New York, NY, March 15, 2006 - The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has recognized Jack Minker, Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland, for his contributions to logic-based methods in Computer Science, and his role in organizing and stimulating scientific discourse. Dr. Minker, an internationally recognized leader in the field of human rights of computer scientists, advocated for freedoms on behalf of fellow scientists working in totalitarian countries, including those in the so-called "Iron Curtain" countries of Eastern Europe. Dr. Minker will receive the ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award, which honors career contributions that have breadth within computer science, or that bridge computer science and other disciplines. The award, which is cosponsored by ACM and the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), comes with a cash prize of $10,000.

Dr. Minker is considered one of the founders of deductive database programming, which incorporates mathematical logic into programming systems. Deductive databases are designed for applications with large quantities of data. He is also the editor or co-editor of several books on deductive databases, logic programming, and the use of logic in artificial intelligence. He has authored more than 150 refereed publications, including journal articles, conference papers and book chapters.

Beyond his technical contributions to Computer Science, Dr. Minker led the struggle in the computer community for the release of scientists Anatoly Shcharansky and Aleksandr Lerner from the former Soviet Union. He also led a delegation to the Soviet Embassy to obtain medical assistance for Andrei Sakharov and his wife while they were in exile in Gorky.

Dr. Minker served as chair of the Computer Science Advisory Board to the National Science Foundation and was a member of the NASA Study Group for Machine Intelligence and Robotics. He was elected as a Fellow of ACM. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

A 1949 graduate in Mathematics from Brooklyn College, New York, he earned an M.S. degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1950, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1959. After working in industry at Bell Aircraft Corporation and RCA, he joined Auerbach Corporation and became Technical Director of its Washington, DC office. He began his academic career at the University of Maryland in 1967, and was appointed the first chairman of the Department of Computer Science at in 1974.

ACM will present the Allen Newell Award at the annual ACM Awards Banquet on May 20, at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, CA. The award was named for Allen Newell, a pioneer in artificial intelligence. This endowed award is supported by the American Association for Artificial Intelligence, and by individual contributions.

About ACM
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery http://www.acm.org, is an educational and scientific society uniting the world's computing educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.