History of the KGRC

(see also Gödel in Vienna)

Institut für Logistik

• 1967 – The Institut für Logistik of the University of Vienna is founded (director: Curt Christian). At this time, most sciences and humanities (in particular, logic) are studied as Doktoratsstudium at the Fakultät für Philosophie. At the Institut für Logistik, the first student graduates in 1968. In the following years, the general Doktoratsstudium is replaced by various diploma curricula (Diplomstudium, comparable to a master curriculum) and a postgraduate PhD (Doktorat) curriculum. In particular, a logic diploma curriculum, also called Logistik, is established; the first student graduates in 1980. This curriculum is abolished in 1997.
• 1990 – Prof. Christian becomes professor emeritus. Wolfgang Kubelka (a pharmacognosist) acts as interim head of the institute, and initiates its relocation to the Josephinum in 1996. The institute stays at Währinger Str. 25 until June, 2019.

Institut für formale Logik

• 1999 – Sy-David Friedman (until then professor at MIT) is appointed the new professor and head of the institute.
• 2000 – The institute is renamed Institut für formale Logik (institute for formal logic). Logic can now be studied as one of two branches (Studienzweig) of the Diplomstudium Mathematik.
• 2002 – The Austrian universities undergo re-organisation and are granted wider autonomy. As a consequence, the institute system at the University of Vienna is abolished, and institutes are combined into newly created faculties.

Kurt Gödel Research Center for Mathematical Logic

• 2004 – The Institut für formale Logik is renamed Kurt Gödel Research Center for Mathematical Logic and made one of the University's first Forschungsplattformen (an inter-faculty research institution). Regarding teaching and some organisational aspects, however, the KGRC is part of the Faculty of Mathematics.
• 2007 – Bachelor- and Master-curricula replace the Diplomstudium. Logic can now be studied as one of several branches (Studienschwerpunkt) of the mathematics Master curriculum.
• 2010 – Curt Christian passes away.
• 2015 – Benjamin Miller (until then professor at University of Münster) is hired as assistant professor in mathematical logic, and promoted to associate professor in 2016 and to full professor in 2017.
• 2018 – Prof. Sy David Friedman retires.

Faculty of Mathematics: Key Research Area Logic

• 2019 – The KGRC is merged into the Faculty of Mathematics effective January 1, 2019. In June, the KGRC moves to temporary quarters in Augasse 6-8.
• 2020 – In July, Matthias Aschenbrenner (until then professor at UCLA) joins the KGRC as director of the group. In September, the KGRC moves to its current location in Kolingasse 14-16.
• 2022 – Benjamin Miller leaves the KGRC. Vera Fischer is hired as an assistant professor.
• 2023 – Vera Fischer promoted to associate professor.
• 2024 – Aristotelis Panagiotopoulos joins the KGRC as an assistant professor.