Dick Gabriel, Distinguished Engineer, Sun Microsystems Laboratories, has been awarded the 2004 ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award.

"For innovations not only on fundamental issues in programming languages and software design but also on the interaction between computer science and other disciplines, notably architecture and poetry"

March 10, 2005 - ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award is presented to an individual selected for career contributions that have breadth within computer science, or that bridge computer science and other disciplines. Dick Gabriel received the award for his role in shaping the growth and impact of object technology, and his influence in developing a software design community that cares about clear communication of ideas. A published poet and musician, Gabriel conceived of java.net as a self-creating and self-governed web place where communities join to build a city of diverse interests engaged in using the Java language and technology in routine and innovative ways.

The annual ACM awards recognize technical excellence and outstanding service to the computing field and the award winners represent a diverse group of leaders who have contributed significantly to the IT community.

"These awards highlight the essential role of computing in today's technology-driven world," said ACM President David Patterson. "Like the recently announced winners of ACM's A.M. Turing Award, these contributions all recognize ground breaking innovations that influence how we communicate through the Internet. They also serve to illustrate the integral role for computer science skills in disparate callings like Internet traffic, network programming, architecture and poetry," he noted.

The Allen Newell Award endowed award is accompanied by a prize of $10,000, and is supported by the American Association for Artificial Intelligence, and by individual contributions.

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