Roger Wattenhofer: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2022

Name Prof. Dr. Roger Wattenhofer
FieldDistributed Computing
Address
Inst. f. Techn. Informatik u. K.
ETH Zürich, ETZ G 96
Gloriastrasse 35
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 63 12
E-mailwattenhofer@ethz.ch
URLhttp://www.disco.ethz.ch
DepartmentInformation Technology and Electrical Engineering
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
227-0558-00LPrinciples of Distributed Computing Information 7 credits2V + 2U + 2AR. Wattenhofer, M. Dory, G. Zuzic
AbstractWe study the fundamental issues underlying the design of distributed systems: communication, coordination, fault-tolerance, locality, parallelism, self-organization, symmetry breaking, synchronization, uncertainty. We explore essential algorithmic ideas and lower bound techniques.
ObjectiveDistributed computing is essential in modern computing and communications systems. Examples are on the one hand large-scale networks such as the Internet, and on the other hand multiprocessors such as your new multi-core laptop. This course introduces the principles of distributed computing, emphasizing the fundamental issues underlying the design of distributed systems and networks: communication, coordination, fault-tolerance, locality, parallelism, self-organization, symmetry breaking, synchronization, uncertainty. We explore essential algorithmic ideas and lower bound techniques, basically the "pearls" of distributed computing. We will cover a fresh topic every week.
ContentDistributed computing models and paradigms, e.g. message passing, shared memory, synchronous vs. asynchronous systems, time and message complexity, peer-to-peer systems, small-world networks, social networks, sorting networks, wireless communication, and self-organizing systems.

Distributed algorithms, e.g. leader election, coloring, covering, packing, decomposition, spanning trees, mutual exclusion, store and collect, arrow, ivy, synchronizers, diameter, all-pairs-shortest-path, wake-up, and lower bounds
Lecture notesAvailable. Our course script is used at dozens of other universities around the world.
LiteratureLecture Notes By Roger Wattenhofer. These lecture notes are taught at about a dozen different universities through the world.

Distributed Computing: Fundamentals, Simulations and Advanced Topics
Hagit Attiya, Jennifer Welch.
McGraw-Hill Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-07-709352 6

Introduction to Algorithms
Thomas Cormen, Charles Leiserson, Ronald Rivest.
The MIT Press, 1998, ISBN 0-262-53091-0 oder 0-262-03141-8

Disseminatin of Information in Communication Networks
Juraj Hromkovic, Ralf Klasing, Andrzej Pelc, Peter Ruzicka, Walter Unger.
Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2005, ISBN 3-540-00846-2

Introduction to Parallel Algorithms and Architectures: Arrays, Trees, Hypercubes
Frank Thomson Leighton.
Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1991, ISBN 1-55860-117-1

Distributed Computing: A Locality-Sensitive Approach
David Peleg.
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), 2000, ISBN 0-89871-464-8
Prerequisites / NoticeCourse pre-requisites: Interest in algorithmic problems. (No particular course needed.)
227-0559-00LSeminar in Deep Neural Networks Information Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 25.
2 credits2SR. Wattenhofer, P. Belcák, B. Egressy
AbstractIn this seminar participating students present and discuss recent research papers in the area of deep neural networks.
ObjectiveWe aim at giving the students an in depth view on the current advances in the area by discussing recent papers as well as discussing current issues and difficulties surrounding deep neural networks. The students will learn to read, evaluate and challenge research papers, prepare coherent scientific presentations and lead a discussion on their topic.
ContentThe seminar will cover a range of research directions, with a focus on Graph Neural Networks, Algorithmic Learning, Reinforcement Learning and Natural Language Processing. It will be structured in blocks with each focus area being briefly introduced before presenting and discussing recent research papers. Papers will be allocated to the students based on their preferences.

For more information see www.disco.ethz.ch/courses.html.
Lecture notesSlides of presentations will be made available.
LiteratureThe paper selection can be found on www.disco.ethz.ch/courses.html.
Prerequisites / NoticeIt is expected that students have prior knowledge and interest in machine and deep learning, for instance by having attended appropriate courses.
252-0817-00LDistributed Systems Laboratory Information 10 credits9PG. Alonso, T. Hoefler, A. Klimovic, R. Wattenhofer, C. Zhang
AbstractThis course involves the participation in a substantial development and/or evaluation project involving distributed systems technology. There are projects available in a wide range of areas: from web services to ubiquitous computing including as well wireless networks, ad-hoc networks, and distributed application on mobile phones.
ObjectiveStudents acquire practical knowledge about technologies from the area of distributed systems.
ContentThis course involves the participation in a substantial development and/or evaluation project involving distributed systems technology. There are projects available in a wide range of areas: from web services to ubiquitous computing including as well wireless networks, ad-hoc networks, and distributed application on mobile phones. The objecte of the project is for the students to gain hands-on-experience with real products and the latest technology in distributed systems. There is no lecture associated to the course.
363-1153-00LNew Technologies in Banking and Finance3 credits2VB. J. Bergmann, P. Cheridito, H. Gersbach, P. Kammerlander, P. Mangold, K. Paterson, J. Teichmann, R. Wattenhofer
AbstractTechnological advances, digitization and the ability to store and process vast amounts of data has changed the landscape of financial services in recent years. This course will unpack these innovations and technologies underlying these transformations and will reflect on the impacts on the financial markets.
ObjectiveAfter taking this course, students will be able to
- Understand recent technological developments in financial services and how they drive transformation
- Understand the challenges of this digital transformation when managing financial and non-financial risks
- Reflect on the impacts this transformation has on workflows, agile working, project and change management
ContentThe financial manager of the future is commanding a wide set of skills ranging from a profound understanding of technological advances and a sensible understanding of the impact on workflows and business models. Students with an interest in finance and banking are invited to take the course without explicit theoretical knowledge in financial economics. As the course will cover topics like machine learning, cyber security, distributed computing, and more, an understanding of these technologies is welcomed, however not mandatory. The course will also go beyond technological advances and will also cover management-related contents. The course is divided in sections, each covering different areas and technologies. Students are asked to solve online quizzes and small cases for each section. Invited guest speakers will contribute to the sessions. In addition, separate networking sessions will provide entry opportunities into finance and banking.

More information on the speakers and specific session can be found here: https://riskcenter.ethz.ch/education/lectures.html and on the moodle page.
Lecture notesThere will lecture slides to each section shared in advanced to each session.
LiteratureSelected readings and books are presented in each session.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course is opened to students from all backgrounds. Some experience with quantitative disciplines such as probability and statistics, however, is useful but not mandatory.
364-1058-00LRisk Center Seminar Series0 credits2SH. Schernberg, D. Basin, A. Bommier, D. N. Bresch, S. Brusoni, L.‑E. Cederman, P. Cheridito, F. Corman, H. Gersbach, C. Hölscher, K. Paterson, G. Sansavini, D. Sornette, B. Stojadinovic, B. Sudret, J. Teichmann, R. Wattenhofer, U. A. Weidmann, S. Wiemer, M. Zeilinger, R. Zenklusen
AbstractIn this series of seminars, invited speakers discuss various topics in the area of risk modelling, governance of complex socio-economic systems, managing risks and crises, and building resilience. Students, PhD students, post-docs, faculty and individuals outside ETH are welcome.
ObjectiveParticipants gain insights in a broad range of risk- and resilience-related topics. They expand their knowledge of the field and deepen their understanding of the complexity of our social, economic and engineered systems. For young researchers in particular, the seminars offer an opportunity to learn academic presentation skills and to network with an interdisciplinary scientific audience.
ContentAcademic presentations from ETH faculty as well as external researchers.
Each seminar is followed by a Q&A session and (when permitted) a networking Apéro.
Lecture notesThe sessions are recorded whenever possible and posted on the ETH Risk Center webpage. If available, presentation slides are shared as well.
LiteratureEach speaker will provide a literature review.
Prerequisites / NoticeIn most cases, a quantitative background is required. Depending on the topic, field-specific knowledge may be required.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
Techniques and Technologiesfostered
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesfostered
Decision-makingfostered
Media and Digital Technologiesfostered
Problem-solvingfostered
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Customer Orientationfostered
Leadership and Responsibilityfostered
Self-presentation and Social Influence fostered
Sensitivity to Diversityfostered
Negotiationfostered
Personal CompetenciesAdaptability and Flexibilityfostered
Creative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Integrity and Work Ethicsfostered
Self-awareness and Self-reflection fostered
Self-direction and Self-management fostered