Dissertation Award 2015

The CSCW & Social Computing group of the Gesellschaft für Informatik and the International Institute for Socio-Informatics (IISI) are jointly awarding a dissertation prize for outstanding results in the research of applications of computer science in social systems. The prize is endowed with 1,500 euros and is awarded every second year during the Mensch und Computer conference.

The 2015 winner was selected by a jury of twelve of the leading German-speaking scientists in the field of CSCW & Social Computing. During the review and comparison of the submissions, one work clearly stood out.

In 2015, the dissertation prize was awarded to Dr.-Ing. Matthias Heinrich, who received his doctorate at Chemnitz Technical University with a thesis on “Enriching Web Applications Efficiently with Real-Time Collaboration Capabilities” (first reviewer: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gaedke).

Matthias Heinrich’s dissertation describes for the first time an engineering approach to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the design, development and evolution of web-based real-time web applications. In particular, his solution approach focuses on the main areas of support for workspace awareness, support for the development of real-time collaboration web applications through real-time collaboration additions in existing frameworks as well as the non-invasive transformation of existing single-user web applications into multi-user real-time collaboration web applications.

The importance of the work is reflected in the large number of intemational publications at scientific conferences and journals – his publications at the renowned World Wide Web Conference in 2012 and 2013 are undoubtedly particularly noteworthy; the basic approach and specific solution modules were also honored with a Best Research Paper Award (2012) and in the following year with a Best Demo and Poster Award (2013) at the International Conference on Web Engineering. The work also led to three patents.

All in all, Mr. Heinrich delivers a top-class work – both practically relevant and scientifically “distinguished” with various Best Paper Awards. The work is design-oriented without forgetting the evaluation and conveys a high degree of unity through clear goals and a clear red thread.

Next in the list are Dr. Christian Maier, who received his doctorate in “Technostress – Theoretical Foundation and Empirical Evidence” at the University of Bamberg, and Dr. Christian Reuter, who received his doctorate in “Emergent Collaboration Infrastructures – Technology Design for Inter-Organizational Crisis Management” at the University of Siegen.

The award ceremony took place on 7.9.2015 at the evening event of the conference Mensch und Computer 2015 in Stuttgart.

Members of the jury in 2015:

Prof. Dr. Volker Wulf, University of Siegen
Prof. Dr. Stefan Klein, University of Münster
Dr. Alexander Richter, University of Zurich
Prof. Dr. Peter Mambrey, University of Duisburg-Essen
Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart, HU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Gunnar Stevens, University of Siegen
Prof. Dr. Stephan Lukosch, TU Delft
Dr. Michael Prilla, University of Bochum
Prof. Dr. Johann Schlichter, TU Munich
Prof. Dr. Hilda Tellioglu, TU Vienna
Prof. Dr. Michael Koch, University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich
Prof. Dr. Volkmar Pipek, University of Siegen

Dissertation Award 2013

The „Dissertation Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Research of  Application of Information Technologies in Social Systems” of the CSCW chapter of the Society for Computing and the International Institute of Socio-Informatics was conferred at the “Mensch und Computer” (Human and Computer) Conference 2013, held on September 10, 2013 in Bremen, Germany.

Dr.-Ing. Steffen Bartsch

received the award for his dissertation with the title “Broadening the Scope of Security Usability from the Individual to the Organizational: Participation and Interaction for Effective, Efficient, and Agile Authorization”. The dissertation originated at the University of Bremen and coached by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carsten Bormann.

Mr. Bartsch’s dissertation is concerned with the usability of authorization systems. This “usability of safety” is an important prerequisite to for avoiding safety deficiencies.  In his dissertation, Mr. Bartsch analyzed the application of new Software Engineering methods (agile software development) for the development of authorization systems. In doing so, he implemented and evaluated several tools. With a grounded theory approach, he has carried out a qualitative analysis concerning problems which occur in organizations, incorporating the findings into recommendations and a holistic model of authorization problems. Mr. Bartsch’s work has contributed in a variety of ways to the progress of science. However, the practical advancements which came about through his dissertation are esteemed just as highly.

The runners-up receiving an honorable mention were:

  • Matthias Korn, PhD, “Situating Engagement: Ubiquitous Infrastructures for In-Situ Civic Engagement”, Aarhus University, DK (Prof. Dr. Susanne Bodker),
  • Dr. Tobias Schwartz, “Designing Information Technology for Sustainable Energy Use – A Practice Centered Approach to Consumption Feedback Technologies in Private Households and Work Environments”, Siegen University (Prof. Dr. Volker Wulf),
  • Dr. Stefan Hallerstede, “Managing the Lifecycle of Open Innovation Platforms”, Erlangen-Nürnberg University (Prof. Dr. Kathrin M. Möslein) and
  • Dr. Kai Holzweißig, “Ein koaktiver Unterstützungsansatz für Prozesse sozialer Wirklichkeitskonstruktion in Produktentstehungsprozessen” (“A Co-active Support Approach for Processes of the Social Construction of Reality in Product Development Processes”), Paderborn University (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhard Keil).

Dissertation Award 2011

In 2011, the Dissertation Award was conferred on Dr. Valérie Maquil for her dissertation bearing the title: “The ColorTable: an interdisciplinary design process”, University of Technology, Vienna (First assessor: Prof. Dr. Ina Wagner) – see also the project page dedicated to the ColorTable.

Valérie Maquil’s dissertation describes the development of a complex tangible user interface (TUI) for use in participative urban planning processes, where the experts and concerned parties are from diverse disciplines and fields. TUI-development makes use of the options of mixed reality (MR) representation and manipulation. It is based on a design and testing process, arranged in a four-year evolutionary cycle. This comprises several interrelated consequential development loops of TUI-prototypes, in whose design and evaluation users were involved throughout the implementation of real urban planning projects. In addition to the substantial contributions made, concerning tangible user interfaces and the application field of participative urban planning, Ms. Maquil’s dissertation further presents significant contributions to participative system design.

The runners-up receiving an honourable mention were: Gunnar Stevens, “Understanding and Designing Appropriation Infrastructures: Artifacts as boundary objects in the continuous software development”, Univ. Siegen (Prof. Wulf), and Simon Nestler, “Konzeption, Implementierung und Evaluierung von Benutzerschnittstellen für lebensbedrohliche, zeitkritische und instabile Situationen”, („Conception, Implemantation and Evaluation of User Interfaces for Life-threatening, Time-critical and Unstable Situations“), University of Technology, Munich (Prof. Klinker).

The award ceremony was held on September 9, 2011 at the evening event of “Mensch und Computer” (“Humans and Computers”) 2011, in Chemnitz.