Konrad Osterwalder
Encyclopedia
Konrad Osterwalder is Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and currently serves as the Rector of the United Nations University
(UNU). He was appointed to the position by United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
in May 2007. He succeeded Prof. Hans van Ginkel from the Netherlands to be the fifth Rector of the United Nations University.
A Swiss physicist, Prof. Osterwalder served as the Rector of ETH-Zürich since 1995. His research focused on the mathematical structure of relativistic quantum field theory, elementary particle physics and statistical mechanics. He developed the Osterwalder-Schrader theorem
He obtained his doctorate degree in theoretical physics at ETH in 1970 and was appointed as full professor at ETH Zürich in 1977. He had held positions at New York University
, Harvard University
and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
and had been a visiting fellow in many universities around the world.
Konrad Osterwalder was born in Frauenfeld, Thurgau, Switzerland, in June 1942. He studied at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule; ETH) in Zurich, where he earned a Diploma in theoretical physics in 1965 and a Doctorate in theoretical physics in 1970.
After one year with the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, he accepted a research position at Harvard University in 1971. He remained on the faculty of Harvard for seven years, and was promoted to Assistant Professor for Mathematical Physics in 1973 and Associate Professor for Mathematical Physics in 1976. In 1977, he returned to Switzerland upon being appointed a full Professor for Mathematical Physics at ETH Zurich.
During his tenure at ETH Zurich, Rector Osterwalder served as Head of the Department of Mathematics (1986–1990) and Head of the Planning Committee (1990–1995), and was founder of the Centro Stefano Franscini seminar center in Ascona. He was appointed Rector of ETH in 1995 and held that post for 12 years. From November 2006 through August 2007, he also served concurrently as ETH President pro tempore.
On 1 September 2007, Rector Osterwalder joined the United Nations University as its fifth rector. In that role, he holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Rector Osterwalder's research focused on the mathematical structure of relativistic quantum field theory as well as on elementary particle physics and statistical mechanics. During his long and distinguished career, he has been a Visiting Fellow/Guest Professor at several prominent universities around the world, including the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES; Bures-sur-Yvette, France); Harvard University; University of Texas (Austin); Max Planck Institute for Physics and Astrophysics (Munich), Università La Sapienza (Rome); Università di Napoli; Waseda University; and Weitzmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel).
Among other roles during his academic career, Rector Osterwalder has served as:
Currently he is:
Rector Osterwalder has been a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (1974–1978) and is a member of the Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences. He holds an honorary degree from the Helsinki Technical University and is an Honorary Member of Riga Technical University. Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder is the recipient of the 2009 Matteo Ricci International Award
United Nations University
The United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
(UNU). He was appointed to the position by United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
in May 2007. He succeeded Prof. Hans van Ginkel from the Netherlands to be the fifth Rector of the United Nations University.
A Swiss physicist, Prof. Osterwalder served as the Rector of ETH-Zürich since 1995. His research focused on the mathematical structure of relativistic quantum field theory, elementary particle physics and statistical mechanics. He developed the Osterwalder-Schrader theorem
He obtained his doctorate degree in theoretical physics at ETH in 1970 and was appointed as full professor at ETH Zürich in 1977. He had held positions at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
and had been a visiting fellow in many universities around the world.
Konrad Osterwalder was born in Frauenfeld, Thurgau, Switzerland, in June 1942. He studied at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule; ETH) in Zurich, where he earned a Diploma in theoretical physics in 1965 and a Doctorate in theoretical physics in 1970.
After one year with the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, he accepted a research position at Harvard University in 1971. He remained on the faculty of Harvard for seven years, and was promoted to Assistant Professor for Mathematical Physics in 1973 and Associate Professor for Mathematical Physics in 1976. In 1977, he returned to Switzerland upon being appointed a full Professor for Mathematical Physics at ETH Zurich.
During his tenure at ETH Zurich, Rector Osterwalder served as Head of the Department of Mathematics (1986–1990) and Head of the Planning Committee (1990–1995), and was founder of the Centro Stefano Franscini seminar center in Ascona. He was appointed Rector of ETH in 1995 and held that post for 12 years. From November 2006 through August 2007, he also served concurrently as ETH President pro tempore.
On 1 September 2007, Rector Osterwalder joined the United Nations University as its fifth rector. In that role, he holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Rector Osterwalder's research focused on the mathematical structure of relativistic quantum field theory as well as on elementary particle physics and statistical mechanics. During his long and distinguished career, he has been a Visiting Fellow/Guest Professor at several prominent universities around the world, including the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES; Bures-sur-Yvette, France); Harvard University; University of Texas (Austin); Max Planck Institute for Physics and Astrophysics (Munich), Università La Sapienza (Rome); Università di Napoli; Waseda University; and Weitzmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel).
Among other roles during his academic career, Rector Osterwalder has served as:
- Editor of Communications in Mathematical Physics;
- Treasurer and President of the International Association for Mathematical Physics;
- Member of the Visiting Committee of the Harvard Department of Physics;
- President of the IHÉS National Committee of the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences;
- Member of the Advisory Council of the Euler Institute in St. Petersburg;
- Vice-President of the Conference of Rectors of Swiss Universities;
- President of the Conference of European Schools of Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER);
- Member of the International Academic Advisory Panel of the Government of Singapore;
- President of UNITECH International (a collaboration between several European Technical Universities and more than 20 leading multinational corporations);
- Chairman of the Bologna-Project Group (Swiss Rectors Conference);
- President, Jury of the Brandenberger Foundation;
- Member of the Nucleo di Valutazione (supervisory council) of the Politecnico di Milano;
- Member of the Conseil d'administration of the École Polytechnique de France (Paris);
- Member of the "Comité de l´Enseignement" of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris;
- Member of the University Council of the Università della Svizzera Italiana;
- President Chair of the University Council of the Technical University Darmstadt;
- Head of the Evaluationsverbund Darmstadt-Kaiserslautern-Karlsruhe;
- Member, Strategic Council, Free University of Berlin;
- Member, Comitato Scientifico Alta Scuola Politecnica (Politecnici di Milano e di Torino);
- Member, Beirat Robert Bosch Stiftung; and
- Member, Academic Council of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE);
Currently he is:
- Member, Consiglio Fondazione Italian Institute of Technology
Rector Osterwalder has been a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (1974–1978) and is a member of the Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences. He holds an honorary degree from the Helsinki Technical University and is an Honorary Member of Riga Technical University. Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder is the recipient of the 2009 Matteo Ricci International Award