History

From the establishment of statistics as an academic discipline under Empress Maria Theresa in 1774 to today’s Department of Statistics and Operations Research, the history of the department spans two and a half centuries of teaching and research in Vienna.

1774: Statistics Becomes an Independent Academic Discipline

By a decree dated 12 November 1774, Empress Maria Theresa established statistics as an independent academic discipline, initially without a dedicated professorship. Professor Christoph Schmid taught statistics until 1790.
 

1790: Heinrich Josef Watteroth

Heinrich Josef Watteroth taught European and general statistics until 1793. He was a fellow member of a Masonic lodge with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and helped Franz Schubert secure his first paid commission as a composer: the Prometheus Cantata.
 

1793: Ignaz de Luca Takes Over Teaching

Ignaz de Luca taught European and general statistics until 1810.
 

1810: Johannes Zizius Becomes the First Professor Dedicated Exclusively to Statistics

Johannes Zizius was appointed full professor and became the first professor at the University of Vienna to teach statistics exclusively. He remained in office until 1824. Among his principal works was Theoretische Vorbereitung und Einleitung zur Statistik, published in 1810.
 

1825: Franz Kerschbaumer Serves as Interim Professor

Dr Franz Kerschbaumer served as interim head of the chair until 1828.
 

1828: Johann Springer Is Appointed Full Professor

Johann Springer held the position until 1864. His principal works included Statistik des österreichischen Kaiserstaates, published in 1840.
 

1864: Leopold Freiherr von Neumann

Leopold Freiherr von Neumann succeeded Johann Springer and remained in office until his resignation in 1881. Among his principal works was Grundriss des heutigen europäischen Völkerrechts, published in 1855.
 

1881: Karl Theodor von Inama-Sternegg

Karl Theodor von Inama-Sternegg was a prominent statistician. His principal works included Österreichische Statistik and the Statistisches Handbuch. In 1890, he conducted the first population census using counting machines. A bust in the arcaded courtyard of the University of Vienna’s Main Building commemorates him to this day.
 

1908: Statistics Is Taught by Private Lecturers

Following Inama-Sternegg’s death, statistics was taught by several private lecturers, including Ignaz Singer, Franz Ritter von Juraschek, Ferdinand Schmid, Ignaz Ritter von Gruber, Walter Schiff, Karl Pribram, and Franz Zizek.


 

1922: Foundation of the Department

The Department for the Statistics of Minority Peoples (Department für Statistik der Minderheitsvölker) was established, with Professor Wilhelm Winkler appointed as its director.
 

1938: Wilhelm Winkler Is Forced into Retirement

Because Wilhelm Winkler refused to divorce his Jewish wife, Klara, he was forced into retirement and subjected to personal discrimination under the Nazi regime.
 

1945: Rehabilitation of Wilhelm Winkler

Following the end of the Nazi regime, Wilhelm Winkler was rehabilitated and reinstated in his former professorship.

 

1955: Slawtscho Sagoroff Succeeds Wilhelm Winkler

Slawtscho Sagoroff succeeded Wilhelm Winkler. One of his principal works was Theorie der volkswirtschaftlichen Energiebilanzen, published in 1961.

1968: Gerhart Bruckmann Becomes the Second Full Professor

Gerhart Bruckmann was appointed the Department’s second full professor.

1971: Leopold Schmetterer Joins the Department

Following Sagoroff’s death, Professor Leopold Schmetterer moved from the Department of Mathematics to the Department of Statistics, succeeding Sagoroff.

1974: Franz Ferschl Becomes the Third Full Professor

Franz Ferschl was appointed the third full professor but moved to Munich in 1976. His chair was subsequently filled by Günther Vinek, who began teaching at the newly established Department of Computer Science in 1995.

1988: Georg Pflug Is Appointed Professor

Georg Pflug was appointed full professor.

1990: Leopold Schmetterer Retires

Leopold Schmetterer retired from his professorship.

1991: Benedikt Pötscher Is Appointed Professor

Benedikt Pötscher was appointed full professor.

1992: Gerhart Bruckmann Retires

Gerhart Bruckmann retired from his professorship.

 

During this period, the Statistics Division formed part of the Department of Statistics and Computer Science within the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Following the implementation of the University Organisation Act (Universitätsorganisationsgesetz, UOG) in 1993, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Computer Science was established. The iDepartment was assigned to this faculty under the name Department of Statistics, Operations Research and Computer Methods (Department für Statistik, Operations Research und Computerverfahren, ISOC).

In 1998, the iDepartment was renamed the Department of Statistics and Decision Support Systems (ISDS).

In 2004, the faculty was divided into the Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics and the Faculty of Computer Science. This restructuring also led to the division of the Department. One part remained as the Department of Statistics within the Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics, while the other became part of the Faculty of Computer Science.
 

1993: Walter Schachermayer Is Appointed Professor

Walter Schachermayer was appointed full professor.
 

1998: Walter Schachermayer Moves to TU Wien

Walter Schachermayer moved to TU Wien, the Vienna University of Technology.
 

2004: Immanuel Bomze Is Appointed Professor

Immanuel Bomze was appointed full professor.
 

2009: Hannes Leeb Is Appointed Professor

Hannes Leeb was appointed full professor.

 

2011: The Department Has Been Renamed

In 2011, the Department was renamed the Department of Statistics and Operations Research (ISOR) and remained part of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics.
 

2013: Nikolaus Hautsch Is Appointed Professor

Nikolaus Hautsch was appointed full professor.
 

2019: Georg Pflug Becomes Professor Emeritus

Georg Pflug retired and was granted emeritus status.
 

2020: Three New Professorial Appointments

Christa Cuchiero, Moritz Jirak, and Tatyana Krivobokova were appointed professors.
 

2023: Immanuel Bomze Retires

Immanuel Bomze retired.
 

2024: Benedikt Pötscher Becomes Professor Emeritus

Benedikt Pötscher was granted emeritus status.
 

2024: Tenure-Track Professorship

Lukas Steinberger was recognised as an associate professor.