CWI Soirée and Van Wijngaarden Awards

CWI Soirée and Van Wijngaarden Awards

Since 2006 and every five years, CWI presents the Van Wijngaarden Award to a mathematician and computer scientist of special significance during the festive Soirée. The award is named in memory of Adriaan van Wijngaarden (1916-1987), who is considered one of the founding fathers of computer science in the Netherlands.

Van Wijngaarden was director of Mathematisch Centrum (1961-1980), now known as CWI. He has been of invaluable importance for CWI and the evolution of computer science. Van Wijngaarden also laid the foundation for all contemporary mainstream computer languages.

In 2016 CWI celebrated Van Wijngaarden's 100th birthday. In ERCIM News appeared this article on Van Wijngaarden and his role in informatics (copy on CWI's website).

On 2 November 2016, the Van Wijngaarden Awards were awarded to mathematician Sara van de Geer and computer scientist Xavier Leroy. Previous awards went to Nancy Lynch and Persi Diaconis (2006), and Éva Tardos and John Butcher (2011). The Van Wijngaarden Awards consists of a bronze sculpture by Hanneke van den Bergh.

The next presentation of the Van Wijngaarden Awards to winners Marta Kwiatkowska and Susan Murphy would take place during a festive Soirée on 18 November 2021. This had to be cancelled due to corona measures. It has been postponed to 3 November 2022.

CWI Soirée and Van Wijngaarden Awards 2021

03-11-2022 from 19:00 to 22:00 — Trippenhuis Amsterdam & streaming,

On Thursday 3 November 2022, CWI will present the Van Wijngaarden Award to a mathematician and a computer scientist of special significance during the festive Soirée.

CWI Soirée and Van Wijngaarden Awards 2016

02-11-2016 from 18:00 to 21:30 — Nemo Science Museum (Amsterdam),

Picture: Aad van Wijngaarden behind his desk at the Mathematisch Centrum.

Soiree 65 year Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (2011)

10-02-2011 from 20:00 to 22:30 — Oude Lutherse Kerk, Singel 411, Amsterdam,

In 2011 Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica CWI is celebrating its 65th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone CWI hosts a festive evening on Thursday 10 February.At this occasion two researchers will be awarded the 'Van Wijngaarden Award' for their exceptional contribution to mathematics and computer science:

First Van Wijngaarden Awards for Lynch and Diaconis (2006)

09-02-2006 from 19:00 to 22:00

Computer scientist Nancy Lynch and mathematician-magician Persi Diaconis were awarded the first two Van Wijngaarden Awards during the celebration of CWI's 60th anniversary on 9 February 2006.