Francine Berman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francine Berman
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| Born | February 7, 1951 Glendale, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Washington (BA, MS, PhD) |
| Known for | Cyberinfrastructure, Supercomputer |
| Awards | Ken Kennedy Award, 2009 Digital Preservation Pioneer (National Library of Congress) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer Science |
| Institutions | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California, San Diego, Purdue University, University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
Francine Berman (born February 7, 1951) is an American computer scientist. She is a leader in keeping digital information safe for the future and building powerful computer systems.
In 2009, she received the first-ever Ken Kennedy Award. This award recognized her important work in creating national computer systems. It also honored her inspiring role as a teacher and mentor. In 2004, a magazine called her the "reigning teraflop queen." This meant she was a top expert in supercomputing.
Berman used to be the director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). She was also a professor of computer science at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Since 2009, she has been a vice president and professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). In 2021, she joined the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There, she helps create programs about how technology can serve the public good.
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Early Life and Education
Francine Berman was born in Glendale, California. She studied mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She earned her bachelor's degree in 1973.
Later, she went to the University of Washington. She received her master's degree in 1976 and her Ph.D. in mathematics in 1979. Her Ph.D. research looked at complex logic systems used in theoretical computer science.
Career Highlights
Berman started her career as a professor at Purdue University. In 1984, she moved to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She became a full professor there. In 2002, she received a special award for her work in high-performance computing.
Grid Computing Lab
In 1999, while at UCSD, Berman started the Grid Computing Laboratory. This lab studied how to make powerful computers work together. They also looked at how to create software for these systems.
The lab was famous for its AppLeS project. This project developed smart applications. These applications could adjust themselves to use available computing power. They could even predict how well they would perform.
Leading the San Diego Supercomputer Center
In 2001, Berman became the director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). This center was a key part of the National Science Foundation's program. This program aimed to build national computer systems. It also provided supercomputing tools to researchers across the U.S.
As director, Berman led hundreds of researchers and scientists. SDSC became known for handling huge amounts of data. It also focused on keeping this data safe for the future. Under her leadership, SDSC was seen as a top leader in managing massive data.
Saving Digital Information
In 2007, Berman co-chaired a special group. It was called the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Sustainable Digital Preservation and Access. This group studied how to affordably save digital information. They wanted to make sure important digital data would always be available.
The task force released two reports. These reports offered ideas for keeping digital information safe. They also suggested new research topics. These reports have been downloaded over 120,000 times.
Later Roles
In 2009, Berman became the vice president for research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 2012, she became the U.S. lead for the Research Data Alliance (RDA). The RDA is a global group that helps share research data.
Awards and Recognition
Francine Berman has received many awards for her work. In 2009, she was the first person to get the Ken Kennedy Award. This is a very important award in computer science.
She was also named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2009. In 2011, she became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The Library of Congress also called her a "Digital Preservation Pioneer." This means she was a trailblazer in saving digital information.
Berman has written over 100 articles and book chapters. She was also elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.
Helping Others in STEM
Throughout her career, Berman has worked to help women in STEM fields. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. She especially helps women in computer science.
She helped start the Computing Research Association Committee on the Status of Women (CRA-W). She also led the board of trustees for the Anita Borg Institute. This institute supports women in technology. Berman often gives speeches about data preservation and women in science.
Affiliations
- Anita Borg Institute (Board of Trustees Board Chair)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Vice President for Research and Professor of Computer Science)
See also
In Spanish: Francine Berman para niños
