Isabel Cruz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isabel Cruz
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| Born |
Lisbon, Portugal
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| Died | September 19, 2021 |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupation | Computer scientist |
| Awards | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer Science |
| Institutions | |
| Doctoral advisor | Alberto O. Mendelzon |
| Other academic advisors | Paris Kanellakis (postdoctoral) |
Isabel Cruz was a smart and important computer scientist from Portugal and the United States. She passed away in 2021. She was well-known for her work in many areas of computer science. These included how computers store and organize information (called databases), how they understand knowledge, and how they use maps (like geographic information systems). She also worked on AI, making computers smarter, and how people use computers (user interfaces).
Isabel Cruz was a special professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. She was also recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This means she was one of the top scientists in her field.
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Her Journey in Computer Science
Isabel Cruz studied computer science at the University of Toronto in Canada. She earned her master's degree in 1987 and her PhD in 1993. Her main teacher there was Alberto O. Mendelzon. After that, she did more advanced research at Brown University with Paris Kanellakis.
In 1996, she received a special award called the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. This award helps young scientists start their research careers.
Cruz joined the University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering in 2001. She became a very important researcher there. Her work focused on big collections of data (called big data), mapping systems, and the Semantic Web. The Semantic Web helps computers understand information better, like humans do.
Awards and Achievements
Isabel Cruz received many awards for her amazing work in computer science. These awards showed how much she contributed to the field.
Top Science Recognition
In 2019, she was chosen as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This is a very high honor. She was recognized for her work in:
- Making visual ways to ask computers for information.
- Combining and showing information in new ways.
- Using computers for geographic information.
- Being a great leader in the world of data management.
University Honors
The University of Illinois Chicago also gave her special recognition. In 2020, she was named a UIC Distinguished Professor. This means she was one of the most respected professors at the university.
She also received other awards from the university, including:
- University of Illinois Faculty Scholar Award.
- University of Illinois Chicago Great Cities Institute Faculty Scholar Award.
- University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering Faculty Research Award.
- University of Illinois Chicago Teaching Recognition Program Award.
Isabel Cruz's work helped make computers better at handling information and understanding the world around us.
