The SIGCHI Awards identify and honor leaders and shapers of the field of human-computer interaction within SIGCHI. We currently present awards in six categories:
- SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award
- SIGCHI Lifetime Practice Award
- SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award
- SIGCHI Societal Impact Award
- SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award
- Election to the SIGCHI Academy
The descriptions and criteria for these awards are given below. Awards typically come with travel support to attend the year’s CHI conference. Awardees are recognized at the conference, and receive two complimentary passes (for themselves and a guest) to attend the annual SIGCHI awards banquet. The following pages contain additional useful information:
SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award
The SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award is presented to individuals for outstanding contributions to the study of human-computer interaction. This award recognizes the very best, most fundamental, and influential research contributions. It is awarded for a lifetime of innovation and leadership. The criteria for the award are:
- Cumulative contributions to the field
- Influence on the work of others
- Development of new research directions
- Reasonably active participant in the ACM SIGCHI community, although people outside of this community with outstanding and relevant achievements are considered in exceptional circumstances
The award includes an honorarium of $5,000, the opportunity to give a talk at CHI, and lifetime invitation to the annual SIGCHI awards banquet.
SIGCHI Lifetime Practice Award
The SIGCHI Lifetime Practice Award is presented to individuals for outstanding contributions to the practice and understanding of human-computer interaction. This award recognizes the very best and most influential applications of human-computer interaction. It is awarded for a lifetime of innovation and leadership. The criteria for the award are:
- Cumulative contributions to the field directly and through the leadership of others
- Innovation and the stimulation of innovation through practice
- Impact on the field, industry, and society
- Influence on the work of others, and the growth of other HCI practitioners and researchers
- Successful application of human-computer interaction to products, services, and systems
- Reasonably active participant in the ACM SIGCHI community, although outstanding individuals active in other professional communities are considered
The award includes an honorarium of $5,000, the opportunity to give a talk at CHI, and lifetime invitation to the annual SIGCHI awards banquet.
SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award
The SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award goes to individuals who have contributed to the growth and success of SIGCHI in a variety of capacities. This award is for extended service to the community at large over a number of years. Criteria for this award are:
- Service to SIGCHI and its activities in a variety of capacities
- Extended contributions over many years
- Influence on the community at large
The award includes an honorarium of $5,000, and lifetime invitation to the annual SIGCHI awards banquet.
SIGCHI Societal Impact Award
This award is given to mid-career or senior individuals who promote the application of human-computer interaction research to pressing social needs. The recipient will have past or current work within the HCI profession that demonstrates social benefit. Example criteria for this award are:
- Facilitating use of computer and telecommunication technology by diverse populations
- Increasing access to technology for those with limited educational opportunities
- Reducing economic barriers for access to information and communication technologies
- Promoting privacy, security, trust, and safety
- Improving medical care, education, housing, water supplies, nutrition, and environmental sustainability
- Supporting technologies for international development and conflict resolution
- Improving human communication and reducing isolation
- Supporting civic applications such as community engagement, political action, social justice, citizen science/journalism, and community safety
- Reasonably active participant in the ACM SIGCHI community, although outstanding individuals active in other professional communities are considered
The award includes an honorarium of $5,000, the opportunity to give a talk at CHI, and lifetime invitation to the annual SIGCHI awards banquet.
SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award
This award recognizes excellent dissertation research by recent Ph.D. recipients in Human-Computer Interaction. The SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award is given annually with up to 3 winners. Criteria for this award are:
- Technical depth
- Significance of the research contribution
- Potential impact on the field of Human-Computer Interaction
- Quality of presentation
The award includes an honorarium of $1,000, the opportunity to give a talk at CHI, and lifetime invitation to the annual SIGCHI awards banquet.
The Outstanding Dissertation Award follows a special process detailed here.
SIGCHI Academy
The SIGCHI Academy is an honorary group of individuals who have made substantial contributions to the field of human-computer interaction. These are leaders of the field, whose efforts have shaped the disciplines and/or industry, and led the research and/or innovation in human-computer interaction. Criteria for selection are:
- Cumulative contributions to the field
- Impact on the field through development of new research directions and/or innovations
- Influence on the work of others
- Reasonably active participant in the ACM SIGCHI community
The award includes lifetime invitation to the annual SIGCHI awards banquet.