The Herbert A. Simon Award is presented to researchers who have made important lifetime contributions to the field of complex systems science. The Award was named in memory of Herbert A. Simon for his pioneering work on complex systems, artificial intelligence, information processing, decision-making, problem-solving, and organization theory. The award ceremony is held during the International Conference on Complex Systems.
In 2020, the Award will be presented to Melanie Mitchell for her prolific contributions to complex systems science and artificial intelligence. Prof. Mitchell is the Davis Professor of Complexity at the Santa Fe Institute, and Professor of Computer Science (currently on leave) at Portland State University. Her current research focuses on conceptual abstraction, analogy-making, and visual recognition in artificial intelligence systems.
Prof. Mitchell is the author or editor of six books and numerous scholarly papers in the fields of artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and complex systems. Her latest book is Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans. She originated the Santa Fe Institute's Complexity Explorer platform, which offers online courses and other educational resources related to the field of complex systems. Her online course “Introduction to Complexity” has been taken by over 25,000 students, and is one of Course Central’s “top fifty online courses of all time.”
2018
In 2018, the Award was be presented to H. Eugene Stanley for his prolific contributions to complex systems science and statistical physics. Stanley is the William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor; Professor of Physics; Professor of Chemistry; Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Professor of Physiology (School of Medicine) at Boston University and Director of the Center for Polymer Studies.
2011
In 2011, the Award was presented to Thomas Schelling for his work on "Micromotives and Macrobehavior," a foundation of agent based modeling of emergent social behaviors. The Award was also given in recognition of his contributions to society through the analysis of negotiation, deterrence and mutual assured destruction, which motivated the key policies of world stability and survival during the cold war.
2007
Muhammad Yunus was presented the award in 2007 for his work on economics. Yunus is credited with developing the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.
2006
In 2006, two scientists were recognized with Herbert A. Simon Awards. John F. Nash Jr. was honored for his seminal analysis of game theory.
Kenneth Wilson was also presented the Award for his fundamental work on the development of Renormalization Group.
2002
The Award was presented in 2002 to Philip W. Anderson. Anderson is the originator of studies on spin glasses, and the author of many works on the collective properties of condensed matter systems.
2000
Stuart Kauffman received the inaugural Herbert A. Simon Award in 2000 for his pioneering contributions to the study of Systems Biology. Kauffman is the author of At Home in the Universe and The Origins of Order: Self-Organization and Selection in Evolution.