Books

Algorithmic Composition

I am currently writing an online book about Algorithmic Compositions.

Comutational Thinking

I wrote an interactive introductory book for the course Computational Thinking which I use for my teaching at the Munich University of Applied Sciences.

Publications

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Dzhimova, Mariya and Socher, Gudrun (2025).
From intelligence to autopoiesis: rethinking artificial intelligence through systems theory.
Frontiers in Communication, Volume 10 - 2025.
DOI: 10.3389/fcomm.2025.1585321

@article{zoennchen:2025,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Dzhimova, Mariya and Socher, Gudrun},
  title = {From intelligence to autopoiesis: rethinking artificial intelligence through systems theory},
  journal = {Frontiers in Communication},
  volume = {Volume 10 - 2025},
  year = {2025},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1585321},
  doi = {10.3389/fcomm.2025.1585321},
  issn = {2297-900X},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Hammer, Sabine and Ottinger, Sarah and Zönnchen, Benedikt and Hohendanner, Michel and Hobelsberger, Martin and Thurner, Veronika (2024).
ChatGPT in higher education: Perceptions of computer science-related students.
2024 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 01–08.
DOI: 10.1109/EDUCON60312.2024.10578742

@inproceedings{hammer:2024,
  author = {Hammer, Sabine and Ottinger, Sarah and Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Hohendanner, Michel and Hobelsberger, Martin and Thurner, Veronika},
  booktitle = {2024 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON)},
  title = {{ChatGPT} in higher education: Perceptions of computer science-related students},
  year = {2024},
  pages = {01--08},
  doi = {10.1109/EDUCON60312.2024.10578742},
  file = {:files/Hammer2024.pdf:PDF},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Sanchez, Téo and Zönnchen, Benedikt and Held, Helena and Dzhimova, Mariya and Socher, Gudrun (2024).
Evaluating interdisciplinary and project-based learning on AI in culture and arts.
EDULEARN24 Proceedings, 2801-2808. IATED.
DOI: 10.21125/edulearn.2024.0757

@inproceedings{sanchez:2024,
  author = {Sanchez, Téo and Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Held, Helena and Dzhimova, Mariya and Socher, Gudrun},
  booktitle = {EDULEARN24 Proceedings},
  title = {Evaluating interdisciplinary and project-based learning on {AI} in culture and arts},
  year = {2024},
  month = {1-3 July, 2024},
  pages = {2801-2808},
  publisher = {IATED},
  series = {16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies},
  doi = {10.21125/edulearn.2024.0757},
  file = {:files/Sanchez2024.pdf:PDF},
  isbn = {978-84-09-62938-1},
  issn = {2340-1117},
  location = {Palma, Spain},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt (2024).
Generative AI: Between tool and communication partner. Hochschule München (internal paper).
URL: link

@misc{zoennchen:2024,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt},
  note = {Retrieved from https://mucdai.hm.edu/aktuelles/newsdetail/news_detailseite_353344.de.html},
  title = {Generative {AI}: Between tool and communication partner},
  year = {2024},
  file = {:files/Zoennchen2024.pdf:PDF},
  url = {https://mediapool.hm.edu/media/mucdai/mucdai_research/Beitrag_Artifical_Communication_Benedikt_Zoennchen_en.pdf},
  publisher = {Hochschule München (internal paper)},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Thurner, Veronika and Böttcher, Axel (2024).
On the impact of ChatGPT on teaching and studying software engineering.
2024 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 01–10.
DOI: 10.1109/EDUCON60312.2024.10578680

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2024b,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Thurner, Veronika and B{\"o}ttcher, Axel},
  booktitle = {2024 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON)},
  title = {On the impact of {ChatGPT} on teaching and studying software engineering},
  year = {2024},
  pages = {01--10},
  doi = {10.1109/EDUCON60312.2024.10578680},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Böhm, Charlotte and Socher, Gudrun (2024).
Bridging disciplines in higher education: The convergence of AI and sustainability.
10th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd’24).
DOI: 10.4995/HEAd24.2024.17278

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2024c,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and B{\"o}hm, Charlotte and Socher, Gudrun},
  booktitle = {10th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'24)},
  title = {Bridging disciplines in higher education: The convergence of {AI} and sustainability},
  year = {2024},
  doi = {10.4995/HEAd24.2024.17278},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Böhm, Charlotte and von Schwichow, Helene and Socher, Gudrun and Wurster, Stefan (2024).
Empowering interdisciplinary expertise: Evaluating the impact of challenge-based learning on AI and sustainability literacy in higher education.
EDULEARN24 Proceedings, 5998-6007. IATED.
DOI: 10.21125/edulearn.2024.1433

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2024d,
  author = {Z\"{o}nnchen, Benedikt and B\"{o}hm, Charlotte and von Schwichow, Helene and Socher, Gudrun and Wurster, Stefan},
  booktitle = {EDULEARN24 Proceedings},
  title = {Empowering interdisciplinary expertise: Evaluating the impact of challenge-based learning on {AI} and sustainability literacy in higher education},
  year = {2024},
  month = {1-3 July, 2024},
  pages = {5998-6007},
  publisher = {IATED},
  series = {16th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies},
  doi = {10.21125/edulearn.2024.1433},
  file = {:files/Zoennchen2024d.pdf:PDF},
  isbn = {978-84-09-62938-1},
  issn = {2340-1117},
  location = {Palma, Spain},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Friedrich, Markus and Thurner, Veronika (2023).
Nachhaltigkeit in der informatischen Lehre am Beispiel KI.
In Dölling, Hanna and Schäfle, Claudia and Kürsten, Susanne and Hunger, Marianne and Hirtt, Jim and Riegler, Peter, Tagungsband zum 5. Symposium zur Hochschullehre in den MINT-Fächern, 289–307.
Tagungsband zum 5. Symposium zur Hochschullehre in den MINT-Fächern, 289–307. BayZiel.
DOI: 10.57825/repo_in-4411

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2023,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Friedrich, Markus and Thurner, Veronika},
  booktitle = {Tagungsband zum 5. Symposium zur Hochschullehre in den MINT-F{\"a}chern},
  title = {{N}achhaltigkeit in der informatischen {L}ehre am {B}eispiel {KI}},
  year = {2023},
  address = {M{\"u}nchen},
  editor = {D{\"o}lling, Hanna and Sch{\"a}fle, Claudia and K{\"u}rsten, Susanne and Hunger, Marianne and Hirtt, Jim and Riegler, Peter},
  pages = {289--307},
  publisher = {BayZiel},
  doi = {10.57825/repo_in-4411},
  issn = {1612-4537},
  language = {de},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt (2021). PhD thesis.
Efficient parallel algorithms for large-scale pedestrian simulation.
Technical University of Munich.
URL: link

@phdthesis{zoennchen:2021,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt},
  title = {Efficient parallel algorithms for large-scale pedestrian simulation},
  school = {Technical University of Munich},
  year = {2021},
  address = {Munich, Germany},
  type = {PhD thesis},
  url = {https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/node?id=1593965},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Köster, Gerta (2020).
GPGPU computing for microscopic pedestrian simulation.
Parallel Computing: Technology Trends, 93–104. IOS Press.
DOI: 10.3233/APC200029

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2020,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and K{\"o}ster, Gerta},
  title = {{GPGPU} computing for microscopic pedestrian simulation},
  booktitle = {Parallel Computing: Technology Trends},
  series = {Advances in Parallel Computing},
  volume = {36},
  pages = {93--104},
  year = {2020},
  publisher = {IOS Press},
  doi = {10.3233/APC200029},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Kleinmeier, Benedikt and Köster, Gerta (2020).
Vadere—a simulation framework to compare locomotion models.
In Zuriguel, Iker and Garcimartin, Angel and Cruz, Raul, Traffic and Granular Flow 2019, 331–337.
Traffic and Granular Flow 2019, 331–337. Springer International Publishing.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-55973-1_41

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2022,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Kleinmeier, Benedikt and K{\"o}ster, Gerta},
  editor = {Zuriguel, Iker and Garcimartin, Angel and Cruz, Raul},
  title = {Vadere---a simulation framework to compare locomotion models},
  booktitle = {Traffic and Granular Flow 2019},
  year = {2020},
  publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
  address = {Cham},
  pages = {331--337},
  isbn = {978-3-030-55973-1},
  doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-55973-1_41},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Kleinmeier, Benedikt and Zönnchen, Benedikt and Gödel, Marion and Köster, Gerta (2019).
Vadere: An open-source simulation framework to promote interdisciplinary understanding.
Collective Dynamics, 4, 1–34.
DOI: 10.17815/CD.2019.21

@article{kleinmaier:2019,
  place = {Jülich, Germany},
  title = {Vadere: An open-source simulation framework to promote interdisciplinary understanding},
  volume = {4},
  doi = {10.17815/CD.2019.21},
  journal = {Collective Dynamics},
  author = {Kleinmeier, Benedikt and Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and G{\"o}del, Marion and K{\"o}ster, Gerta},
  year = {2019},
  month = sep,
  pages = {1–34},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Laubinger, Matthias and Köster, Gerta (2019).
Towards faster navigation algorithms on floor fields.
In Hamdar, Samer H., Traffic and Granular Flow ’17, 307–315.
Traffic and Granular Flow ’17, 307–315. Springer International Publishing.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-11440-4_34

@inproceedings{zoennchen:2019,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and Laubinger, Matthias and K{\"o}ster, Gerta},
  editor = {Hamdar, Samer H.},
  title = {Towards faster navigation algorithms on floor fields},
  booktitle = {Traffic and Granular Flow '17},
  year = {2019},
  publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
  address = {Cham},
  pages = {307--315},
  isbn = {978-3-030-11440-4},
  doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-11440-4_34},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Köster, Gerta (2019).
A parallel generator for sparse unstructured meshes to solve the eikonal equation.
Journal of Computational Science, 32, 141-147.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocs.2018.09.009

@article{zoennchen:2019b,
  title = {A parallel generator for sparse unstructured meshes to solve the eikonal equation},
  journal = {Journal of Computational Science},
  volume = {32},
  pages = {141-147},
  year = {2019},
  issn = {1877-7503},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jocs.2018.09.009},
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and K{\"o}ster, Gerta},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Zönnchen, Benedikt and Köster, Gerta (2016).
Detecting arbitrarily shaped queues using the fast marching method.
Collective Dynamics, 556–561.
Proceedings of Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2016, 556–561.

@inproceedings{zoennchen2016queues,
  author = {Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt and K{\"o}ster, Gerta},
  title = {Detecting arbitrarily shaped queues using the fast marching method},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2016},
  journal = {Collective Dynamics},
  pages = {556--561},
  year = {2016},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Köster, Gerta and Zönnchen, Benedikt (2016).
A queuing model based on social attitudes.
In Knoop, Victor L. and Daamen, Winnie, Traffic and Granular Flow ’15, 193–200.
Traffic and Granular Flow ’15, 193–200. Springer International Publishing.
DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2014.09.029

@inproceedings{koester2016,
  author = {K{\"o}ster, Gerta and Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt},
  editor = {Knoop, Victor L. and Daamen, Winnie},
  title = {A queuing model based on social attitudes},
  booktitle = {Traffic and Granular Flow '15},
  year = {2016},
  publisher = {Springer International Publishing},
  address = {Cham},
  pages = {193--200},
  isbn = {978-3-319-33482-0},
  doi = {10.1016/j.trpro.2014.09.029},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Köster, Gerta and Zönnchen, Benedikt (2014).
Queuing at bottlenecks using a dynamic floor field for navigation.
Transportation Research Procedia, 2, 344-352.
DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2014.09.029

@article{koester2014,
  title = {Queuing at bottlenecks using a dynamic floor field for navigation},
  journal = {Transportation Research Procedia},
  volume = {2},
  pages = {344-352},
  year = {2014},
  note = {The Conference on Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics 2014 (PED 2014), 22-24 October 2014, Delft, The Netherlands},
  issn = {2352-1465},
  doi = {10.1016/j.trpro.2014.09.029},
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146514000659},
  author = {K{\"o}ster, Gerta and Z{\"o}nnchen, Benedikt},
  keywords = {bzoennchen}
}

Recent Talks

A Systemic View on Society (2024),
Munich Creative Business Week 2024, MUC.DAI, [link].
AI as a Tool of Emancipation? (2024),
IGA Tagung.
Generative AI in the Context of XR (2023),
XR for the Middle Class, IHK Munich, [link].
Generative AI: Between Tool and Communication Partner (2023),
Ready for the Future: AI-Skills as Part of the Curriculum, Dialogue Forum, HM, [link].

Software

EikMesh

During my Ph.D. I created EikMesh, a Java library for high quality meshes.

Roboworld

Roboworld is an educational Python package designed for students to learn basic programming concepts.

Vadere

Vadere is an open-source framework for the simulation of microscopic pedestrian and crowd dynamics. In addition to this core domain, other systems including cars and granular flow can be introduced into the framework.

Animations

Elastic Collisions

A set of randomly initialized partiles that move inside a two-dimensional box. Each particle is initialized with some mass, position, and velocity. The color of the particle indicates its speed and its size indicates its mass.

Forest Fire Simulation

A cellular automaton to simulate and visualize forest fires. The visualization is simple but effective.

Fourier Drawing

This animation is inspired by the work of Daniel Shiffman and his tutorial 'Drawing with Fourier Transform and Epicycles', as well as the excellent explanation of the Fourier analysis done by Grant Sanderson in the video 'But what is a Fourier series?'.