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Release Date: March 2009
A dozen computer scientists and engineers were recently
recognized for their technological accomplishments in four different
IEEE Computer Society award categories.
Edwin E. Catmull, John E. Warnock, and Charles M. Geschke were
named winners of the 2008 Computer Entrepreneur award. Catmull, a
computer scientist, is co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and
president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. Warnock and
Geschke are co-founders of Adobe. The award is given to individuals
whose entrepreneurial leadership is responsible for the growth of
some segment of the computer industry.
Jean J. Bartik, Edward J. McCluskey, and Carl A. Petri were named
2008 recipients of the Computer Pioneer Award, which honors
significant contributions to concepts and developments that have
advanced the state of the art in computing. Bartik was one of the
original programmers of the ENIAC computer. McCluskey, professor
emeritus at Stanford University, worked on electronic switching
systems at Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1955 to 1959 and was the
first president of the IEEE Computer Society. Petri invented
petrinets at the age of 13 and went on to make numerous
contributions to network theory.
Elena Ferrari, John S. Bay, Sajal K. Das, and Timothy W. Finin
are this year’s winners of Technical Achievement Awards, which take
note of outstanding and innovative contributions to the fields of
computer and information science and engineering or computer
technology. Ferrari, professor of database management systems at the
University of Insubria’s Department of Computer Science and
Communication, was recognized for her contributions to secure data
management. Bay, chief scientist of the Air Force Research
Laboratory’s Information Directorate, was recognized for his work in
information technology. Das, director of the Center for Research in
Wireless Mobility and Networking at the University of Texas at
Arlington, was honored for his contributions to wireless networking.
And Finin, a professor in the Computer Science and Electrical
Engineering Department at the University of Maryland Baltimore
County, received the award for his work in pervasive computing.
James P. Cohoon and Jack W. Davidson shared the 2008 Taylor L.
Booth Education Award for their efforts “to transform introductory
computer science education through lab-based multimedia pedagogy.”
Both teach computer science at the University of Virginia. The award
honors renowned teachers in the field of computer science and
engineering education.
About the IEEE Computer Society
With nearly 100,000 members (40% of whom
reside outside of the United States), the IEEE Computer Society (http://www.computer.org/) is the
world's leading organization of computer professionals. Founded in
1946, it is the largest of the 39 societies of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
The Society is dedicated to advancing the
theory, practice, and application of computer and information
processing technology. Through its conferences, applications-related
and research-oriented journals, local and student chapters, distance
learning campus, technical committees, the Society promotes an
active exchange of information, ideas, and technological innovation
among its members. Its Certified Software Development Professional
(CSDP) program feeds the demand for fully trained, competent
software engineers as the computer industry has expanded and systems
have become more complex and sophisticated requiring higher
competence in building quality systems.
The IEEE Computer Society is also known
throughout the world as the leading organization for developing
technology standards in computing. Its Standards Activities Board
provides an organizational framework and conducive environment
within which to develop broadly accepted, sound, timely, and
technically excellent standards that will advance the theory and
practice of computing and information processing science and
technology. | 