Jon Kleinberg Named Recipient of the 2008 ACM-Infosys Foundation Award in the Computing Sciences
Network Pioneer Recognized for Revolutionary Advances in Web Search Techniques
Award Citation
For his contributions to the science of networks and the World Wide Web. His work is a deep combination of social insights and mathematical reasoning.
Jon Kleinberg
Jon Kleinberg, 37, a professor at Cornell University, developed models that document how information is organized on the Web, how it spreads through large social networks, and how these networks are structured to create the small world phenomenon known as "six degrees of separation." Kleinberg's use of mathematical models to illuminate search and social networking tools that underpin today's social structure has created interest in computing from people not formerly drawn to this field.
As the recipient of the 2009 ACM-Infosys Foundation Award, Kleinberg was cited for his work on the use of link analysis, a search technique that ranks the absolute number as well as the most relevant, trusted sources of pages linked to a Web search query. His Hubs and Authorities algorithm along with Google's PageRank algorithm appeared at a time when Web search techniques were based on keyword indexing. Together, this work revealed a basic relationship between network structure and information that fundamentally changed the direction of research and commercial activity on the Web.
In 2005, Kleinberg was named a MacArthur Fellow. He was awarded the Nevanlinna Mathematics Prize in 2006, and in 2008, he was named one of the "best brains under 40" by Discover Magazine. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Since 1996, he has been a visiting scientist at IBM's Almaden Research Center, in addition to a professor of computer science at Cornell where he has also built a reputation as an engaging teacher with a creative ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and lucid manner.
View Videos with Jon Kleinberg
Challenges in Social Network Data, from the ACM SIGKDD 2007 Conference.
The Structure of Information Pathways in a Social Communication Network, from ACM SIGKDD 2008.
Additional information.
An Interview with Jon Kleinberg, Cornell University.
Captured at ACM SIGKDD 2007, interviewer Davor Orlic discusses Kleinberg's popularity at Cornell, how students affectionately call him "Rebel King," his text book on algorithms, and his future plans.
Standing-Room-Only Turnout for Jon Kleinberg Lecture Cornell University Professor.
Jon Kleinberg drew in a standing-room-only crowd with his lecture on Diffusion and Cascading Behavior in Complex Networks at Yahoo! Research on Thursday, August 3, 2006.
2008 ACM-Infosys Award Citation Page
Read ACM's Press Release on the 2008 ACM-Infosys Award recipient
Past Recipient
The ACM-Infosys Foundation Award was established in 2007. The first recipient was Daphne Koller of Stanford University, who was recognized for her innovative approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) that allows computers to reason and learn about the world from real-world data.
About ACM
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery www.acm.org, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting computing educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing 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.
About The Infosys Foundation
Established in 1996, the Infosys Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Infosys Technologies Ltd. and has the sole objective of fulfilling the social responsibility of the company by creating opportunities and working toward a more equitable society. The Infosys Foundation has made effective strides in the areas of healthcare, education, social rehabilitation, and the arts. The company contributes up to one percent of its profit to the foundation each year.
