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Deborah Estrin facts for kids

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Deborah Estrin
Deborah Estrin.jpg
Born
Deborah Lynn Estrin

(1959-12-06) December 6, 1959 (age 65)
Citizenship United States
Alma mater University of California, Berkeley (BS)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS, PhD)
Known for mobile health, small data, networked sensing
Scientific career
Fields Computer Science
Institutions Cornell Tech
Doctoral advisor Jerome H. Saltzer
Doctoral students Chalermek Intanagonwiwat, Gene Tsudik, Jeremy Elson, Puneet Sharma, Nirupama Bulusu

Deborah Estrin (born December 6, 1959) is a brilliant computer scientist and a professor at Cornell Tech. She is known for her amazing work with mobile technology and data. She helped start a non-profit group called Open mHealth. In 2013, she gave a popular TEDMED talk about "small data," which is about using small bits of information to understand big things.

Professor Estrin is famous for her research on sensor networks, which are like tiny smart devices that collect information. She also works on "participatory sensing," where people help collect data using their phones. Her work in mobile health and "small data" has made a big difference. She is one of the most-referenced computer scientists ever, meaning many other scientists use her work in their own research.

In 2009, she was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was because she created new ways to use wireless sensors to watch over the environment.

Deborah Estrin's Education Journey

Deborah Estrin started her college studies at the University of California, Berkeley in 1977. She focused on electrical engineering and computer science. After earning her first degree in 1980, she went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, she earned her PhD in 1985, guided by her professor, Jerry Saltzer.

She has also received special honorary degrees for her important work. These include a degree from EPFL in Switzerland in 2008 and an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University in Sweden in 2011. These degrees recognize her big contributions to science.

Where Has Deborah Estrin Taught?

Professor Estrin taught computer science at the University of Southern California from 1986 to 2001. Then, she moved to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and taught there from 2001 to 2013. At UCLA, she was the first director of a special research center called the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS). This center focused on tiny, connected sensors.

In 2012, Cornell Tech announced that Deborah Estrin would be one of their first professors at their new campus in New York City. At Cornell Tech, she holds a special title as the Robert V. Tishman '37 Professor of Computer Science. She also started the Health Tech hub and leads the Small Data Lab. She is part of the Connected Experiences Lab, too.

What is Deborah Estrin's Research About?

Professor Estrin's research focuses on how we can use mobile phones and other sensors to collect and understand data. This information can then be used to help people with their health and overall well-being. For example, her non-profit company, Open mHealth, created ways for health apps to share and use data easily. This helps app developers store, process, and show health information.

Her research also looks into how recommendation systems work, like when a website suggests something you might like. She also studies how to keep people's information private when their data is used.

Awards and Recognitions for Deborah Estrin

Deborah Estrin has received many awards and honors for her research.

  • In 2003, Popular Science magazine named her one of their "Brilliant 10."
  • She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007.
  • In 2009, she was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.
  • She is also a fellow of the ACM and the IEEE. These honors recognize her new ideas in network protocols and sensor network research.
  • In 2018, she received a MacArthur Fellowship, often called a "Genius Grant." This award recognized her for creating open-source tools that use mobile devices and data to solve challenges like managing personal health.

Deborah Estrin comes from a family of computer scientists. Her parents, Gerald Estrin and Thelma Estrin, were also pioneering computer science professors at UCLA. Her sister is Judy Estrin.

Key Awards Deborah Estrin Has Received

Deborah Estrin is also featured in the Notable Women in Computing cards, which highlight important women in the field.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Deborah Estrin para niños

  • Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
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