Heinz von Foerster
Studied Technology and Physics at the Technical University of Vienna; from 1933 active participation in the lectures of the Vienna Circle; From 1938 employee at the Siemens Research Labs, Berlin; from 1939 Research in Short Wave and Plasma Physics; 1945 returned to Vienna, assistance in reconstructing the Schrack Company (Electronics); 1949 and 1953 Chief Editor of Science in the Radio Company "Rot-Weiss-Rot"; 1948 Publication "Memory: a quantum mechanical study". From 1949 University of Illinois, where in 1951 he obtained a professorship for Electrical Engineering. From 1949 to 1953 Secretary of the Macy Conferences and Publisher/Editor of the Macy Conference Proceedings, which became important waymarks in the development of Cybernetics. 1958-1975 Head, Biological Computer Laboratory (BCL), one of the most important innovative centers for Cybernetics; research in topics such as homeostasis, self-organizing systems, system-environment relations, bionics, bio-logics, man-machine communication, etc. 1962-1975 Professor of Biophysics; 1976 Emeritus. Numerous Awards, among others: 1996 Honorary Professorship of the University of Vienna and the Austrian Honorary Cross for Science and Arts, 1st Class; 1997 Honorary Medal in Gold of the Federal Capitol Vienna; More than 200 scientific publications, among others: "Observing Systems", 1982; "Sicht und Einsicht. Versuch einer operativen Erkenntnistheorie", 1985; "KybernEthik", 1993; "Wissen und Gewissen. Versuch einer Brücke", 1993.
On September 21, 2001 the City Council of Vienna has decided that Heinz von Foerster shall be awarded the Honorary Ring of the City of Vienna.
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