25 years Hamburg Informatics Forum e.V.
The Hamburg Informatics Forum e.V. (HIForum) was founded in 1998 as a component of a new departmental culture, initiated by the department spokesperson / dean, Prof. Horst Oberquelle. Together with regular formal graduation ceremonies, it was intended as an alumni association to maintain contact between the department and its graduates and to support the department. In the same year, the Hamburg Informatics Technology Center (HITeC e.V.) was also founded, which has since promoted technology transfer. The introduction of the department’s own logo was also among the innovations.
HIForum started with 24 founding members and quickly grew into a non-profit association with over 100 active members; several companies also became members. Membership fees were very affordable and remained unchanged the entire time.
The purpose of the association was to promote the science of Informatics at the Department of Informatics at the University of Hamburg, in particular through:
- Strengthening the connection between research and academic education with practical application;
- Promoting scientific exchange of ideas, especially between former and current members of the Department of Informatics as well as partners from industry, business, and academia;
- Supporting young scientific talent; and
- Supporting the Department of Informatics by collecting donations.
The following activities were particularly used to achieve these goals:
- Events to promote contact and exchange of experiences, especially alumni regulars’ tables, visits to companies run by alumni, and informational events;
- Organization and financing of lectures, colloquia, workshops, film screenings, and exhibitions at the Department of Computer Science;
- Newsletters about developments and special events in the department;
- Involving alumni in departmental events;
- Cooperation with Hamburg Alumni and the Alumni Association of the University of Hamburg, which was founded later;
- Cooperation with the Raumschiff Erde conferences (Congress for Digital Philosophy, Experience Design, and Net Culture).
HIForum organized external financial support for students:
- Scholarships for students (sd&m scholarships of 950 DM / 500 € for 3 years)
- Awards for the best graduates (Systematics Award 15,000 DM)
- Support for student projects (Lufthansa Industry Solutions 4,000 euros)
HIForum also provided further financial support from its own resources (rounded figures):
- Germany Scholarships (since 2018, €19,800)
- Awards for Expo winners (project and final theses: €6,500)
- Student projects (€7,300)
- Travel expenses (e.g., for the student RoboCup AG for travel to world championships, conference of computer science student councils: over €11,000)
- Library support (donations and subscription to Der Spiegel: €4,200)
- Support of the “Kunterbuntes Seminar”
- Equipment for graduation ceremonies and support for summer festivals (€7,500)
- Lecture events of the department (€8,500)
- Promotion of women (€6,500)
- Other donations (€4,000)
The Hamburg Informatics Forum was managed on a voluntary basis by the following boards (Chairperson / Deputy / Treasurer):
- Prof. Dr. Horst Oberquelle / Jens Meier / Dirk Martinsen
- Prof. Dr. Horst Oberquelle / Michael Schudy / Dirk Martinsen
- Michael Schudy / Prof. Dr. Horst Oberquelle / Dirk Martinsen
- Michael Schudy / Angela Schwabl / Dirk Martinsen
- Angela Schwabl / Dr. Christian Graf / Dirk Martinsen
- Angela Schwabl / Sophie Gräfnitz / Dirk Martinsen
Special thanks are due to Dirk Martinsen for his management of finances since the association’s founding.
After around 15 years, graduates’ interest in association membership significantly decreased. The association grew only very slowly. Interest from department members in participating in HIForum also declined. HIForum had a total of over 300 members over the years; the current number of members fluctuated at a little over 200.
From around 2020, discussions were held with the department and association members about the future of HIForum. After none of the active members of the department wanted to become involved with HIForum and no new board members could be found from among the membership, the sitting board proposed dissolution of the association. Finally, at a general assembly on August 17, 2023, it was decided to dissolve the association at the end of 2023—its 25th year of existence.
Thus, the era of the Hamburg Informatics Forum and its voluntary work for the Department of Informatics came to an end! With that, the possibilities for financial support of various special activities in the department also ended.