Introduction to Pattie Maes
Pattie Maes, the Germeshausen Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT and head of the Fluid Interfaces research group within the MIT Media Lab, has been awarded the 2025 ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award. She will accept the award at CHI 2025 in Yokohama, Japan this April.
What is the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award?
The Lifetime Research Award is given to individuals whose research in human-computer interaction (HCI) is considered both fundamental and influential to the field. Recipients are selected based on their cumulative contributions, influence on the work of others, new research developments, and being an active participant in the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI) community.
Pattie Maes’ Contributions
Her nomination recognizes her advocacy to place human agency at the center of HCI and artificial intelligence research. Rather than AI replacing human capabilities, Maes has advocated for ways in which human capabilities can be supported or enhanced by the integration of AI. Pioneering the concept of software agents in the 1990s, Maes’ work has always been situated at the intersection of human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence and has helped lay the foundations for today’s online experience.
Notable Achievements
Her article “Social information filtering: algorithms for automating ‘word of mouth’” from CHI 95, co-authored with graduate student Upendra Shardanand, is the second-most-cited paper from ACM SIGCHI. Beyond her contributions in desktop-based interaction, she has an extensive body of work in the area of novel wearable devices that enhance the human experience, for example by supporting memory, learning, decision-making, or health.
Recognition and Celebration
“As a senior faculty member, Pattie is an integral member of the Media Lab, MIT, and larger HCI communities,” says Media Lab Director Dava Newman. “Her contributions to several different fields, alongside her unwavering commitment to enhancing the human experience in her work, is exemplary of not only the Media Lab’s interdisciplinary spirit, but also our core mission: to create transformative technologies and systems that enable people to reimagine and redesign their lives. We all celebrate this well-deserved recognition for Pattie!” Maes is the second MIT professor to receive this honor, joining her Media Lab colleague Hiroshi Ishii, the Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT and head of the Tangible Media research group.
Response to the Award
“I am honored to be recognized by the ACM community, especially given that it can be difficult sometimes for researchers doing highly interdisciplinary research to be appreciated, even though some of the most impactful innovations often emerge from that style of research,” Maes comments.
Conclusion
Pattie Maes’ award is a testament to her groundbreaking work in the field of human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. Her dedication to placing human agency at the center of her research has paved the way for innovative technologies that enhance the human experience. As a leading researcher and professor, Maes continues to inspire and influence the next generation of researchers and technologists.
FAQs
Q: What is the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award?
A: The ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award is given to individuals whose research in human-computer interaction (HCI) is considered both fundamental and influential to the field.
Q: What has Pattie Maes contributed to the field of HCI?
A: Pattie Maes has pioneered the concept of software agents, advocated for human-centered AI research, and made significant contributions to the development of novel wearable devices that enhance the human experience.
Q: What is the significance of Pattie Maes’ award?
A: Pattie Maes’ award recognizes her cumulative contributions, influence on the work of others, and her commitment to enhancing the human experience through her research.
Q: Who else from MIT has received this award?
A: Hiroshi Ishii, the Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT and head of the Tangible Media research group, has also received the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award.
