Georg Gottlob facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georg Gottlob
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| Born | 30 June 1956 Vienna, Austria
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| Nationality | Austrian and Italian |
| Alma mater | Vienna University of Technology |
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| Thesis | Mehrwertige Logik – Aufbau und Anwendung in der Informatik (1981) |
| Doctoral advisor | Curt Christian |
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Georg Gottlob is a famous computer scientist from Austria and Italy. He is known for his work in computer science, especially in areas like database theory, logic, and artificial intelligence. He is currently a professor of Informatics at the University of Calabria in Italy. Before that, he was a professor at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
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Becoming a Computer Scientist
Georg Gottlob studied computer science at the Vienna University of Technology in Austria. He earned his first degree and his PhD there in 1981. A PhD is a very high university degree that shows someone is an expert in their field.
Georg Gottlob's Career and Research
Professor Gottlob is now a special professor at the University of Calabria in Italy. He joined this university in 2023. Before that, he was a professor of computer science at the Oxford University Department of Computer Science. There, he helped start a group that studies information systems. He is also a Fellow of St John's College, Oxford, which means he is a senior member of that college.
He used to be a professor at the Vienna University of Technology. He still works with them in a special role. In May 2010, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of top scientists. He also helped create the Oxford-Man Institute.
What He Studies
Professor Gottlob has written over 250 scientific papers. These papers are like detailed reports on his research. His work covers many areas, including:
- Computational logic: This is about using logic to solve problems with computers.
- Database theory: This involves how databases (where computers store information) are designed and work.
- Artificial intelligence (AI): This is about making computers smart, so they can think and learn like humans.
He also wrote a textbook about how to use logic in computer programming and databases.
Important Discoveries
In the field of artificial intelligence, Georg Gottlob is famous for his early work on "nonmonotonic logics." This is a type of logic where new information can change what you thought was true before. He also worked on something called "hypertree decompositions." This is a way to break down complex problems into smaller, easier parts. It helps computers solve difficult problems, like those in constraint satisfaction.
His work has also greatly helped in database theory. For example, evaluating "conjunctive queries" (asking specific questions to a database) is similar to solving constraint satisfaction problems. His recent studies on XML query languages, like XPath, have helped create the rules for how complex these computer languages can be.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Georg Gottlob has received many awards for his important work. One big honor was being elected to the Royal Society in 2010. When he was nominated, they said he made huge contributions to both artificial intelligence and database systems. They noted that his research focused on how computers use logic and algorithms to understand information, answer questions from databases, and process data from the internet.
His work led to new, efficient ways to solve problems. These methods are now widely used in areas like:
- Constraint satisfaction: Finding solutions that fit certain rules.
- Web data extraction: Getting specific information from websites.
- Query optimization: Making database searches faster and better.
He also showed how the basic ideas of artificial intelligence and databases are connected. He solved many difficult problems in computational logic, non-monotonic reasoning, and database theory.
In 2002, Gottlob was named an ECCAI fellow. He also received special "honorary doctorates" from the University of Klagenfurt in 2016 and the University of Vienna in 2020. An honorary doctorate is a special degree given to someone who has achieved great things, even if they didn't study for that specific degree.
