Association for Computing Machinery

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is an international learned society for computing founded on September 15, 1947, and headquartered in New York City. It is a non-profit group that brings together students and professionals who are interested in computers and technology.

With nearly 110,000 members, the ACM works to support learning and sharing in the field of computer science and informatics. It publishes research papers, organizes conferences, and offers awards to recognize great achievements in computing.

The ACM’s motto, “Advancing Computing as a Science & Profession,” shows its goal to help make computing a respected and growing field. It plays a big role in shaping how we understand and use technology today.

History

In 1947, a group of people who liked computers sent out a notice. They thought there should be a group where people who worked with computers could share ideas. This group included experts from places like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Raytheon Manufacturing Co., and Bureau of Standards.

The group officially started the Association for Computing Machinery on September 15, 1947. At first, it was called the Eastern Association for Computing Machinery, but the next year it changed to its current name. Over time, more and more people interested in computers and technology joined.

Activities

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has local groups called chapters and special interest groups, known as SIGs. These groups hold meetings and publish journals about different areas of computer science.

Some famous groups, like SIGGRAPH, SIGDA, SIGPLAN, SIGCSE, and SIGCOMM, organize big events where experts share their ideas. The ACM also supports fun competitions, such as the worldwide ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest.

Services

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) shares useful things for people who study and work with computers. It publishes journals and magazines for computer experts. One journal is the Journal of the ACM. The magazines are Communications of the ACM, also called Communications or CACM, and Queue.

ACM has other publications, like ACM XRDS, a magazine for students, and ACM Interactions, which looks at how people use technology. There are many other journals on different topics in computer science.

The ACM has an online service called the ACM Portal. It includes the ACM Digital Library, which has all the articles, magazines, and conference papers the ACM has published since the 1950s. The Digital Library also has a guide to computing literature. The ACM made some of its old publications free to read in 2022. The ACM is working toward making all its publications open access by 2026.

Membership grades

Main category: Members of the Association for Computing Machinery

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has different levels of membership. These levels show people who have been members for a long time and have done great work in computing. They help to highlight those who have achieved a lot.

Fellows

Main article: ACM Fellow

For a more comprehensive list, see List of fellows of the Association for Computing Machinery.

The ACM Fellows Program began in 1993. It honors members who have made big contributions to computer science and technology.

Distinguished Members

For a more comprehensive list, see List of distinguished members of the Association for Computing Machinery.

In 2006, ACM started a group called Distinguished Members. This includes Distinguished Engineers, Distinguished Scientists, and Distinguished Educators. They need at least 15 years of work experience and 5 years as a member of ACM. They must also have made a big impact on the computing field.

Senior Members

Also in 2006, ACM began recognizing Senior Members. These are members with at least 10 years of work experience and 5 years as a member. They must have shown leadership and made important contributions. They also need three letters of support.

Professional Members

Professional Membership is for people who have:

1. A Bachelor’s degree (in any subject),
2. Or, a similar level of education,
3. Or, two years of full-time work in the IT field.

Professional members are the main group of non-student members in ACM.

Student Members

ACM also offers membership to students studying computing-related subjects. Student members pay less and get help with their learning.

Distinguished Speakers

Although not a membership level, ACM also has Distinguished Speakers. These are experts in computer science chosen to speak for three years. They come from schools, companies, and governments. They share their knowledge on different topics in computing. This program has existed for over 20 years and helps bring experts to talk about their expertise.

Code of Ethics

The ACM has special rules called the Code of Ethics. These rules help computer experts make good choices. In 2018, they updated the rules to include ideas about artificial intelligence and Big Data.

The rules talk about being kind, not hurting others, being honest, treating everyone fairly, respecting others’ work, keeping private information safe, and keeping secrets unless they must tell someone about a problem.

The rules start with seven big ideas: help society, don’t cause harm, be honest, be fair, respect others’ creations, protect privacy, and keep secrets safe. These ideas help computer experts make choices that are good for everyone.

Chapters

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has three types of groups: Special Interest Groups, Professional Chapters, and Student Chapters. These groups help members share ideas and learn together.

As of 2022, ACM had professional and Special Interest Groups in 56 countries, and student chapters in 41 countries.

Main category: Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Groups

Conferences

Main category: Association for Computing Machinery conferences

The ACM and its Special Interest Groups hold many conferences around the world. These conferences are great places to share new ideas in computing. Every year, lots of people attend these events to learn and discuss their work.

Some conferences are organized by student groups, helping students learn from one another. The ACM also partners with other organizations to support women in computing through special events. There are many other computer science conferences as well.

Awards

The ACM gives out awards for excellent work in computer science and information technology. These awards recognize people who have made important contributions to the field.

Many of the ACM's Special Interest Groups also give out awards for great work in their areas of focus. Some of these awards are listed below.

Leadership

The Association for Computing Machinery is led by a group called the Council. The current President is Yannis Ioannidis. He has been President since 2022. The Council includes the president, vice-president, treasurer, past president, and other leaders who help guide the organization.

Infrastructure

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has many groups that help it run smoothly. These include the ACM Council, ACM Executive Committee, Digital Library Board, and Education Board.

Other important groups are the Practitioner Board, Publications Board, SIG Governing Board, ACM Technology Policy Council, and ACM Representatives to Other Organizations. The ACM also works closely with the Computer Science Teachers Association.

ACM Council on Women in Computing

Main article: ACM Council on Women in Computing

The ACM Council on Women in Computing, known as ACM-W, helps and celebrates women who work in computing. It supports women by organizing events, student groups, and offering scholarships. ACM-W partners with groups like the Anita Borg Institute, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, and the Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research. Each year, ACM-W gives the Athena Lecturer Award to women who have done excellent research in computer science. The award began in 2006.

Partner organizations

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) works closely with the IEEE Computer Society. The IEEE is part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE focuses more on building computer hardware, while ACM shares many goals with it. Together, they organize conferences, publish important papers, and give out awards. Two big awards in computer science, the Eckert–Mauchly Award and the Ken Kennedy Award, are given by both ACM and the IEEE Computer Society.

ACM also teams up with other groups, such as the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, to hold events and share ideas.

Criticism

In December 2019, the ACM joined other publishers to write a letter to President Donald Trump. They were worried that a plan to share research online quickly might cost more or make things harder for researchers. This plan was only a rumor and it wasn’t clear where it came from. Many ACM members didn’t agree with the letter. The ACM later said they still supported sharing research freely and wanted to talk more about the idea. Not everyone was happy with how the ACM handled this.