Ingrid Daubechies thrilled: First woman in the Weierstrass lecture!

Ingrid Daubechies thrilled: First woman in the Weierstrass lecture!

On July 11, 2025, Prof. Dr. Ingrid Daubechies from Duke University gave a remarkable lecture as part of the Weierstrass Lecture at the University of Paderborn. This event, which has taken place annually since 2011 and is named after the influential mathematician Karl Weierstrass, is characterized by its excellence and international recognition. Prof. Daubechies is the first woman ever to receive this honor, marking a significant milestone in the history of the lecture series.

The Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Klüners, welcomed the numerous guests in the packed lecture hall O1 and emphasized the importance of the Weierstrass lecture for the academic community. The event demonstrated not only the high scientific standards, but also the close connection between mathematics and other disciplines.

Topic of the lecture

The topic of Prof. Daubechies' lecture was supporting art historians and conservators in the restoration of visual evidence. Her research, particularly the development of wavelet techniques, revolutionized signal and image processing and offers new approaches to reconstructing damaged works of art. She explained how destroyed works of art can be reconstructed with minimal variation to precisely identify missing elements. This is demonstrated by the practical applications of her mathematical research, which impressively combines art and science.

Prof. Dr. In his speech, Matthias Bauer, President of the University of Paderborn, praised the outstanding reputation of the Weierstrass lecture and pointed out the importance of Prof. Daubechies' work for his own research as a chemist. Their contribution to applied mathematics is considered fundamental to the understanding of complex phenomena, not only in mathematics but also in art and beyond.

Historical insights

In addition to Prof. Daubechies' presentation, Prof. Dr. Volker Peckhaus, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Technology, gave a historical lecture that examined the connection between philosophy and mathematics. He spoke about fundamental crises in Greek and modern mathematics and highlighted some of the paradoxes that link the two disciplines.

The event was rounded off by the introduction of Prof. Dr. Martin Kolb, professor of stochastics and co-organizer of the Weierstrass lecture. Kolb highlighted Prof. Daubechies as an outstanding mathematician and presented her as a pioneer in her field of research.

The entire event was held in English and quotes within the lectures were translated accordingly. Prof. Daubechies' honorable mention this year, when she received the US National Medal of Science, highlights her outstanding contribution to science.

Overall, the Weierstrass Lecture remains an important forum for exchange between mathematics and other disciplines and testifies to the continued relevance of mathematical research in the modern world.