Druin Named ACM Distinguished Scientist

Allison Druin, a professor in the College of Information Studies (iSchool) with an appointment in UMIACS, was recently recognized as an ACM Distinguished Scientist for her achievements in human-computer interaction.

ACM bestows the Distinguished Scientist designation upon those who have 15 years of professional experience and have achieved significant accomplishments or have made a significant impact in the computing field.

Druin holds an appointment the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL). Over the last 20 years, Druin’s HCIL research has extensively focused on developing new technologies for children. She has led the development of new educational technologies, such as the International Children’s Digital Library and StoryKit, which are used by children, parents, and teachers around the world.

Druin also serves as the university’s first chief futurist and co-director of the Future of Information Alliance (FIA). Her focus is not on predicting the future, but on preparing for it, with faculty and students campus-wide conducting research. In this role, she has helped develop a “Visiting Future-ist” program for gatherings around the Washington, D.C. area, which have included some of the first events to discuss MOOCs, big data and more.

She has assisted in establishing an FIA partner network with the U.S. Library of Congress, the U.S. National Park Service, the Governor of Maryland, the Smithsonian, and many others.

Druin has published extensively in journals and books, and has been a keynote speaker throughout the world. For the last seven and a half years, she has also been a monthly technology correspondent for the WAMU 88.5 Kojo Nnamdi show as the “Computer Gal.”

Druin is the fourth member of UMIACS to be honored as an ACM Distinguished Scientist. UMIACS members Ben Bederson, Dianne O’Leary, and Louiqa Raschid have also received this recognition.