Applications for the 2023 Academy of Sciences Lovelace-Babbage Computer Prize are now open

27 octobre 2022

Created last year by the French Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Société Informatique de France, the “Lovelace-Babbage” computer science prize rewards scientists, women and men, whose work, from the most theoretical to the most applied, contributes to the creation of these new technologies. Applications for the 2023 edition are open until December 10.

The “Lovelace-Babbage” prize concerns the field of computer science, understood here in the broad sense of science and technology at the heart of digital technology. It was named in memory of the creator of the very first computer program, Ada Lovelace, and the designer of the ancestor of the computer for which this program was intended, Charles Babbage.

The prize, worth 3,000 euros for each of the two laureates awarded each year, is awarded jointly by the French Academy of Sciences and the Société Informatique de France (SIF) to a researcher:

under 40 years of age on January 1, 2023 or having obtained his/her thesis after January 1, 2011, the duration of parental or sick leave being added to these limits
French or foreigner working in France for at least one year, or French working in a foreign laboratory affiliated to a French structure (CNRS, Inria…).

No constraints are imposed on the subfields of computer science concerned or on the nature of the laureates’ work.

Submission of applications and schedule

Applications must consist of a document of no more than 5 pages containing a brief presentation of the work and its scientific and societal impacts. The information must allow for a decision to be made on the acceptability criteria of the application and a presentation of the main contributions. It may also include up to 2 letters of recommendation in addition to the 5 pages of the dossier. The dossier will contain references (links) on the 5 most representative scientific articles and scientific contributions in other forms such as software…

The dossier should be written in French or English and sent in pdf format to the following address: prix-ads-sif@societe-informatique-de-france.fr before December 10th midnight.

An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent upon receipt of the application.

The jury constituted by the FIS will propose a list of applications to the Academy of Sciences which will proceed to the selection of the applications. In May 2023, an announcement will be made to the laureates with embargo until the prize-giving ceremony under the dome the following autumn.

The Jury

The jury set up by the SIF is made up of almost equal numbers of members from the Academy of Sciences, representatives of the SIF’s governing bodies (Board of Directors and Scientific Council) and qualified external figures. The jury is chaired by Pierre Paradinas.

Academy of Sciences