National awards

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) Fellows program was started in 1990 to recognize individuals who have made significant, sustained contributions - usually over at least a ten–year period - to the field of artificial intelligence.

The accomplishments of elected AAAI Fellows range from pioneering advances in the theory of artificial intelligence, to unusual accomplishments in artificial intelligence technology and AI applications. Leadership in the AAAI or similar scientific organizations that promote the advancement of artificial intelligence through educational programs and support of forums for the exchange of ideas also plays a role in the selection process.

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) Distinguished Service Award recognizes one individual each year for extraordinary service to the AI community. Areas of service could include, but are not limited to: society service, service as an editor, conference organization, representation of AI in other organizations (such as CRA, ACM, or IEEE), or influential service as a government agency contract monitor or program director, resulting in positive effects on the field of AI. Nominees must be current members of AAAI.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows are a distinguished cadre of scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching, and technology, to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Distinguished Engineers, Scientists, and Members Award recognizes members with at least 15 years of professional experience and five years of continuous professional membership who have achieved significant accomplishments or have made a significant impact on the computing field.

Distinguished Scientists

† deceased

Distinguished Members

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Fellows Program was established in 1993 to recognize and honor outstanding ACM members for their achievements in computer science and information technology and for their significant contributions to the mission of the ACM. The ACM Fellows serve as distinguished colleagues to whom the ACM and its members look for guidance and leadership as the world of information technology evolves.

** former faculty member
† deceased

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Artificial Intelligence (SIGAI) Autonomous Agents Research Award is a prestigious prize that recognizes years of research and leadership in the field of robotics and multi-agent systems.

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (SIGKDD) Innovation Award is the highest award for technical excellence in the field of knowledge discovery and data mining. It is conferred on one individual or one group of collaborators whose outstanding technical innovations in the KDD field have had a lasting impact in advancing the theory and practice of the field.

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Spatial Information (SIGSPATIAL) 10-Year Impact Award recognizes the paper that has made the largest impact in the field over the last 10 years.

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Software System Award is given to an institution or individuals recognized for developing software systems that have had a lasting influence, reflected in contributions to concepts and/or commercial acceptance.

† deceased

The Outstanding Contribution to Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Award recognizes outstanding service contributions to the Association. Candidates are selected based on the value and degree of service overall and may be given to up to three individuals each year.

The Computing Research Association (CRA) awards the A. Nico Habermann Award to a person who has made outstanding contributions aimed at increasing the numbers and/or successes of underrepresented members in the computing research community. This award recognizes work in areas of government affairs, educational programs, professional societies, public awareness, and leadership that has a major impact on advancing these members in the computing research community. Recognized contributions can be focused directly at the research level or at its immediate precursors–namely, students at the undergraduate or graduate levels.

The IBM Faculty Award is a competitive worldwide program that seeks to build collaborations between researchers at top universities and those in IBM development, research, and service groups. It is also intended to promote a curriculum that encourages advances in disciplines strategic to IBM.

IEEE Computer Society Taylor L. Booth Education Award is for contributions to computational science and engineering through foundational textbooks, outstanding mentoring, and exceptional scientific leadership.   

IEEE Fellow is a distinction reserved for select IEEE members whose extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest are deemed fitting of this prestigious grade elevation. 

** former faculty member
† deceased

The IEEE Edward J. McCluskey Technical Achievement Award Technical Achievement Award is an annual award (which includes a certificate and $2,000 honorarium) that is presented for outstanding and innovative contributions to the fields of computer and information science and engineering or computer technology, usually within the past ten, and not more than fifteen years.

Recipients are recognized for their substantial contributions, as well as their extensive service to the field of artificial intelligence (AI) throughout their career.

The Design Science Award of the INFORMS Information Systems Society (ISS) is awarded annually to promote and recognize excellence in research efforts centered on the design and realization of innovative information technology (IT) artifacts.

** former faculty member

The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Harrold and Notkin Research and Graduate Mentoring Award is given in memory of Mary Jean Harrold and David Notkin, in honor of their outstanding research, graduate mentoring, and diversity contributions. The award recognizes faculty members from non-profit, U.S. institutions (excluding U.S. territories) who combine outstanding research accomplishments with excellence in graduate mentoring, as well as those who advocate for recruiting, encouraging, and promoting women and minorities in computing fields at both a local and national level.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program is the most prestigious award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization.

** former faculty member

Each year, the National Science Foundation (NSF) selects nominees for Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from among the most meritorious new CAREER awardees. The PECASE program recognizes outstanding scientists and engineers who, early in their careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. This Presidential Award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers.

** former faculty member

The U.S. President makes a selection across the nation to receive the nation’s highest award for science and mathematics mentors, which highlights the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers and innovators.

This award recognizes significant and ongoing contributions in research and services to the advancement of the Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (PAKDD) community and series of conferences.

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) Fellows Program honors certain members who have made outstanding contributions to fields served by SIAM. SIAM Fellows are people who have been recognized by their peers for their contributions to their field as well shown great leadership within their own institution.

This prize, established in 1959, the SIAM John von Neumann Prize is awarded for outstanding and distinguished contributions to the field of applied mathematical sciences and for the effective communication of these ideas to the community. The recipient will receive a monetary award and will present a survey lecture at the annual meeting.

SIGIR is the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Information Retrieval. Since 1963, they have promoted research, development and education in the area of search and other information access technologies.

† deceased

The SIGCHI Academy is an honorary group of individuals who have made substantial contributions to the field of human-computer interaction, and awardees are given lifetime invitations to the annual SIGCHI award banquet. These are the principal leaders of the field, whose efforts have shaped the disciplines and/or industry, and led the research and/or innovation in human-computer interaction.

The SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award goes to individuals who have contributed to the growth of SIGCHI in a variety of capacities. This award is for extended services to the community at large over a number of years.

University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) is a non-profit scientific and educational organization comprised of 60+ member and affiliate institutions. It was established in 1995 for the purposes of advancing research in the field of Geographic Information Science, expanding and strengthening multidisciplinary Geographic Information Science education, and advocating policies for the promotion of the ethical use of and access to geographic information and technologies, by building and supporting scholarly communities and networks. UCGIS is a hub for the GIS research and education community in higher education and serves as a national and international voice to advocate for its members’ interests.

The User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction (UMUAI) James Chen Award is bestowed annually to the author(s) of the best paper of the year. The award has been donated by the Chen family in commemoration of James R. Chen, a creative researcher in the area of user modeling and information retrieval, and twice a UMUAI author. The award comes with a cash prize of U.S.$ 1,000. To select the winner, an award committee is formed from the editorial board of the journal which reviews all articles that were nominated by reviewers and the editorial board.

† deceased

The IEEE Visualization and Graphics Technical Committee (VGTC) Virtual Reality Career Award is given annually to an individual to honor that person’s lifetime contributions to virtual and augmented reality.

This award, which is administered by 3M Research and Development in partnership with the Corporate Giving Program, recognizes outstanding new faculty. It is intended to help young faculty members to achieve tenure, to teach, and to conduct research.