# Bart Selman

> Dutch-American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q4865105](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4865105)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Selman)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bart-selman

## Summary
Bart Selman is a Dutch-American computer scientist and artificial intelligence researcher. He is currently a professor at Cornell University and is recognized for his significant contributions to knowledge representation, reasoning, and the development of randomized methods in search and planning. Selman is a Fellow of both the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

## Biography
- **Born:** 1950
- **Nationality:** United States, Kingdom of the Netherlands
- **Education:**
  - Delft University of Technology
  - University of Toronto
- **Known for:** Knowledge representation, reasoning, and randomized methods in search and planning.
- **Employer(s):**
  - Cornell University (1997–Present)
  - Bell Labs (1990–1997)
  - University of Toronto (1986–1989)
- **Field(s):** Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence

## Contributions
Bart Selman has made distinct contributions to the field of computer science, particularly in artificial intelligence. According to award citations provided in the source material, his work focuses on knowledge representation and reasoning. He is credited with the development of widely used randomized methods applicable to reasoning, search, and planning.

His research spans automated reasoning and planning, for which he was recognized as an ACM Fellow in 2012. Throughout his career, he has been affiliated with major research institutions, including Bell Labs and Cornell University. He has also played a role in academic mentorship, having supervised Stefano Ermon, a noted researcher in computer science. Additionally, he served as the President of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) from 2020 to 2022, succeeding Yolanda Gil and preceding Francesca Rossi.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Bart Selman's nationality?
A: Bart Selman holds citizenship in both the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is described as a Dutch-American computer scientist.

### Q: Where does Bart Selman work?
A: He has been employed by Cornell University since 1997. Prior to this, he worked at Bell Labs (1990–1997) and the University of Toronto (1986–1989).

### Q: What awards has Bart Selman received?
A: Selman was named a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) in 2000 and a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2012. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

### Q: Who was Bart Selman's doctoral advisor?
A: His doctoral advisor was Hector Levesque, a Canadian artificial intelligence researcher.

## Why They Matter
Bart Selman matters to the field of computer science for his dual impact on theoretical research and academic leadership. His technical work in automated reasoning and randomized search methods has provided tools widely used within the AI community, specifically addressing complex problems in planning and knowledge representation.

Beyond research, his leadership as President of the AAAI (2020–2022) placed him at the forefront of the premier scientific society dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence. His career trajectory, moving from industrial research at Bell Labs to academia at Cornell, illustrates a sustained engagement with the evolution of AI over several decades. Furthermore, his academic lineage—studying under AI pioneer Hector Levesque and mentoring researchers like Stefano Ermon—highlights his role in shaping the next generation of scientific inquiry.

## Notable For
- **AAAI Presidency:** Served as President of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence from 2020 to 2022.
- **ACM Fellow:** Elected in 2012 for contributions to artificial intelligence, specifically automated reasoning and planning.
- **AAAI Fellow:** Elected in 2000 for contributions to knowledge representation and randomized reasoning methods.
- **Academic Lineage:** Served as doctoral advisor to Stefano Ermon and was a doctoral student of Hector Levesque.
- **Industrial & Academic Impact:** Held significant research roles at Bell Labs before his long-standing tenure at Cornell University.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Bart Selman was born in 1950. He pursued his higher education at the Delft University of Technology and the University of Toronto. His doctoral work was completed under the supervision of Hector Levesque.

### Career
Selman's career spans prominent academic and industrial research institutions.
*   **University of Toronto (1986–1989):** Early academic appointment.
*   **Bell Labs (1990–1997):** Engaged in research and scientific development in the information technology sector.
*   **Cornell University (1997–Present):** Joined as a faculty member.

### Research and Recognition
Selman's primary research areas include artificial intelligence, with specific focus on:
*   Knowledge representation and reasoning.
*   Automated reasoning and planning.
*   Randomized methods in search.

He received the AAAI Fellow award in 2000 for "significant contributions to the field of knowledge representation and reasoning, and the development of widely used randomized methods in reasoning, search, and planning." Subsequently, he was named an ACM Fellow in 2012 for "contributions to artificial intelligence with applications to automated reasoning and planning." He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

### Professional Service
Selman served as the President of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). His term lasted from 2020 to 2022. He succeeded Yolanda Gil and was succeeded by Francesca Rossi.

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## References

1. [Source](http://www.cs.cornell.edu/selman/selman-cv-2013.pdf)
2. [Source](https://aaai.org/about-aaai/aaai-awards/the-aaai-fellows-program/elected-aaai-fellows/)
3. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2012/december/acm-fellows-named-for-computing-innovations-that-advance-technologies-in-information-age)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Google Knowledge Graph
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File