ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" class=" no-js"> <head>  <script data-cookieconsent="ignore"> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){ dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag("consent", "default", { ad_storage: "denied", analytics_storage: "denied", functionality_storage: "denied", personalization_storage: "denied", security_storage: "granted", wait_for_update: 500 }); gtag("set", "ads_data_redaction", true); gtag("set", "url_passthrough", false); </script>   <script data-cookieconsent="ignore"> (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5BVDRXH'); </script>   <script id="Cookiebot" src="https://consent.cookiebot.com/uc.js" data-cbid="9bb7fc8b-05a2-4292-85e6-45213b19c5ff" data-blockingmode="auto" type="text/javascript" ></script>  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/acm.css?antiCache=1716999351349" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/print.css?antiCache=1716999351349" type="text/css" media="print"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/classList.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/webfontloader.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/analytics.js?="></script> <script data-cookieconsent="ignore" type="text/javascript" src="/js/modernizr.js"></script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/catalog/favicon.ico?v=10"> <meta class="foundation-data-attribute-namespace"> <meta class="foundation-mq-xxlarge"> <meta class="foundation-mq-xlarge-only"> <meta class="foundation-mq-xlarge"> <meta class="foundation-mq-large-only"> <meta class="foundation-mq-large"> <meta class="foundation-mq-medium-only"> <meta class="foundation-mq-medium"> <meta class="foundation-mq-small-only"> <meta class="foundation-mq-small"> <meta class="foundation-mq-topbar"> <title>ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award</title> <meta property="og:title" content="Jelani Nelson receives the Lawler Award"/> <meta name="description" content="Information about ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Jelani Nelson, Professor, University of California, Berkeley, receives the ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions Within Computer Science and Informatics for founding and developing AddisCoder, a nonprofit organization which teaches programming to underserved students from all over Ethiopia. AddisCoder has led many students to higher education and successful careers."/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://awards.acm.org/binaries/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/jelani-nelson-lawler.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@theofficialacm"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Jelani Nelson receives the Lawler Award"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="For founding and developing AddisCoder, a nonprofit organization which teaches programming to underserved students from all over Ethiopia."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://awards.acm.org/binaries/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/jelani-nelson-lawler.jpg"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://awards.acm.org/xpages/lawler/index"/>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=AW-968097012"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'AW-968097012'); </script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=AW-968097012"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('set', 'linker', { 'domains': ['acm.org/','cvent.com/'], 'accept_incoming': true }); gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'AW-968097012'); </script></head> <body>  <noscript><iframe data-cookieblock-src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5BVDRXH" data-cookieconsent="marketing" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="header" class="row"> <nav class="top-bar eyebrow show-for-medium-up" data-topbar data-options="is_hover: false"> <section class="top-bar-section"> <div id="skiptocontent"><a href="#SkipTarget">skip to main content</a></div> <ul class="right"> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org" title="ACM Home">ACM Home</a></li> <li><a href="http://amturing.acm.org" title="ACM A.M. Turing Award">ACM A.M. Turing Award</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.acm.org/turing-award-50" title="Turing 50">Turing 50</a></li> <li><a href="http://dl.acm.org" title="Digital Library">Digital Library</a></li> <li><a href="http://cacm.acm.org" title="CACM">CACM</a></li> <li><a href="http://queue.acm.org" title="Queue">Queue</a></li> <li><a href="http://technews.acm.org" title="TechNews">TechNews</a></li> </ul> </section> </nav> <div class="clearfix utilities-area"> <div class="logo-section"> <div class="navbar-header show-for-large-up"> <a class="navbar-brand" href="https://www.acm.org"> <img alt="ACM Logo" class="img-responsive" title="Home" src="/binaries/content/gallery/global/top-menu/acm_logo_tablet.svg"> </a> </div> <div class="navbar-header hide-for-large-up"> <a href=""> <img alt="ACM Logo" class="img-responsive hide-for-large-up" title="Home" src="/binaries/content/gallery/global/top-menu/acm_logo_mobile.svg"> </a> </div> </div> <div id="acm-description" class="column large-5 show-for-large-up"> <div> ACM recognizes excellence </div> </div> <div id="ctas-and-search" class="column large-5 medium-6 no-pad-left ctas-and-search"> <ul class="block-grid right"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/award-recipients">Award Recipients</a></li> <li><a href="/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="hide-for-small"> <form class="acm-search-form" id="form_1"> <label for="input_1"> <span class="visually-hidden">Search Input</span> </label> <input type="text" name="q" id="input_1" class="acm-searchbox-input st-default-search-input"/> <label for="search-site_1" class="toggle"> <span class="visually-hidden">Search Submit</span> <i class="fa fa-search left"></i> <input type="button" class="acm-searchbox-submit left" value="Search" name="search-site_1" id="search-site_1" /> </label> </form> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> (function(w,d,t,u,n,s,e){w['SwiftypeObject']=n;w[n]=w[n]||function(){ (w[n].q=w[n].q||[]).push(arguments);};s=d.createElement(t); e=d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0];s.async=1;s.src=u;e.parentNode.insertBefore(s,e); })(window,document,'script','//s.swiftypecdn.com/install/v2/st.js','_st'); _st('install','RXEmTxVGH--uT5UYK-Dy','2.0.0'); </script> <nav class="top-bar main-nav" data-topbar data-options="is_hover: false"> <ul class="title-area"> <li class="toggle-topbar menu-icon"><a href="#"><span></span> </a></li> </ul> <section id="mobile-nav-topbar" class="top-bar-section"> <div class="mobile-links"> <div class="btn-group"> <a class="btn btn-primary" role="button" href="/">Home</a> <a class="btn btn-primary" role="button" href="/award-recipients">Award Recipients</a> <a class="btn btn-primary" role="button" href="/contact-us">Contact Us</a> </div> <div class="mobile-search"> <form class="acm-search-form" id="mobile_form_1"> <i class="fa fa-search left"></i> <label class="" for="search_mobile_1">Search</label> <input type="text" id="search_mobile_1" class="acm-searchbox-input st-default-search-input" name="q"/> </form> </div> </div> <ul> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">ACM Awards</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/" class="first">Awards Home</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/about/turing-laureates-spotlight" title="Spotlight on Turing Laureates" >Spotlight on Turing Laureates</a></li> <li><a href="/turing" title="ACM A.M. Turing Award" >ACM A.M. Turing Award</a></li> <li><a href="/acm-prize" title="ACM Prize in Computing" >ACM Prize in Computing</a></li> <li><a href="/thacker" title="ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award" >ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award</a></li> <li><a href="/allen" title="ACM Frances E. Allen Award" >ACM Frances E. Allen Award</a></li> <li><a href="/barroso" title="ACM Luiz André Barroso Award" >ACM Luiz André Barroso Award</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-service" title="ACM Distinguished Service Award" >ACM Distinguished Service Award</a></li> <li><a href="/doctoral-dissertation" title="ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award" >ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award</a></li> <li><a href="/eckert-mauchly" title="ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award" >ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award</a></li> <li><a href="/hopper" title="ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award" >ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award</a></li> <li><a href="/bell" title="ACM Gordon Bell Prize" >ACM Gordon Bell Prize</a></li> <li><a href="/bell-climate" title="ACM Gordon Bell Prize for Climate Modelling" >ACM Gordon Bell Prize for Climate Modelling</a></li> <li><a href="international-science-and-engineering-fair" title="International Science and Engineering Fair" >International Science and Engineering Fair</a></li> <li><a href="/kanellakis" title="ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award" >ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award</a></li> <li><a href="/karlstrom" title="ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award" >ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award</a></li> <li><a href="/kennedy" title="ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award" >ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award</a></li> <li><a href="/lawler" title="ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award" >ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award</a></li> <li><a href="/hpc-fellows" title="ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships" >ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships</a></li> <li><a href="/newell" title="ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award" >ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award</a></li> <li><a href="/outstanding-contribution" title="Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award" >Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award</a></li> <li><a href="/policy" title="ACM Policy Award" >ACM Policy Award</a></li> <li><a href="/president" title="ACM Presidential Award" >ACM Presidential Award</a></li> <li><a href="/computational-science" title="SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering" >SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering</a></li> <li><a href="/software-system" title="ACM Software System Award" >ACM Software System Award</a></li> <li><a href="/athena" title="ACM Athena Lecturer Award" >ACM Athena Lecturer Award</a></li> <li><a href="/cutler-bell" title="ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize for High School Computing" >ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize for High School Computing</a></li> <li><a href="/sponsors" title="Sponsors of ACM Awards" >Sponsors of ACM Awards</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">About ACM Awards</p> <h2 id="h-GivingCreditwhereCreditIsDue" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-align: left;">Giving Credit where Credit Is Due</h2> <div class="clearfix" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20.8px; text-align: left;"> <p>ACM recognizes excellence through its eminent awards for technical and professional achievements and contributions in computer science and information technology. It also names as Fellows and Distinguished Members those members who, in addition to professional accomplishments, have made significant contributions to ACM's mission. ACM awards recognize achievements by young computing professionals, educators, theoretical computer scientists, software systems innovators, and pioneers who have made humanitarian and cross-discipline contributions.</p> </div></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2024/press-release/' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/geoffrey-hinton.jpg" alt="2024 Nobel Prize in Physics recipient Geoffrey Hinton"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2024/press-release/' target='_blank'>Geoffrey Hinton Awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://awards.acm.org/barroso' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-luiz-andre-barroso-award.jpg" alt="Image promoting the ACM Luiz André Barroso Award"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://awards.acm.org/barroso' target='_blank'>ACM Announces Luiz André Barroso Award</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/media-center/2024/january/fellows-2023' ><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-fellows-member-badge.jpg" alt="acm-fellows-member-badge.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/media-center/2024/january/fellows-2023' >ACM Names 2023 Fellows</a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">Advanced Member Grades</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/advanced-member-grades" class="first">Advanced Grades of Membership</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/fellows" title="ACM Fellows" >ACM Fellows</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-members" title="ACM Distinguished Members" >ACM Distinguished Members</a></li> <li><a href="/senior-members" title="ACM Senior Members" >ACM Senior Members</a></li> <li><a href="/fellows/faq" title="ACM Fellows FAQ" >ACM Fellows FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-members/faq" title="ACM Distinguished Members FAQ" >ACM Distinguished Members FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/senior-members/faq" title="ACM Senior Members FAQ" >ACM Senior Members FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/fellows/committee" title="ACM Fellows Committee" >ACM Fellows Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-members/committee" title="ACM Distinguished Member Committee" >ACM Distinguished Member Committee</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">ACM Advanced Grades of Membership</p> <p>The ACM <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20.8px; text-align: left;">Advanced Grades of Membership program </span>recognizes the achievements of ACM members through all stages of their career.</p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/media-center/2024/january/fellows-2023' ><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-fellows-member-badge.jpg" alt="acm-fellows-member-badge.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/media-center/2024/january/fellows-2023' >ACM Names 2023 Fellows</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/bulletins/2024/january/distinguished-2023' ><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-distinguished-member-badge.jpg" alt="acm-distinguished-member-badge.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/bulletins/2024/january/distinguished-2023' >ACM Names 2023 Distinguished Members</a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">SIG Awards</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/sig-awards" class="first">About SIG Awards</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigaccess" title="SIGACCESS" >SIGACCESS</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigact" title="SIGACT" >SIGACT</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigada" title="SIGAda" >SIGAda</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigai" title="SIGAI" >SIGAI</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigapp" title="SIGAPP" >SIGAPP</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigarch" title="SIGARCH" >SIGARCH</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigbed" title="SIGBED" >SIGBED</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigbio" title="SIGBio" >SIGBio</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigcas" title="SIGCAS" >SIGCAS</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigchi" title="SIGCHI" >SIGCHI</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigcomm" title="SIGCOMM" >SIGCOMM</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigcse" title="SIGCSE" >SIGCSE</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigda" title="SIGDA" >SIGDA</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigdoc" title="SIGDOC" >SIGDOC</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigecom" title="SIGEcom" >SIGEcom</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigevo" title="SIGEVO" >SIGEVO</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigir" title="SIGIR" >SIGIR</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/siggraph" title="SIGGRAPH" >SIGGRAPH</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sighpc" title="SIGHPC" >SIGHPC</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigkdd" title="SIGKDD" >SIGKDD</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/siglog" title="SIGLOG" >SIGLOG</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigmetrics" title="SIGMETRICS" >SIGMETRICS</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigmicro" title="SIGMICRO" >SIGMICRO</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigmis" title="SIGMIS" >SIGMIS</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigmm" title="SIGMM" >SIGMM</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigmobile" title="SIGMOBILE" >SIGMOBILE</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigmod" title="SIGMOD" >SIGMOD</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigops" title="SIGOPS" >SIGOPS</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigplan" title="SIGPLAN" >SIGPLAN</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigsac" title="SIGSAC" >SIGSAC</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigsam" title="SIGSAM" >SIGSAM</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigsim" title="SIGSIM" >SIGSIM</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigsoft" title="SIGSOFT" >SIGSOFT</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/siguccs" title="SIGUCCS" >SIGUCCS</a></li> <li><a href="/sig-awards/sigweb" title="SIGWEB" >SIGWEB</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">About SIG Awards</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.8px; text-align: start;">ACM's Special Interest Groups (SIGs) regularly cite outstanding individuals for their contributions in more than 30 distinct technological fields.</span></p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">Regional Awards</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/regional-awards" class="first">About Regional Awards</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/india-doctoral-dissertation" title="ACM India Doctoral Dissertation" >ACM India Doctoral Dissertation</a></li> <li><a href="/acm-india-ecr" title="ACM India Early Career Researcher" >ACM India Early Career Researcher</a></li> <li><a href="/acm-india-occw" title="ACM India Outstanding Contributions in Computing by a Woman" >ACM India Outstanding Contributions in Computing by a Woman</a></li> <li><a href="/acm-india-occe" title="ACM India Outstanding Contribution to Computing Education" >ACM India Outstanding Contribution to Computing Education</a></li> <li><a href="/ipsj-acm-global" title="IPSJ/ACM Award for Early Career Contributions to Global Research" >IPSJ/ACM Award for Early Career Contributions to Global Research</a></li> <li><a href="/ccf-acm-ai" title="CCF-ACM Award for Artificial Intelligence" >CCF-ACM Award for Artificial Intelligence</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">About ACM Regional Awards</p> <p>ACM recognizes the contributions of individuals working primarily within specific regions of the world through awards given by its regional councils, and through partnerships with international societies.</p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/acm-india-bulletins/2024/ecr-award-2023' ><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/siddharth-barman.jpg" alt="siddharth-barman.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/acm-india-bulletins/2024/ecr-award-2023' >ACM India ECR 2023 Award</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/acm-india-bulletins/2023/limaye-occw-2023' ><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/nutan-limaye.jpg" alt="nutan-limaye.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/acm-india-bulletins/2023/limaye-occw-2023' >ACM India OCCW 2023 Award</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/acm-india-bulletins/2024/occe-award-2024' ><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/meenakshi-dsouza-poa.jpg" alt="OCCE 2024 award recipient Meenakshi D'Souza"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://www.acm.org/articles/acm-india-bulletins/2024/occe-award-2024' >ACM India OCCE 2024 Award</a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">Nominations</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/award-nominations" class="first">Award Nominations</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/turing/nominations" title="ACM A.M. Turing Award" >ACM A.M. Turing Award</a></li> <li><a href="/acm-prize/nominations" title="ACM Prize in Computing" >ACM Prize in Computing</a></li> <li><a href="/thacker/nominations" title="ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award" >ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award</a></li> <li><a href="/fran-allen-nominations" title="ACM Frances E. Allen Award" >ACM Frances E. Allen Award</a></li> <li><a href="/barroso/nominations" title="ACM Luiz André Barroso Award" >ACM Luiz André Barroso Award</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-service/nominations" title="ACM Distinguished Service Award" >ACM Distinguished Service Award</a></li> <li><a href="/doctoral-dissertation/nominations" title="ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award" >ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award</a></li> <li><a href="/eckert-mauchly/nominations" title="ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award" >ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award</a></li> <li><a href="/bell/nominations" title="ACM Gordon Bell Prize" >ACM Gordon Bell Prize</a></li> <li><a href="/hopper/nominations" title="ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award" >ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award</a></li> <li><a href="/kanellakis/nominations" title="ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award" >ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award</a></li> <li><a href="/karlstrom/nominations" title="ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award" >ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award</a></li> <li><a href="/kennedy/nominations" title="ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award" >ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award</a></li> <li><a href="/lawler/nominations" title="ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award" >ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award</a></li> <li><a href="/hpc-fellows/nominations" title="ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships" >ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships</a></li> <li><a href="/outstanding-contribution/nominations" title="Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award" >Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award</a></li> <li><a href="/newell/nominations" title="ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award" >ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award</a></li> <li><a href="/policy/nominations" title="ACM Policy Award" >ACM Policy Award</a></li> <li><a href="/computational-science/nominations" title="SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering" >SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering</a></li> <li><a href="/software-system/nominations" title="ACM Software System Award" >ACM Software System Award</a></li> <li><a href="/athena/nominations" title="ACM Athena Lecturer Award" >ACM Athena Lecturer Award</a></li> <li><a href="/cutler-bell/nominations" title="ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing" >ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing</a></li> <li><a href="/fellows/nominations" title="ACM Fellows" >ACM Fellows</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-members/nominations" title="ACM Distinguished Members" >ACM Distinguished Members</a></li> <li><a href="/senior-members/nominations" title="ACM Senior Members" >ACM Senior Members</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">Awards Nominating Process</p> <h2 id="h-GivingCreditwhereCreditIsDue">How to Nominate</h2> <p>Award nominations deadlines occur throughout the year, with a heavy concentration in January. Please refer to the Nomination Process page for each award, which includes not only information about the deadline but also guidance for preparing each type of nomination.  ACM's <a href="/conflict-of-interest">conflict-of-interest guidelines</a> apply to all award nominations.</p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://women.acm.org/awards/rising-star-award/' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-w-rising-star-award.jpg" alt="acm-w-rising-star-award.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://women.acm.org/awards/rising-star-award/' target='_blank'>Call for ACM-W Rising Star Award Nominations</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='/policy-for-honors' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/og-awards.jpg" alt="og-awards.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='/policy-for-honors' target='_blank'>ACM Honors & Ethics</a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">Honors and Ethics</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/policy-for-honors" class="first">Policy for Honors Conferred by ACM</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/policies-and-procedures" title="Policies and Procedures for Honors Conferred by ACM" >Policies and Procedures for Honors Conferred by ACM</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">ACM Honors and Ethics</p> <p> ACM formally recognizes individuals for significant contributions to the field, ACM, or its interests. ACM expects individuals it honors to abide by the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Learn about ACM's policies and procedures for integrating expectations of ethical behaviour and ACM Awards. </p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://women.acm.org/awards/rising-star-award/' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-w-rising-star-award.jpg" alt="acm-w-rising-star-award.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://women.acm.org/awards/rising-star-award/' target='_blank'>Call for ACM-W Rising Star Award Nominations</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='/policy-for-honors' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/og-awards.jpg" alt="og-awards.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='/policy-for-honors' target='_blank'>ACM Honors & Ethics</a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">Awards Committees</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/committees" class="first">ACM Awards Committee</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="/turing/committee" title="ACM A.M. Turing Award Committee" >ACM A.M. Turing Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/acm-prize/committee" title="ACM Prize in Computing Committee" >ACM Prize in Computing Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/thacker/committee" title="ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Committee" >ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/allen/committee" title="ACM Frances E. Allen Award" >ACM Frances E. Allen Award</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-service/committee" title="ACM Distinguished Service Award Committee" >ACM Distinguished Service Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/doctoral-dissertation/committee" title="ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee" >ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/eckert-mauchly/committee" title="ACM-IEEE CS Eckert Mauchley Award Committee" >ACM-IEEE CS Eckert Mauchley Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/bell/committee" title="ACM Gordon Bell Prize Committee" >ACM Gordon Bell Prize Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/hopper/committee" title="ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award Committee" >ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/kanellakis/committee" title="ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award Committee" >ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/karlstrom/committee" title="ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award Committee" >ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/kennedy/committee" title="ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award Committee" >ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/lawler/committee" title="ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award Committee" >ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/hpc-fellows/committee" title="ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships Committee" >ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/newell/committee" title="ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award Committee" >ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/outstanding-contribution/committee" title="Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award Committee" >Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/policy/committee" title="ACM Policy Award Committee" >ACM Policy Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/computational-science/committee" title="SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering Committee" >SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/software-system/committee" title="ACM Software System Award Committee" >ACM Software System Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/athena/committee" title="ACM Athena Lecturer Award Committee" >ACM Athena Lecturer Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/india-doctoral-dissertation/committee" title="ACM India Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee" >ACM India Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/fellows/committee" title="ACM Fellows Committee" >ACM Fellows Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/distinguished-members/committee" title="ACM Distinguished Member Committee" >ACM Distinguished Member Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/senior-members/committee" title="ACM Senior Member Committee" >ACM Senior Member Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/awards-committees/conflict-of-interest" title="Conflict of Interest Guidelines" >Conflict of Interest Guidelines</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">About ACM Awards Committees</p> <p>At the core of the ACM Awards program is a dedicated group of volunteers who serve on the committees of the ACM Awards to recognize individuals for their excellence in the computing fields</p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/awards-ctte-co-chairs.jpg" alt="awards-ctte-co-chairs.jpg"><div class="cta-text"> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="has-dropdown not-click"><a href="#">Establishing an Award</a> <div class="dropdown clearfix"> <ul class="infonav clearfix"> <li class="infonav__linkList clearfix"> <a href="/guides" class="first">Policies and Guide for Establishing an ACM Award</a> <ul class="infonav__linkList-list clearfix"> <li><a href="http://www.acm.org/publications/policies/guidelines-best-paper-award" title="ACM Publications Board Guidelines for Establishing a Best Paper Award for ACM Periodicals" >ACM Publications Board Guidelines for Establishing a Best Paper Award for ACM Periodicals</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="infonav__landingPage"> <div> <p class="first">Policies and Guide</p> <p>ACM welcomes proposals for the establishment of new awards, to recognize contributions based on merit, service, or for an outstanding paper.</p></div> </li> <li class="infonav__ctaList"> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='https://women.acm.org/awards/rising-star-award/' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/awards/acm-w-rising-star-award.jpg" alt="acm-w-rising-star-award.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='https://women.acm.org/awards/rising-star-award/' target='_blank'>Call for ACM-W Rising Star Award Nominations</a></div> </div> <div class="infonav__ctaList-cta"> <a href='/policy-for-honors' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/og-awards.jpg" alt="og-awards.jpg"></a><div class="cta-text"> <a href='/policy-for-honors' target='_blank'>ACM Honors & Ethics</a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </section> </nav> </div> <div id="main" > <div class="banner-container"> <div> <div> <div class="acm-banner-container" style="background: url(/binaries/bannerlarge/content/gallery/acm/banners/7_awards_acm_banner.jpg) no-repeat center 0 / 130% #000;"> <div class="gradient-wrapper" style="background: url('/binaries/content/gallery/global/gradient.png') repeat-x center 0 / 130% transparent;"></div> <div class="overlay" style="background: url('/binaries/content/gallery/global/tintpattern.png') repeat 0 0;"></div> <div class="row"> <div class="columns large-12 medium-12 banner-content"> <p class="banner-heading"> <small>Specific Types of Contributions</small> ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award</p> <p>Individuals/groups making significant humanitarian contributions through the use of computing technology</p><a class="button" href="lawler/award-recipients" > Award Recipients</a> <a class="button" href="/lawler/nominations" > Nominations</a> <a class="button" href="lawler/committee" > Committee Members</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="article" id="maincontent"> <article class="has-edit-button" id="SkipTarget" tabindex="-1"> <div class="row"> <div class="columns small-12 zone-1"> <div> <div> <ul class="breadcrumbs"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="current"> <a href="/lawler">ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="columns large-8 medium-8 small-12 zone-2"> <div> <div> <div class="articles"> <div class="landing"> <h1> About ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</h1> <p>This award is to recognize an individual or a group who have made a significant contribution through the use of computing technology. It will be given once every two years, assuming that there are worthy recipients. The award amount is $5,000 plus travel expenses to the Awards banquet.</p> <p>The award is intentionally defined broadly. The professional credentials of the recipient(s) are not important. The recipient(s) need never to have earned a degree or published a paper, or even be considered to be a computer professional. The emphasis of the Award Committee will be on the significance of the contribution itself, within the prescribed areas of technology for humanitarian contributions in the field of computing.</p> <p>Some examples of the types of contributions that this award is created to recognize are: application of computer technology to aid individuals with a disability; making an educational contribution using computers or Computer Science in inner city schools; creative research concerning intellectual property issues; expansion of educational opportunities in Computer Science for women and underrepresented minorities; application of computers or computing techniques to problems of developing countries.</p> <p> </p></div> </div> </div> <div> <h2> Recent Eugene L. Lawler Award News </h2> <div class="awards-winners__related-content"> <h3> 2022 ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions Within Computer Science and Informatics</h3> <div class="awards-winners__related-content-body"> <div class="video-wrapper" style="display: block;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-cookieconsent="ignore" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/RooSRtVJsNs" width="560"></iframe></div>  <div style="padding-top: 38px;"> <p><a href="https://awards.acm.org/award-recipients/nelson_2859356"><strong>Jelani Nelson</strong></a>, Professor, University of California, Berkeley, receives the <strong> ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions Within Computer Science and Informatics </strong> for founding and developing AddisCoder, a nonprofit organization which teaches programming to underserved students from all over Ethiopia. AddisCoder has led many students to higher education and successful careers.</p> <p>In 2011, Nelson founded AddisCoder to provide a free intensive summer program for high school students in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The program has shown exemplary efficacy in fostering the academic and professional development of over 500 high school students. AddisCoder’s student body is 40% female and includes students from each of the 11 regions in Ethiopia, students from ethnic minorities, and students living in poverty.</p> <p>Upon joining the program, many of the participating students have little or no background in programming or algorithms. In just four short weeks, the students gain significant knowledge. The program rigorously covers college-level material in algorithms such as binary search and sorting, dynamic programming, and graph exploration. Alumni have matriculated in programs at universities including Harvard, MIT, and Princeton, and some students have joined well-known companies such as Google.</p> <p>Nelson has not only been an AddisCoder instructor himself, but he has recruited a large team of teachers and raised money from government, industry, and academic institutions to fund the initiative. He recently expanded the program to Jamaica.</p> </div></div> </div> <div class="awards-winners__related-content"> <h3> 2020 ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</h3> <div class="awards-winners__related-content-body"> <div class="video-wrapper" style="display: block;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-cookieconsent="ignore" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wmPbUGfyFEw" width="560"></iframe></div> <div style="padding-top: 38px;"> <p><a href="/award_winners/anderson_2271302"><b>Richard Anderson</b></a>, a Professor at the University of Washington, was named recipient of the <strong>Eugene L. Lawler Award</strong> for contributions bridging the fields of Computer Science, Education, and global health.</p> <p>Anderson, his students and collaborators have developed a range of innovative applications in health, education, the internet, and financial services, benefiting underserved communities around the globe. He is one of the founders of the emerging field of Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICTD), which seeks to develop and apply computing and information technologies to benefit low-income populations worldwide, particularly in developing countries.</p> <p>Anderson has also led various projects using technological innovations to drive community-led video instruction and achieve success in education, agriculture, and health practice. For example, Projecting Health employs handheld projectors to show locally-produced videos to groups of women, spurring follow-up conversations on maternal and child health. Projecting Health has led to over 15,000 screenings across 180 villages, reaching an estimated 190,000 residents.</p> <p>The Open Data Kit (ODK) research project is another exemplar of an open source infrastructure project revolutionizing data collection in developing regions and enabling improved learning, health care, and farming. Anderson provided leadership to the project as it transitioned from a university-led project to a free-standing organization, and continues to conduct research on expanding ODK-X, a platform for building data management applications that are having significant impact on humanitarian response, control of vector borne diseases, and country immunization systems.</p> <p>Other successful partnerships have included a human milk bank project in South Africa; a mobile health communication platform for maternal and child health in Kenya; and a vaccine cold-chain project in Uganda and Pakistan.</p> <p>In addition to research excellence and humanitarian projects, Anderson has played a core leadership role in bringing together several communities under the umbrella of ACM COMPASS (Computing and Sustainable Societies), and organizing and championing conferences, workshops, and tutorials, many of them in developing countries (e.g., Pakistan, Ghana, and Ecuador). Anderson has fostered a growing community of researchers, practitioners and students engaged in using computing and information technology for humanitarian causes.</p> <p><em>The <a href="https://awards.acm.org/lawler/" target="_blank">Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</a> recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant contribution through the use of computing technology. It is given once every two years, assuming that there are worthy recipients. The award is accompanied by a prize of $5,000.</em></p> </div></div> </div> <div class="awards-winners__related-content"> <h3> 2018 ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</h3> <div class="awards-winners__related-content-body"> <div class="video-wrapper" style="display: block;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/05VHKvlt6tU" data-cookieconsent="ignore" width="560"></iframe></div> <div style="padding-top: 38px;"> <p><a href="/award_winners/balakrishnan_4440475"><b>Meenakshi Balakrishnan</b></a> was named recipient of the <strong>Eugene L. Lawler Award</strong> for research, development, and deployment of cost-effective embedded-system and software solutions addressing mobility and education challenges of the visually impaired in the developing world.</p> <p>Balakrishnan, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, has dedicated more than a decade to addressing the challenges of the visually impaired by developing low-cost, computing technology-based solutions. Each of his devices has been developed by the meticulous integration of hardware, software, and firmware. His applications have not only improved the quality of life for countless people, but also have made their day-to-day lives dramatically safer. These technologies are especially valuable in the developing world, where there are fewer resources for the visually impaired.</p> <p>Perhaps his best-known technology is the SmartCane project, which allows the visually impaired to detect items above their knees within a distance of 3 meters. Balakrishnan equipped the probing cane with ultrasonic ranging, wherein the cane conveys the distance of obstacles using vibrations. Balakrishnan has also worked tirelessly to bring the SmartCane to market at an affordable cost. Working with for-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations, he introduced the SmartCane at 5% of the cost of a comparable product in the West. Within India he has made over 70,000 devices available through government initiatives and 45 partner agencies. SmartCane has also won numerous awards, including the Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Citizens (TRANSED) 2010.</p> <p>Additional technologies Balakrishnan and his lab have developed include the OnBoard bus identification and homing system, which helps the visually impaired identify bus routes and locate the entry door, and The Refreshable Braille, which allows the visually impaired to read digital text line-by-line through a tactile interface.</p> <p><em>The <a href="https://awards.acm.org/lawler/" target="_blank">Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</a> recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant contribution through the use of computing technology. It is given once every two years, assuming that there are worthy recipients. The award is accompanied by a prize of $5,000.</em></p> </div></div> </div> <div class="awards-winners__related-content"> <h3> 2016 ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</h3> <div class="awards-winners__related-content-body"> <div class="video-wrapper" style="display: block;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-cookieconsent="ignore" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/a1EoINMP9mo" width="560"></iframe></div> <div style="padding-top: 38px;"> <p><a href="/award_winners/banks_1861722"><b>Ken Banks</b></a> was named recipient of the <strong>Eugene L. Lawler Award</strong> for developing FrontlineSMS, using mobile technology and text messaging to empower people to share information, organize aid, and reconnect communities during crises. A self-described “mobile anthropologist,” Banks has a gift for building technology that benefits humanity. As someone who was writing code and tinkering with computers since he was 13, Banks instinctively saw an opportunity to harness the world’s most-used communication platform—mobile messaging—to help people in the developing world.  In 2005, he designed, coded and launched FrontlineSMS, a mobile messaging platform that allows people to subscribe to groups, receive alerts, and establish communication hubs. FrontlineSMS played an important role in the 2007 Nigerian presidential election, where it was used to monitor, identify and curtail violence and harassment at polling places. Because of FrontlineSMS’s built-in flexibility, it quickly became a standard platform deployed in 170 countries by countless organizations. It has been used to help family farmers in Laos, train rural medics in Ecuador, double the amount of patients receiving tuberculosis care in Malawi, and monitor disease outbreaks across Africa. </p> <p>Banks continues his work as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at CARE International. To achieve CARE’s goal of raising more people above the $2 per day extreme poverty level, Banks is leading the development of a new mobile phone application for Village Savings and Loan Associations. Along with his colleagues at CARE, he is also investigating how technology might be used to advance gender equality in Rwanda. His two books <i>The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator</i> and <i>Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation</i> recount his experiences—and those of other global social innovators— and serve as guides for those who are inspired to leverage technology for positive social change.</p> <p><em>The <a href="https://awards.acm.org/lawler/" target="_blank">Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</a> recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant contribution through the use of computing technology. It is given once every two years, assuming that there are worthy recipients. The award is accompanied by a prize of $5,000.</em></p> </div></div> </div> <div class="awards-winners__related-content"> <h3> Robin Roberson Murphy Recognized For Pioneering Work In Search And Rescue Robotics</h3> <div class="awards-winners__related-content-body"> <p><a href="https://awards.acm.org/award_winners/murphy_3201472">Robin Roberson Murphy</a> is the 2014 recipient of the Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics for pioneering work in humanitarian disaster response through search and rescue robotics, to the benefit of both survivors and responders. Her research is in artificial intelligence for mobile robots as applied to disaster robotics. Working with responders and agency stakeholders, she deploys ground, aerial, and marine robots to disasters in order to understand how human-robot systems can save lives, mitigate unfolding dangers, and speed economic recovery. Murphy is Raytheon Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Fellow for Innovation in High-Impact Learning Experiences at Texas A&M University.</p> <p><a href="/binaries/content/assets/press_releases/2014_technical_awards.pdf">Press Release </a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="columns large-4 medium-4 small-12 zone-3"> <div> <div> <div class="articles single-cta"> <div class="two-col-alt article-block"> <div class="row" data-equalizer=""> <div class="large-12 medium-12 small-12 columns"> <div class="cta shadowed " data-equalizer-watch=""> <div class="row" style="margin: inherit;"> <div class="medium-12 columns d-table top-cta"> <div class="text-wrap"> <span class="article-category">Awards & Recognition</span> <h2 class="text-left"><a href='/about/2022-service-awards' target='_blank'>Jelani Nelson Receives 2022 ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award</a></h2> <div class="dek"> <p><strong><a href="/award-recipients/nelson_2859356">Jelani Nelson</a></strong>, Professor, University of California, Berkeley, receives the <a href="/lawler"><strong>ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions Within Computer Science and Informatics</strong></a><strong> </strong> for founding and developing AddisCoder, a nonprofit organization which teaches programming to underserved students from all over Ethiopia. AddisCoder has led many students to higher education and successful careers. Nelson has not only been an AddisCoder instructor himself, but he has recruited a large team of teachers and raised money from government, industry, and academic institutions to fund the initiative.</p></div> </div> <a href='/about/2022-service-awards' target='_blank'><img src="/binaries/ctaimagelarge/content/gallery/acm/ctas/people/jelani-nelson-lawler.jpg" alt="2022 ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award recipient Jelani Nelson" /></a></div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="articles single-cta"> <div class="two-col-alt article-block"> <div class="row" data-equalizer=""> <div class="large-12 medium-12 small-12 columns"> <div class="cta shadowed " data-equalizer-watch=""> <div class="row" style="margin: inherit;"> <div class="medium-12 columns d-table top-cta"> <div class="text-wrap"> <h2 class="text-left"></h2> <div class="dek"> <div> <div class="panel awards-navigation"> <h2 class="sidebar-header"><a href="/list-of-awards">Full List of ACM Awards</a></h2> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="panel awards-navigation"> <h2 class="sidebar-header">ACM Awards by Category</h2> <div class="data-list"> <dl class="awards-navigation__accordion accordion" data-accordion> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="#awards_60_0" class="awards-navigation__link"> <h3>Career-Long Contributions</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_0" class="awards-navigation__content content"> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/turing">ACM A.M. Turing Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/distinguished-service">ACM Distinguished Service Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/fellows">ACM Fellows</a> </div> </dd> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="#awards_60_1" class="awards-navigation__link"> <h3>Early-to-Mid-Career Contributions</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_1" class="awards-navigation__content content"> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/hopper">ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/acm-prize">ACM Prize in Computing</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/distinguished-members">ACM Distinguished Member</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/senior-members">ACM Senior Member</a> </div> </dd> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="#awards_60_2" class="awards-navigation__link"> <h3>Specific Types of Contributions</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_2" class="awards-navigation__content content"> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/thacker">ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/lawler">ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award for Humanitarian Contributions within Computer Science and Informatics</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/allen">ACM Frances E. Allen Award for Outstanding Mentoring</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/bell">ACM Gordon Bell Prize</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/bell-climate">ACM Gordon Bell Prize for Climate Modeling</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/barroso">ACM Luiz André Barroso Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/karlstrom">ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/kanellakis">ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/policy">ACM Policy Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/president">ACM Presidential Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/software-system">ACM Software System Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/athena">ACM Athena Lecturer Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/newell">ACM AAAI Allen Newell Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/eckert-mauchly">ACM-IEEE CS Eckert-Mauchly Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/kennedy">ACM-IEEE CS Ken Kennedy Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/outstanding-contribution">Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/computational-science">SIAM/ACM Prize in Computational Science and Engineering</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/programming-systems-and-languages-paper">ACM Programming Systems and Languages Paper Award</a> </div> </dd> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="#awards_60_3" class="awards-navigation__link"> <h3>Student Contributions</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_3" class="awards-navigation__content content"> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/doctoral-dissertation">ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/hpc-fellows">ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/cutler-bell">ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/international-science-and-engineering-fair">International Science and Engineering Fair</a> </div> </dd> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="#awards_60_4" class="awards-navigation__link"> <h3>Regional Awards</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_4" class="awards-navigation__content content"> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/india-doctoral-dissertation">ACM India Doctoral Dissertation Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/acm-india-ecr">ACM India Early Career Researcher Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/acm-india-occw">ACM India Outstanding Contributions in Computing by a Woman Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/acm-india-occe">ACM India Outstanding Contribution to Computing Education Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/ipsj-acm-global">IPSJ/ACM Award for Early Career Contributions to Global Research</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/ccf-acm-ai">CCF-ACM Award for Artificial Intelligence</a> </div> </dd> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="/sig-awards" class="awards-navigation__link--title awards-navigation__link state-disabled"> <h3>SIG Awards</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_5" class="awards-navigation__content content"> </div> </dd> <dd class="accordion-navigation"> <a href="#awards_60_6" class="awards-navigation__link"> <h3>How Awards Are Proposed</h3> </a> <div id="awards_60_6" class="awards-navigation__content content"> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="/guides">Establishing an ACM Award</a> <hr> <a class="awards-navigation__link" href="https://www.acm.org/publications/policies/guidelines-best-paper-award">Establishing a Best Paper Award for ACM Periodicals</a> </div> </dd> </dl> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="columns small-12 zone-4"> <div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <footer> <nav> <div class="footer-nav"> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> About ACM</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/about-acm" title="About ACM">About ACM</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/about-acm/get-involved" title="About ACM">Volunteer</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Membership</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/membership/join-acm" title="Membership">Join ACM</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/membership/acm-membership-renewal" title="Membership">Renew My Membership</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/membership/membership-options" title="Membership">Membership Options</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/membership/membership-benefits" title="Membership">Membership Benefits</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/membership/myacm-at-a-glance" title="Membership">MyACM Sign In</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Publications</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/publications/about-publications" title="Publications">About Publications</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/publications/digital-library" title="Publications">Digital Library</a></li> <li><a href="https://dl.acm.org/pubs.cfm" title="Publications">Submit a Paper</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Chapters</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/chapters/chapter-administrative-interface" title="Chapters">Chapter Admin Interface</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/chapters/local-activities" title="Chapters">Chapter Activities Calendar</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/chapters/start-chapter" title="Chapters">Start a Chapter</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Awards</li> <li><a href="/about" title="Awards">About ACM's Awards</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Conferences</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/conferences" title="Conferences">ACM's Conferences</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Code of Ethics</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics" title="Code of Ethics">ACM's Code of Ethics</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics/enforcement-procedures" title="Code of Ethics">Enforcement Procedures</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-nav-lists"> <li> Media Center</li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/media-center" title="Media Center">ACM Media Center</a></li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div> <div> <div class="logo_social_group"> <hr /> <img src='/binaries/content/gallery/acm/logos/logo_footer_acm.png' alt='ACM Logo' /> <ul class="footer__social"> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AssociationForComputingMachinery/" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_facebook.png" alt="Facebook logo" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/theofficialacm" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_x_twitter.png" alt="Twitter logo" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-computing-machinery" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_linkedin.png" alt="LinkedIn logo" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/TheOfficialACM" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_reddit.png" alt="Reddit" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOfficialACM" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_youtube.png" alt="YouTube logo" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theofficialacm/" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_instagram.png" alt="Instagram" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/theofficialacm" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_flickr.png" alt="Flickr" /> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://mastodon.acm.org/@ACM" target="_blank"> <img src="/binaries/content/gallery/acm/social-media/icon_mastodon.png" alt="Mastodon" /> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div> <ul class="footer__legal clearfix"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap">Sitemap</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/about-acm/contact-us">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/membership/acm-hq-contact">Member Service</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/about-acm/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/accessibility">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.acm.org/cookie-declaration">Cookie Declaration</a></li> <li class="footer__copyright">Copyright © 2024, ACM, Inc</li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer> </div>  <script data-cookieconsent="ignore" type="text/javascript" src="/js/acm.js?antiCache=1716999351349"></script> <script>$(document).foundation();</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-5654b74db1437702" async="async"></script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-CM2RT513Q1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){ dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-CM2RT513Q1'); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award