# Barbara Simons

> American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q14250](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14250)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Simons)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/barbara-simons

## Summary
Barbara Simons is an American computer scientist known for her pioneering work in computer science and her advocacy for secure electronic voting. She served as president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and has been a leading voice on the risks of internet voting. Her career spans research at IBM Almaden Research Center and influential work on voting security.

## Biography
- Born: January 26, 1941, in Boston
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Wellesley College; University of California, Berkeley
- Known for: Computer science research and electronic voting security advocacy
- Employer(s): IBM Almaden Research Center
- Field(s): Computer science, electronic voting security

## Contributions
Barbara Simons has made significant contributions to computer science research and voting security. She worked as a researcher at IBM Almaden Research Center, where she conducted pioneering work in computer science. Her most notable impact has been in the field of electronic voting, where she has been a leading advocate for secure, verifiable voting systems. Simons has published extensively on the risks of internet voting and paperless electronic voting machines, arguing that these systems are vulnerable to hacking and manipulation. She has served as president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was elected an ACM Fellow in 1994. Her work has influenced election security policies and raised public awareness about the importance of verifiable paper trails in voting systems.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Barbara Simons known for?
A: Barbara Simons is known for her computer science research and her advocacy for secure electronic voting systems. She has been a leading voice warning about the risks of internet voting and paperless electronic voting machines.

### Q: Where did Barbara Simons work?
A: Barbara Simons worked at IBM Almaden Research Center as a computer scientist. She has also been affiliated with academic institutions including Wellesley College and the University of California, Berkeley.

### Q: What awards has Barbara Simons received?
A: Barbara Simons has received multiple awards including the EFF Award in 1998, the Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility in 1992, and was named an ACM Fellow in 1994.

## Why They Matter
Barbara Simons matters because she has bridged the gap between computer science research and public policy, particularly in the critical area of election security. Her advocacy has helped shape national conversations about the vulnerabilities of electronic voting systems and the need for verifiable paper trails. By leveraging her expertise as a computer scientist and her position as ACM president, she has influenced both technical standards and public understanding of voting security. Her work continues to impact how elections are conducted and secured across the United States, making her a crucial figure in ensuring the integrity of democratic processes in the digital age.

## Notable For
- Served as president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Received the EFF Award in 1998 for her work on voting security
- Named ACM Fellow in 1994 for contributions to computer science
- Received the Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility in 1992
- Pioneering research at IBM Almaden Research Center

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Barbara Simons was born on January 26, 1941, in Boston, Massachusetts. She pursued her education at Wellesley College and later attended the University of California, Berkeley for advanced studies.

### Professional Career
Simons built her career as a computer scientist at IBM Almaden Research Center, where she conducted pioneering research in computer science. Her work at IBM established her as a respected researcher in the field.

### Leadership and Advocacy
Beyond her research career, Simons has been a prominent advocate for secure electronic voting. She served as president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), one of the most prestigious organizations in computer science. Her leadership extended to public policy, where she has testified before government bodies about the risks of internet voting and paperless electronic voting systems.

### Publications and Research
Simons has published extensively on computer science topics and voting security. Her research has focused on the technical vulnerabilities of electronic voting systems and the importance of verifiable paper trails. She has co-authored influential papers and books on election security that have shaped both academic discourse and public policy.

### Recognition
Throughout her career, Simons has received numerous honors for her contributions to computer science and her advocacy work. These include being named an ACM Fellow in 1994, receiving the EFF Award in 1998, and being honored with the Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility in 1992.

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## References

1. [Source](http://www.startribune.com/u-s-elections-x2009-x2009-internet-voting-and-paperless-machines-have-got-to-go/423242983/)
2. [EFF Awards: Past Winners. 2017](https://www.eff.org/awards/past-winners)
3. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. SNAC
7. NUKAT
8. IdRef
9. Mathematics Genealogy Project