Gödel Prize

The Gödel Prize is an annual prize for outstanding papers in the area of theoretical computer science, given jointly by the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS) and the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computational Theory (ACM SIGACT). The award is named in honor of Kurt Gödel, a famous mathematician. Gödel’s important connection to this field was that he first mentioned the “P versus NP” question in a 1956 letter to John von Neumann. He wondered if certain hard problems could be solved quickly, a question that still excites scientists today.

The Gödel Prize has been awarded since 1993. It is given each year either at ICALP or STOC, major conferences for scientists studying computation. STOC is the ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing, a main event in North America, while ICALP is the International Colloquium on Automata, Languages and Programming, a main event in Europe. To be eligible, a paper must have been published in a science journal within the last 14 years. The prize includes a reward of US$5000.

A special group of six experts chooses the winner each year. The leaders of EATCS and SIGACT each help pick three members for this group, who serve for three years. The group is led by leaders from either EATCS or SIGACT, changing each year. Unlike the Gödel Prize, which honors great papers, the Knuth Prize is given to individuals for their big impacts on the whole field.

Recipients

The Gödel Prize is given each year for really important work in theoretical computer science. It is given by two groups: the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS) and the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computational Theory (ACM SIGACT). The prize is named after Kurt Gödel, who helped start questions that are very important in this field.

Winning papers

The Gödel Prize is a special award given each year for really smart work in theoretical computer science. It's offered by two groups that love this kind of science: the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS) and the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computational Theory (ACM SIGACT). The prize is named after Kurt Gödel, a brilliant thinker who once asked a big question about solving tough problems quickly. This prize helps find and celebrate the best ideas in computer science every year.