ACM - Association for Computing Machinery

"Neuroscientists likely can’t figure out, on their own, if free will exists. But they can parse how semantically distinct decision-making forces—desires, urges, intentions, wishes, beliefs—manifest in our brains and become actions."

Learn more about Uri Maoz's research here: https://buff.ly/gLZEBvX

On this day in 1925, 1987 recipient John Cocke was born. He received the award for significant contributions in the design and theory of compilers, the architecture of large systems and the development of reduced instruction set computers (RISC); for discovering and systematizing many fundamental transformations now used in optimizing compilers including reduction of operator strength, elimination of common subexpressions, register allocation, constant propagation, and dead code elimination.

Beyond these achievements, John Cocke is remembered for his inspiring conversations. Many large and high-impact research projects within IBM arose from "discussions with John." Cocke's contributions to computer architecture and optimizing compilers continue to impact technology today. https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/cocke_2083115.cfm

Happening now—pop in and say hi!
https://acm-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/He6ppaczTQyVgKDrUAUa6A

A long history of failure left most of Silicon Valley hesitant to bet on helpful robots. But that has changed.

Check out to learn why the latest boom in robotics represents a revolution in the way machines have learned to interact with the world. https://buff.ly/CJiRmRC

And that's a wrap for the read-along portion of the third ! Have you finished User Friendly on time? Here's some of our favorite quotes from the past two weeks. 👇️

Comment with your thoughts and don't forget to REGISTER for the online discussion tomorrow: https://acm-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/He6ppaczTQyVgKDrUAUa6A #/registration

Announcing ACM’s New Leadership Team! 🌐

Members of ACM have officially elected our new officers for the upcoming two-year term, beginning July 1!

We are thrilled to announce that Elisa Bertino will be heading the new team as incoming ACM President.

Dr. Bertino is the Samuel Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University. Over her remarkable 40-year career, she has made pioneering contributions to information and systems security and privacy. Beyond her groundbreaking research, she is widely recognized and celebrated for her dedicated professional leadership and her commitment to broadening participation in computing through mentorship.

Joining Bertino will be incoming Vice President Rashmi Mohan, Sr. Director of Engineering, Cisco (Splunk) Inc., and Tom Crick, Professor of Digital Society and Policy at the University of Bristol, who will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. In addition, two new Members-at-Large have been elected to four-year terms: Lydia Tapia, Professor, University of New Mexico; and Holly Yanco, Distinguished Professor, University of Massachusetts.

Please join us in congratulating President-elect Bertino and welcoming our new leadership team as they prepare to guide ACM into an exciting next chapter!

👉 https://www.acm.org/articles/bulletins/2026/may/acm-new-officers-2026

Looking for resources to develop mentoring, researching, and networking skills?

Here are three opportunities from CRA's UR2PHD (You Are To PhD) program to get you prepared. Save and share with your classmates and students!

https://cra.org/ur2phd/for-graduate-students/graduate-student-mentor-training-course/
https://cra.org/ur2phd/for-undergraduate-students/research-training-course/
https://cra.org/ur2phd/for-undergraduate-students/pre-research-experience-course/

Innovations can't happen without communities! Every year, ACM recognizes individuals with awards for their exemplary service to the computing field. This year’s awardees drove advancements in learning tools for computer science education, technology policy, and broadening participation in computing—among other areas.

Yasmin B. Kafai, Distinguished Professor, University of Pennsylvania , and Mitchel J. Resnick, Professor of Learning Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , receive the Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award for long-lasting and collective efforts in creative computing, including Scratch and eTextiles, and nurturing their user communities to engage young people in creative learning experiences for discovery and expression.

Ed Felten, Professor, Princeton University , receives the ACM Policy Award for contributions to technology policy, particularly on electronic voting, copyright, consumer protection, and artificial intelligence.

Jodi Tims, Program Manager, Center for Inclusive Computing, Northeastern University , receives the Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award for increasing the worldwide participation of women in ACM and helping to reinforce ACM’s commitment to computing education.

This year's ACM Presidential Awards recipients are:

Claudia Maria Bauzer Medeiros, Professor, University of Campinas, for long-standing and significant contributions to the Brazilian and Latin American computing communities as well as to ACM.

Stephen Ibaraki, Outreach Chair, ITU , for long-standing and considerable contributions to ACM and to the global professional computing community.

Scott Delman, Director of Publications, Association for Computing Machinery, for significant contributions to the realization of the ACM Open publication model.

Wayne Graves, Director of the Digital Library, Association for Computing Machinery, for significant contributions to development of the ACM Digital Library.

Thank you all for your outstanding services! Learn more: https://awards.acm.org/

“The choice facing the modern enterprise is clear: Continue managing artifacts in isolation and hope the highway stays paved, or take the long view of risk.”

Learn more via our popular , "Queue: In Practice," available on : https://buff.ly/h6QZ0CA