Dr.-Ing. Andreas Schmidt

I am a computer scientist by training and doing research & development in the area of embedded & cyber-physical systems. I have a particular interest in software engineering, computer networking, and safety engineering.

Research Projects

• 10/2016 - 05/2020: e.LARN
• 03/2013 - 05/2020: Open Networking
• 10/2013 - 11/2015: SINNODIUM

Professional Activities

• IEEE CPN Workshop - Web Chair: 2020, 2019
• SKILL "Studierendenkonferenz Informatik" - Reviewer: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
• Journal of Network and Computer Applications (JNCA) - Secondary reviewer: 2017, 2016

Personal Projects

Current

• 2020 - now: Rust-Saar (Meetup organizer)
• 2013 - now: DLRG OG Kirkel (web administration, editorial)
• 2013 - now: DLRG Bezirk Homburg (web administration, editorial)

Archive

• Winter 2015: CloudCanvas (a Startup weekend project - 1st place)
• 2014 - 2015: Wäller vom Wibbelstätzje (consulting, support)
• 2012 - 2014: MenSaar (Saarland University Mensa App for WP7)
• 2010 - 2014: Position-Portal (customer portal for monitoring and measurement visualization)
• 2008 - 2014: Plan Aktionsgruppe Saarbrücken (website for a NPO, that raises money for charity projects)
• Winter 2013: MathOverflow (curve plotting tool)
• 2010 - 2013: DLRG OG Homburg (web administration, editorial)
• 2008 - 2010: Saarpfalz-Gymnasium (website my former secondary school)
• 2007 - 2010: SPG Informatik (website of the faculty of computer science at my secondary school)
• 2006 - 2008: Wäller vom Bärenbrunnerhof (website for a dog breeder)

Teaching

Telecommunications Lab

• Hands-On Networking: SS20, SS19, SS18, SS17, SS16
• Digital Transmission and Signal Processing (previously Telecommunications I): WS19/20, WS15/16, WS13/14
• Forschungstage Informatik: SS19, SS18
• Several guest lectures in other courses at Saarland University

Advisory

Telecommunications Lab

• MSc.: Lukas Bard, Daniel Birtel, Marlene Böhmer, Pablo Gil Pereira, Ashkan Taslimi
• BSc.: Sebastian Morgenstern, Kai Vogelgesang, Philipp Tennigkeit

Publications

• Latency-aware Network Transport: [IFAC20], [InfoCom-ULLWN19], [EdgeSys19], [ECRTS-RTN18], [ECRTS-RTN17], [NetCPS16]
• Energy-Awareness: [WEEE20]
• Transmission Segmentation: [NetSoft17], [ICCE-Berlin16]
• Open Networking: [KuVS-FG-NetSoft17], [ICCC-Chengdu16]
• Applied Machine Learning: [NOSSDAV18]
• Industrial Applications: [ERP-Future15]

See also Google Scholar and arXiv.

Here is an abridged list of the textbooks I read over the last years. I enjoyed reading them very much, so I recommend them wholeheartedly. The list is ever growing and updated from time to time. (alphabetical order)

In the summer of 2018, I got into sustainability because I experienced the hottest summer ever in my home state (a record that was topped again in 2019). At that time, I got my first pedelec and started cycling again after years of abstinence, I (consciously) ate vegan food for the first time at World Food Trip, where I also got inspired to work towards zero-waste. These experiences inspired me to reflect on and research about my personal footprint and to look for ways to reduce it.

Here is a collection of things I have read/bought/done/created/changed so far in order to make my life more sustainable. I do not want to convert anyone, but hope that this serves as an inspiration to change your life in certain details and achieving sustainability (see the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for a high-level inspiration). The following will name a few brands, so here is a disclaimer: I am not getting any provision and I am not making advertisements. I just want to point you to companies/brands that (IMHO) act sustainably or produce sustainable goods.

Mobility

• I got a pedelec in April 2018 and in the first 12 months drove 2000km (using the support modes sensibly). Thereby, I replaced various paths I would usually travel by car.
• I can recommend the Radfunk podcast for German-speaking people that want to learn more about everyday cycling in Germany.
• Finally, I also made sure that (apart from a handful of exceptions) every commute to work in 2018/19 was by train or cycle.
• I signed the #unter1000 voluntary commitment by Scientists for Future.

Food

• I have a harvest share at the community-supported agriculture (SoLaWi) in Limbach.
• I have never been a big consumer of meat, especially because I don't like any food that looks like an animal or has hardly eadible parts. I experiment with vegan food, but do not consider myself as a pure vegetarian or vegan. Instead, I changed my default to eat vegetarian food, i.e. I also opt in for vegetarian food on seminars and any other occasions. In consequence, I am typically eating about 300g of meat every week, which is also what many sources recommend (e.g. WCRF).

Home

• I revisited my heating system and made sure it's not too warm.
• I checked with my local energy supplier and changed into a tariff that incorporates only renewables.
• I reduced plastic waste so that I now fill one bag every 6 weeks (before it were 4), without reducing how often I cook or do other things. I can recommend the following (German) resources: Better Life Without Plastic, Don't Waste Be Happy.
• I use solid, package-free soaps and wooden toothbrushes.

Cloth

• I buy from sustainable bands, such as Wijld or Vaude.
• I donate old clothes (I wear everything really long) to a local social shop.

Tech

• Checking and optimizing the carbon footprint of this website:
• I use the Ecosia search engine on all my devices.
• I use the Firefox browser on all my devices.

Nature

• I am a proud proprietor of an insect hotel.
• Our balcony hosts a) a watering place for birds and bees, b) various herbs and wild weeds that are attractive for insects.
• I gifted a Bienenretter godparenthood.

Other Bits

• I regularly check Utopia.de for information on sustainability (in German).
• I regularly sign petitions at Campact and Change.org to support good causes.
• I became a customer of the Umweltbank, which invests its money only into ethical and ecological endeavours.
• I use the Random Acts of Kindness Workspace Calendar to do something good on most days.
• I use Headspace and practice yoga to take care of my mental health.
• I use the Pomodoro technique to get things done by staying focussed and taking regular breaks.

Since December 2004 I am a member of DLRG and since January 2010 I am part of the Malteser Hilfsdienst. From 2004 to 2009 I did all lifesaving badges and the snorkel diving badge. In 2007 I took part in a paramedic training. Now I am giving courses in swimming and lifeguarding, and I am regularly attending advanced courses and seminars. For DLRG OG Kirkel e.V. I am serving as an assesor since 2015. For DLRG Bezirk Homburg, I hold the same role since 2012, and I also took over the role of deputy treasurer in 2018.

I donate blood at Blutspendezentrum Homburg on a regular basis (couting 25 donations since my first in 2011). I am a registered member of DKMS trying to fight blood cancer. I have also made my choice in a organ donation identity card.

Lifeguarding

From 2010 on, I have spent about five weekends a year at local lakes and water-related events. I took part in ZWRD-K at Borkum in 2011, 2016 (2x) and 2017. I completed my Fachausbildung Wasserrettungsdienst in mid 2012 and in September 2012 I passed the coxswain examination.

Teaching

Back in 2010 I started to teach lifeguarding and swimming to youths, so I am used to organise and conduct one course per season. Since January 2015, I hold the Lehrschein. In addition to that I give occasional first-aid courses that are associated with the examinations for lifesaving badges and mandatory for our active lifeguards. This is the complete (and growing) list: