Martin Hellman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Hellman
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Martin Edward Hellman
October 2, 1945 New York City, United States
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| Education | New York University (BS) Stanford University (MS, PhD) |
| Known for | Diffie–Hellman key exchange |
| Awards | IEEE Centennial Medal (1984) EFF Pioneer Award (1994) Louis E. Levy Medal(1997) Golden Jubilee Awards for Technological Innovation (1998) Marconi Prize (2000) National Academy of Engineering Member (2002) Hamming Medal (2010) Computer History Museum Fellow (2011) Turing Award (2015) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cryptography Computer science Electrical engineering |
| Institutions | Stanford University MIT IBM Research |
| Thesis | Learning with Finite Memory (1969) |
| Doctoral advisor | Thomas Cover |
| Doctoral students | Ralph Merkle Taher Elgamal |
Martin Edward Hellman (born October 2, 1945) is an American expert in cryptography. Cryptography is the science of secure communication. He is famous for inventing public-key cryptography with Whitfield Diffie and Ralph Merkle. This invention changed how we keep information safe online.
Hellman has also been a big part of discussions about computer privacy. He has looked at the risks of nuclear weapons and how to prevent them from being used. In 2002, he became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for his important work in cryptography.
In 2016, he wrote a book with his wife, Dorothie Hellman. The book is called A New Map for Relationships: Creating True Love at Home and Peace on the Planet. It talks about how good relationships at home can help bring peace to the world.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Martin Hellman was born in New York City. He went to the Bronx High School of Science. After high school, he studied electrical engineering. He earned his bachelor's degree from New York University in 1966.
He then went to Stanford University. There, he received his master's degree in 1967. He completed his Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1969.
Career Highlights
From 1968 to 1969, Hellman worked at IBM's research center. He met another scientist named Horst Feistel there. From 1969 to 1971, he taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In 1971, he joined the electrical engineering department at Stanford University. He was a full-time professor for 25 years. In 1996, he became a professor emeritus. This means he retired but still keeps his title.
Public-Key Cryptography
In 1976, Hellman and Whitfield Diffie published a very important paper. It was called New Directions in Cryptography. This paper introduced a completely new way to share secret keys for encryption. This solved a major problem in cryptography.
This new method is now known as Diffie–Hellman key exchange. It helped create a new type of encryption. This is called public-key encryption or asymmetric encryption. It uses two different keys for security.
Hellman and Diffie received the Marconi Fellowship in 2000. This award was for their work on public-key cryptography. They also helped make cryptography a respected area of study. In 2015, they won the Turing Award for the same work. The Turing Award is like the Nobel Prize for computer science.
Computer Privacy Discussions
Martin Hellman has always been involved in discussions about computer privacy. In 1975, he and Diffie were strong critics of the Data Encryption Standard (DES). They thought its key size was too short. A shorter key means it's easier to break the code.
Their concerns were proven right later on. It was found that the key size was made shorter on purpose. This made it possible for powerful computers to break DES codes. By 2012, a machine costing about $10,000 could break a DES key in just a few days. This showed that DES was no longer safe.
Hellman also served on a committee from 1994 to 1996. This committee studied national cryptography policy. Many of their suggestions have since been put into practice.
Working for International Security
Since 1985, Hellman has been active in international security. This means working to make the world safer.
Beyond War Movement
Hellman was part of the original Beyond War movement. He helped edit a booklet called "BEYOND WAR: A New Way of Thinking." This movement aimed to find new ways to solve conflicts without war.
Breakthrough Book
In 1987, over 30 scholars worked together on a book. It was called Breakthrough: Emerging New Thinking, Soviet and Western Scholars Issue a Challenge to Build a World Beyond War. Anatoly Gromyko and Martin Hellman were the main editors. The book explored how to prevent conflicts between countries. It also looked at how to build a shared vision for the future.
Reducing the Nuclear Threat
Hellman's current work in international security focuses on reducing the nuclear threat. He studies the chances and dangers of nuclear weapons. He encourages more research in this area worldwide.
His website, NuclearRisk.org, has been supported by many important people. These include a former director of the National Security Agency. It also includes two Nobel Prize winners. Hellman is also on the board of Daisy Alliance. This group works for global security by preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. They also work for nuclear disarmament.
Awards and Recognitions
Martin Hellman has received many awards for his work.
- In 1980, he became an IEEE fellow for his contributions to cryptography.
- In 1997, he received the Louis E. Levy Medal.
- In 1981, he won the IEEE Donald G. Fink Prize Paper Award with Whitfield Diffie.
- In 2000, he and Whit Diffie won the Marconi Prize. This was for inventing public-key cryptography. This invention helps protect privacy on the internet.
- In 1998, he received a Golden Jubilee Award for Technological Innovation.
- In 2010, he was awarded the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal.
- In 2011, he was added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
- Also in 2011, he became a Fellow of the Computer History Museum. This was for his work on public-key cryptography with Whitfield Diffie and Ralph Merkle.
- In 2015, Hellman and Whitfield Diffie won the Turing Award. This is the highest honor in computer science. They were recognized for their paper "New Directions in Cryptography." This paper introduced the ideas of public-key cryptography and digital signatures. These ideas are now used in most internet security systems.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Hellman para niños
