Rolf Fest 2026 @ Jena

A celebration of Rolf Niedermeier, his legacy, and his Invitation to Fixed-Parameter Algorithms

Pictures: AKT Group, TU Berlin · MFCS Conference 2012

Join us in Jena

Cover of Invitation to Fixed-Parameter Algorithms

Image: OUP

On the occasion of Rolf Niedermeier's 60th birthday and the 20th anniversary of the publication of his seminal book Invitation to Fixed-Parameter Algorithms we will hold a symposium on the past, present, and future of parameterized algorithmics.

Apart from having shaped the field since its early days, Rolf contributed to and initiated the interaction of parameterized algorithmics with many other areas of computer science including algorithm engineering, computational biology, computational social choice, data reduction, scheduling, string algorithms, and temporal graphs.

Before eventually moving to TU Berlin, Rolf spent 6 years, from 2004 to 2010, at the University of Jena as head of the Chair of Theoretical Informatics. During that time, his book was published and parameterized algorithmics experienced a rapid growth. Jena is therefore a fitting place to gather and reflect on Rolf's legacy, the development of the last 20 years, and the future of the field.

If you would like to attend, please contact us at rolf-fest@listserv.uni-jena.de

In case you are interested in giving a talk on a topic related to the theme of the symposium, please let us know by May 31.

Date: July 21 2026

Location: HS 150, ground floor, Inselplatz 5External link, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany

Program
09:45–10:00 Arrival
10:00–10:15 Opening
10:15–11:25 Remembering Rolf
Speakers: Christian Komusiewicz (FSU Jena), Mike Fellows (LAU Beirut, online), Peter Rossmanith (RWTH Aachen), Falk Hüffner (TomTom), Stefan Schmid (TU Berlin), Till Fluschnik (HU Berlin)
11:30–12:00 Rolf’s open questions
12:00–13:50 Lunch
13:50–14:00 Photo show

14:00–15:30 Opus Magnum I
Piotr Faliszewski (AGH University of Krakow), Dušan Knop (TU Prague), Hendrik Molter (HPI Potsdam)
15:30–16:00 Coffee break
16:00–17:00 Opus Magnum II
Manuel Sorge (TU Wien), Vincent Froese (TU Berlin)
17:00–17:30 Open problem session and voting
17:30–18:15 Zukunftsmusik - Panel on the Future of Parameterized Algorithms
Moderation: Erik Jan van Leeuwen (Utrecht Uni)
Panelists: Peter Rossmanith (RWTH Aachen), Jörg Rothe (Uni Düsseldorf),
Niclas Boehmer (HPI Potsdam), André Nichterlein (TU Berlin), Eva Deltl (TU Clausthal-Zellerfeld)
18:15– Reception
18:45–20:00 Quiz à la Rolf

Further confirmed participants:

  • Niclas Boehmer, Hasso Plattner Institute Potsdam
  • Martin Dietzfelbinger, TU Ilmenau
  • Till Fluschnik, Humboldt University Berlin
  • Danny Hermelin, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
  • Erik Jan van Leeuwen, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • Klaus Reinhardt, Martin Luther University Halle
  • Jörg Rothe, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
  • Jannik Schestag, TU Delft, The Netherlands
  • Martin Schirneck, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • Ondřej Suchý, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
  • Nimrod Talmon, Ben-Gurion University, Israel

Organizers: 

  • Matthias Bentert (TU Berlin)
  • Robert Bredereck (TU Clausthal)
  • Jiehua Chen (TU Vienna)
  • Leon Kellerhals (TU Clausthal)
  • Christian Komusiewicz (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)
  • André Nichterlein (TU Berlin)
  • Manuel Sorge (TU Vienna)