Guiding principles
Pure and applied mathematics complement each other
We are convinced that pure and applied mathematics complement each other, even need each other, as homo ludens and homo faber do.
When 23 year-old Felix Klein accepted his first position in Erlangen, he introduced the »Erlanger Programm« which is still famous today. He united different branches of geometry. Some 30 years later, he was studying complex mechanical systems, like the gyroscope. In the third volume of his »Elementarmathematik vom höheren Standpunkt« he wrote an introduction to numerics which is still worth to be read, under the title of »Präzisions- und Approximationsmathematik«. Felix Klein also made sure that mathematical courses became essentially more important for the education of engineers at technical universities.
Interaction of theory and practice requires first-class researchers
In our center for mathematics, we want to map a broad spectrum of themes through the integration of existing professorships and a number of new appointments. It should encompass the width and the depth of mathematics, ranging from algebraic geometry to scientific computing, from functional analysis to mathematical modelling, from probability theory to risk analysis.
Felix Klein made sure that David Hilbert, Ludwig Prandtl and Carl Runge were appointed to Göttingen University. David Hilbert was the best »pure« mathematician, who delivered the basic material for models. Ludwig Prandtl was the best fluid dynamist and his models are still valid today. Carl Runge was the best numerical analyst and his Runge-Kutta-methods are still »State-of-Art« today. Through their work, Göttingen was considered, in mathematics, the »Princeton« of the 1920’s.
Mathematical research must be practice oriented
We know that mathematics is a key technology, a »motor for industry«. The Department of Mathematics of the University of Kaiserslautern and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics intend to put this concept into practice with their pure and applied math groups. This involves coming across demanding challenges in technique, life sciences, logistic, communications, medicine and finances when applying novel mathematical methods. The encounter with these challenges trigger a continuous creation of mathematical methods that in time will be applied in projects with industry partners.
Felix Klein founded in 1898 the »Göttinger Vereinigung zur Förderung der angewandten Physik und Mathematik« to which belonged many leading representatives from industry. These representatives established foundation sponsored professorships for applied mathematics. Following Felix Kleins suggestion, a »Modellversuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt« was established in Göttingen, which became the predecessor of the current Max Planck Institute for fluid dynamics at the same place.
Teaching mathematics must be practical
Already for many years, we strive to give a new »meaning« to mathematics in schools. We organize seminars on modelling with real life topics, and even export this concept.
During his life, Felix Klein dedicated a great deal of attention to the problems of teaching mathematics. He wanted to reach a higher theoretical level as well as a more descriptive, practical structuring of the lessons. He also believed that reflecting on the historical roots of mathematics was beneficial for his lessons. Therefore, he wrote books about the history of mathematics.
Mathematics is very international
Last but not least, we are convinced that both scientific and industrial reasons make an even stronger internationalization indispensable.
Felix Klein traveled to the US several times between 1893 and 1896. Among others, he visited the Universities of Princeton and Yale and was offered a position there. He returned to Göttingen with doctoral students, among them several women, being one of the first to support the academic education of women.