Erwin Stein was an internationally renowned expert in the field of computational mechanics and has received multiple distinctions, including the Cross of Merit first Class of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit awarded in 2011. He received a professorship at the former “Universität Hannover” in 1971. Later, he acted as head of the Institute of Mechanics and Computational Mechanics, as well as dean of the Civil Engineering and Surveying department. His scientific work generated a great deal of interest among leading experts, both in Germany and abroad. Numerous often-quoted publications, many scientific prizes, multiple honorary doctorates as well as memberships in editorial boards of renowned scientific journals emphasise his extraordinary personality and his contributions to science.
Even after his retirement, Erwin Stein continued to play an active role in research. In particular, he was passionate about research in the field of technical inventions devised by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. He was significantly involved in the renaming of “Universität Hannover” – in 2006, the university adopted the name Leibniz University Hannover. Moreover, he initiated the permanent exhibition dedicated to Leibniz located in the lower ground floor of the main university building. He curated key exhibits of the current university collection of functional models depicting mathematical and technical inventions of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Many of the exhibited functional replicas are based on his research in constructive mathematics.
In 2013, a team of four authors embarked on extensive historical, mathematical and constructive research focusing on the only preserved four-function calculating machine designed by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
The fruitful work of researchers from different disciplines resulted in many new findings regarding the history and functionality of Leibniz’s calculating machines and made a significant contribution towards correcting a misconception asserted in papers published in the 18th and 19th century, which claimed that Leibniz’s calculating machine did not work. 1
Well into old age, Erwin Stein actively engaged in regular scientific exchange on the technical inventions of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and beyond, passionately contributing his extensive knowledge and true to his favourite Leibniz aphorism:
"Pars vitae quoties perditur hora perit"
“A piece of life is lost, as soon as one hour is squandered.”
With Erwin Stein, the scientific community has lost an exceptional person and a great Leibniz researcher.
1 Ariane Walsdorf, Klaus Badur, Erwin Stein, Franz Otto Kopp: Das letzte Original. Die Leibniz-Rechenmaschine der Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Bibliothek, Hannover 2013.
Based on test calculations performed via replicas true to the original machine, Klaus Badur and Wolfgang Rottstedt were the first to prove that Leibniz’s calculating machine worked. See: Badur, K./Rottstedt, W.: Und sie rechnet doch richtig! Erfahrungen beim Nachbau einer Leibniz-Rechenmaschine, in: studia leibnitiana 2/2004 (2005), Franz Steiner, Wiesbaden.
