Gerard Alberts

Gerard Alberts, University of Amsterdam,Pierre-E.

Gerard Alberts, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

William Aspray | Thomas Haigh | J.A.N. Lee | Michael Mahoney | Nathan Ensmenger | Janet Abbate | Chuck Huff | James Tomayko | Gerard Alberts | Jennifer Light
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Gerard Alberts is director of the Science & Society Programme at Nijmegen University and senior researcher for history at the Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science in Amsterdam (CWI).He graduated in mathematics at the University of Amsterdam and took his Ph.D. in history cum laude at the same university.He has taught courses in history of mathematics at Twente University and Nijmegen University and is teaching history of computing at the University of Amsterdam.His contributions to the history of mathematics concetrate on the history of mathematical modelling, e.g. Jaren van Berekening (Calculative Years; Application-Oriented Initiatives in Dutch Mathematics 1945-1960) (Amsterdam University Press, 1998) and Twee Geesten van de Wiskunde (The Dual Spirit of Mathematics; A Biography of David van Dantzig 1900-1959) (Amsterdam: CWI, 2000) and `On connecting Socialism and Mathematics: Dirk Struik, Jan Burgers and Jan Tinbergen' Historia Mathematica 21 (1994), 280-305.He has written on the history of computing (on the rise of IT in the Netherlands, with Ellen van Oost and Jan van den Ende), advised on museum exhibitions on early computers, and is currently preparing a biography of the founding father of computer science in The Netherlands, Aad van Wijngaarden.

When Gerard Alberts speaks of addiction, he speaks from experience.

Alberts is director of the newly created Reformers Unanimous Addictions Program in Green Bay.It is a Christ-centered program that treats addiction as sin that can be overcome.

Alberts said he spent 20 years in addiction before finding this program that worked for him.

"I was into every kind out there.I used and abused everything," he said.

Growing up on the streets of New York City, Alberts made a living peddling drugs, pornography "and you name it.I was into everything."

"Where I grew up, we were hoodlums.In high school I was one of three white kids.I even lived at the school for a while," he said.Alberts lost his first wife in a house fire and he became a single parent to his son, who is now 22.

"When I was 5," Alberts said, "my mother brought this man into our home."He described his stepfather as abusive in every way - physically, verbally and emotionally."When I do counseling, I tell people we become what we hate most.So often I hear someone say, ‘I'm turning into one of my parents.' Well, that's what we do.It's how we grew up - the models we had."

Alberts tried every program dealing with addiction he could find, but it wasn't until he discovered this Christ-centered program that offers hope that he found a way to turn his life around.

"When my stepdad was dying of cancer, I was finally able to write him a letter saying I forgave him.It was then that I started seeing him in a different way.Maybe his dad did that to him and his granddad did it to his dad.Someone had to break the cycle.Right before he died, I was able to take his hand and get on my knees and pray with him.It was the first time he touched me in a nonhurtful way.
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He accepted Christ into his life and admitted what he did to me was wrong," Alberts said.

"My conclusion was if God could use me to save the person I hated most, he could surely use me as a vessel to help others.When I came across RU, I was struggling with all sorts of addictions.I want to reach others and tell them they can live life without addictions.

"It's a sobering thought to realize I was put here to serve God and that's what my life is all about now."

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Alberts, 45, moved to the Midwest and has run his own travel business for nearly 10 years.He has remarried and he and his wife, Mary, have three daughters, ages 11, 5 and 3. He is also a grandfather now.

He runs Reformers Unanimous with the help of "eight to 10 people who are loving, caring individuals who have overcome some addiction through Christ and this program."

RU is open to anyone who wants help with addiction, which is defined as "anything that keeps us from doing what is not good for us," Alberts said.

Participants are encouraged to go to their local church for services as well as attend the RU meetings and counseling, which is designed for the whole family.

"We basically believe God designed the local church to be a support group for those who are hurting, whether it be his children in need of restoration or an addict who is hopelessly lost and without Christ.… It's the opportunity of worship and service at the local church that will help replace large amounts of time that were once given over to Satan or sin," he said.

"We treat addiction as sin - a choice people make.

Gerard Alberts
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Gerard Alberts is the head of the Science and Society Program at Radboud University , Nijmegen , and teaches the History of Computing and the History of Mathematics at the University of Amsterdam . His key research interests are the history of software and the history of computing in The Netherlands.His expertise in history of software ranges from the prehistory in numerical analysis to software engineering.He maintains a keen interest in history of professionalization and in the meta-historical question of software as archival and museum object.His current projects include the preparation of a biography of Aad van Wijngaarden, founding father of Computer Science in The Netherlands, best known for his authorship of ALGOL 68.Further work is on the sounds of computers in the 1950's.Early computers were equipped with contraptions which might be called "auditory monitors".Studying these provides insight in the practice of automated computing.These sounds have been the theme of a scholarship at the Deutsches Museum , Munich , winter semester 2004.Gerard Alberts is also working on a textbook on Dutch computer pioneers in the 1950s.
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Together with Gerard Alberts, she runs the Dutch Colloquium for the History of Computing, and like Aristotle Tympas, she is involved in the transition committee of the European project Tensions of Europe.Publications in English: A. van den Bogaard (1999) "Past Measurement and Future Prediction" in: M.S.Morgan & M. Morrison (eds), Models as Mediators pp.282-325 Cambridge University Press A. van den Bogaard (1999) "The Cultural Origins of the Dutch Economic Modelling Practice" in: Science in Context pp.333-350 vol.12 nr. 2