. Computability in Europe /3./. Siena (IT), 18.06.2007-23.06.2007 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 4497)
  18. Petrů, L., Wiedermann, J.: A Model of an Amorphous Computer and its Communication Protocol. LNCS, Springer,  Vol. 4362, 2007, s.446-455
  19. van Leeuwen, J., Wiedermann, J.: A Theory of Interactive Computation. A chapter in: Interactive Computation: The New Paradigm.  Goldin, D.; Smolka, S. A.; Wegner, P. (Eds.)  Springer Verlag,  XV, 487 p., 84 illus., Hardcover, 2006
  20. Wiedermann, J.: HUGO: A Cognitive Architecture with an Incorporated World Model. Proc. of the European Conference on Complex Systems ECCS'06, Said Business School, Oxford University, 2006
  21. Wiedermann, J.: Globular Universe and Autopoietic Automata: A Framework for Artificial Life. In: Advances in Artificial Life. (Ed.: Capcarrere M., Freitas A.A., Bentley P.J., Johnson C.G., Timmis J.),  Berlin,  LNCS Vol. 3630, Springer-Verlag 2005, pp. 21-30
  22. Wiedermann, J.: Computing by Self-Reproduction: Autopoietic Automata.  In: Unconventional Computation. (Ed.: Calude C.S., Dinnen M.J., Paun G., Perez-Jimenez M.J., Rozenberg G.) - Berlin, LNCS 3699, Springer-Verlag 2005, pp. 224-236, 2005
  23. Verbaan, P.R.A., Leeuwen, J. van, & Wiedermann, J. Complexity of Evolving Interactive Systems. In: Theory Is Forever, Essays Dedicated to Arto Salomaa on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday  Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 261-281, 2004.
  24. Wiedermann, J.: Characterizing the super-Turing computing power and efficiency of classical fuzzy Turing machines. Theoretical Computer Science Vol. 317, Elsevier,  pp. 61-69, 2004
  25. Wiedermann, J.: Building a Bridge between Mirror Neurons and Theory of Embodied Cognition. In: SOFSEM 2004: Theory and Practice of Computer Science (Ed. Peter van Emde Boas et al.), LNCS Vol.  2932, Berlin, Springer 2004, p. 361-372
  26. Wiedermann, J.: Mirror Neurons, Embodied Cognitive Agents and Imitation Learning. In: Computing and Informatics. Vol. 22, no. 6 (2003), p. 545-559.
  27. Wiedermann, J.: The Computational Limits to the Cognitive Power of the Neuroidal Tabula Rasa. Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence (JETAI), Taylor & Francis Publ., Vol. 15, No. 3, 2003, pp. 267-279
  28. Wiedermann, J.: Fuzzy Turing Machines revised. Computing and Information, Vol. 21, 2002, pp. 1-13
  29. Wiedermann J., van Leeuwen, J: The Emergent Computational Potential of Evolving Artificial Living Systems. Ai Communications, IOS Press, Vol. 15, No. 4, 2002, pp. 205-216
  30. van Leeuwen, J. - Wiedermann, J.: The Turing machine paradigm in contemporary computing, in: B. Enquist and W. Schmidt (Eds), Mathematics Unlimited - 2001 and Beyond, Springer-Verlag, 2001, pp. 1139-1155.
  31. van Leeuwen, J. - Wiedermann, J.: On algorithms and interaction, in: M. Nielsen and B. Rovan (Eds), Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science 2000, 25th Int. Symposium (MFCS'2000), Lecture Notes in Computer Science Vol. 1893, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2000, pp. 99-112.
  32. Wiedermann, J.: Simulated Cognition: A Gauntlet Thrown to Computer Science. ACM Computing Surveys, Vol. 31, Issue 3es, paper No. 16, 1999.
  33. Wiedermann, J.: Towards Algorithmic Explanation of Mind Evolution and Functioning (Invited Talk). In: L. Brim, J. Gruska and J. Zlatuška (Eds.), Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, Proc. of the 23-rd International Symposium (MFCS'98), Lecture Notes in Computer Science Vol. 1450, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1998, pp. 152--166.
  34. Šíma, J. - Wiedermann, J.: Theory of Neuromata. Journal of the ACM, Vol. 45, No. 1, 1998, pp. 155--178.
  35. Wiedermann J.: Speeding-up Single-Tape Nondeterministic Computations by Single Alternation, with Separation Results. In: Automata, Languagues and Programming. ICALP'96. (Ed.: Meyer auf der Heide F., Monien B.), LNCS Vol. 1099 - Berlin, Springer 1996, pp. 381-392
  36. Wiedermann J.: Speeding-Up Nondeterministic Single-Tape Off-Line Computations by One Alternation. In: Mathematical Foundation of Computer Science 1998. Proceedings. (Ed.: Brim L., Gruska J., Zlatuška J.), LNCS Vol. 1450, Berlin, Springer 1998, pp. 607-615
  37. Wiedermann J.: Fast Sequential and Parallel Simulations of Nondeterministic Computations. Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 13, 1994, No. 6, pp. 521-536
  38. Wiedermann J.: Efficient Simulations of Nondeterministic Computations and Their Speed-up by the Ring of Cooperating Machines. In: FAIR '91 - International Workshop on Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence Research. LNAI Vol. 535, Berlin, Springer-Verlag 1991, pp. 59-70
  39. Wiedermann J.: Optimal Algorithms for Sorting on Single Tape Turing Machines. In: Algorithms, Software, Architecture. Information Processing '92. Proceedings of the IFIP. (Ed.: Leeuwen van J.) Vol. : Vol. 1. - Amsterdam, North-Holland 1992, pp. 306-314
  40. Wiedermann J.: Weak Parallel Machines: A New Class of Physically Feasible Parallel Machine Models (Invited Talk). In: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science 1992. Proceedings of the 17. International Symposium. (Ed.: Havel I.M., Koubek V.) - Berlin, Springer-Verlag 1992, LNCS Vol. 629, pp. 95-111
  41. van Leeuwen J., Wiedermann J.:Array Processing Machines: An Abstract Model, BIT, Vol. 27, 1987, pp. 25-43
  42. Wiedermann J.: Normalizing and Accelerating RAM Computations and the Problem of Reasonable Space Measures. Proceedings ICALP'90. LNCS Vol 443, Berlin, Springer Verlag 1990, pp. 125-138
  43. Wiedermann J: On the Power of Synchronization.  Journal of Information Processing and Cybernetics, Vol. 10, 1989, pp. 499-506
  44. Wiedermann J.: Fast Simulation of Nondeterministic Turing Machines With Applications to the Knapsack Problem. Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 8, 1989, No. 6, pp. 591-596
  45. Wiedermann, J.: Searching Algorithms.- Leipzig, Verlaggesellschaft, Teubner Texte zur Mathematik,  Vol. 99, 1987,  123p
  46. Wiedermann J.: Deterministic and Nondeterministic Simulation of the RAM by the Turing Machine. In: Information Processing '83. 9-th IFIP World Computer Congress (Ed.: Mason R.E.A.) - Amsterdam, North Holland 1983, pp. 163-168 

 

 

 

 


[1] See an automatically generated complete list of publications at the Institute’s web page, in section „People“