# Catherine Plaisant

> French American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q23008424](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23008424)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Plaisant)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catherine-plaisant

## Summary
Catherine Plaisant is a French American computer scientist and researcher. She is recognized for her significant contributions to human-computer interaction, information visualization, and computer science. Plaisant has served as the Associate Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Maryland and received the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award in 2020.

## Biography
- Born: 1957-05-26, France
- Nationality: French American (citizenship: France)
- Education:
    - Doctorate in industrial engineering from Pierre and Marie Curie University (1982)
    - Arts et Métiers ParisTech
    - Sorbonne University (completed by 1982)
- Known for: Contributions to human-computer interaction, information visualization, and computer science.
- Employer(s):
    - University of Maryland (from August 1987)
    - Centre Mondial Informatique et Ressource Humaine (October 1982 - April 1987)
- Field(s): computer science, human–computer interaction, information visualization

## Contributions
Catherine Plaisant has made substantial contributions to the fields of human-computer interaction, information visualization, and computer science. Her academic foundation includes a doctorate in industrial engineering from Pierre and Marie Curie University in 1982, where her thesis focused on "Étude et mise en œuvre d'un système de télécommande vocale de l'environnement à l'usage des handicapes tétraplégiques." She began her professional career as a Research Associate at the Centre Mondial Informatique et Ressource Humaine from October 1982 to April 1987.

Since August 1987, Plaisant has been a key figure at the University of Maryland, notably serving as the Associate Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab since January 1997 and as a senior researcher. Her work encompasses user interface design, evaluation measures, open access, and digital libraries. Her impact has been recognized through her election to the ACM SIGCHI Academy in 2015, acknowledging her as a principal leader in Human-Computer Interaction. She was also awarded an Inria International Chair from 2018 to 2022 for her expertise in information visualization and data analysis, and received the prestigious ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award in 2020.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Catherine Plaisant's nationality?
A: Catherine Plaisant is a French American computer scientist. She holds French citizenship.

### Q: Where did Catherine Plaisant receive her education?
A: She earned a doctorate in industrial engineering from Pierre and Marie Curie University in 1982. She also studied at Arts et Métiers ParisTech and Sorbonne University.

### Q: What are Catherine Plaisant's primary fields of work?
A: Her primary fields of work include human-computer interaction, information visualization, and computer science.

### Q: What notable awards has Catherine Plaisant received?
A: She was elected to the CHI Academy in 2015, awarded an Inria International Chair from 2018-2022, and received the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award in 2020.

### Q: Where has Catherine Plaisant worked?
A: She worked as a Research Associate at the Centre Mondial Informatique et Ressource Humaine from 1982 to 1987 and has been with the University of Maryland since 1987, serving as Associate Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab.

## Why They Matter
Catherine Plaisant's work has profoundly influenced the development and understanding of human-computer interaction and information visualization. Her sustained leadership as Associate Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Maryland since 1997 demonstrates a long-term commitment to advancing these critical areas of computer science. Her early doctoral research on assistive technology for quadriplegic individuals highlights a foundational dedication to user-centered design and accessibility.

The numerous accolades she has received, including election to the ACM SIGCHI Academy and the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award, underscore her status as a principal leader whose contributions have shaped the field. Her Inria International Chair further solidifies her expertise in visual analytics for exploratory data analysis, impacting how researchers and practitioners approach complex data. Through her research interests in user interface design, evaluation measures, and digital libraries, Plaisant has continuously pushed for more intuitive, effective, and accessible technological experiences, leaving a lasting legacy on how humans interact with digital information.

## Notable For
*   Recipient of the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award in 2020.
*   Elected to the ACM SIGCHI Academy in 2015, recognizing her as a principal leader in Human-Computer Interaction.
*   Awarded an Inria International Chair from 2018 to 2022 for information visualization and data analysis.
*   Associate Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Maryland since 1997.
*   Authored a doctoral thesis on a voice-controlled remote system for quadriplegic individuals in 1982.

## Body
### Personal Life and Education
Catherine Plaisant was born on May 26, 1957, in France. She holds French citizenship and resides in the Washington metropolitan area. She is fluent in both French and English.

Plaisant pursued her higher education in France. She received a doctorate in industrial engineering from Pierre and Marie Curie University in 1982. Her doctoral thesis was titled "Étude et mise en œuvre d'un système de télécommande vocale de l'environnement à l'usage des handicapes tétraplégiques." She also studied at Arts et Métiers ParisTech and Sorbonne University, completing her studies by 1982.

### Career and Research
Plaisant began her career as a Research Associate at the Centre Mondial Informatique et Ressource Humaine in Paris, France, from October 1982 to April 1987.

In August 1987, Plaisant joined the University of Maryland in College Park. She has held the position of Associate Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Maryland since January 1997. She is also recognized as a senior researcher. Her work focuses on human-computer interaction, computer science, and information visualization. Her research interests include user interface design, user interfaces, evaluation measures, open access, and digital libraries.

### Awards and Recognition
Catherine Plaisant has received several significant awards recognizing her contributions to her field:
*   **CHI Academy (2015)**: She was elected to the ACM SIGCHI Academy in 2015, acknowledging her as a principal leader in the field of Human-Computer Interaction.
*   **Inria International Chair (2018-2022)**: From 2018 to 2022, she was awarded an Inria International Chair. This recognition was for her work in information visualization and data analysis, and she was affiliated with CEA Paris-Saclay and the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique during this period.
*   **ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award (2020)**: In 2020, Plaisant received the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award.

### Identifiers and Online Presence
Catherine Plaisant maintains an online presence through various platforms. Her official website is http://hcil.umd.edu/catherine-plaisant/. She has a Twitter account (@CPlaisant) and a LinkedIn profile (catherineplaisant). Her academic work is indexed under identifiers such as ISNI (0000000067807678), GND ID (140255389), VIAF ID (63676352), and Google Scholar Author ID (VnwWgwIAAAAJ).

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## References

1. IdRef
2. BnF authorities
3. [Source](http://hcil.umd.edu/catherine-plaisant/)
4. [Source](https://ischool.umd.edu/faculty-staff/catherine-plaisant)
5. datos.bne.es
6. LinkedIn
7. [SIGCHI LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD](https://sigchi.org/awards-sigchi-award-recipients-2020-sigchi-awards/)
8. [Catherine Plaisant  (full résumé - October 99)](http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/members/cplaisant/resume.htm)
9. Google Scholar
10. [Source](https://hcil.umd.edu/catherine-plaisant/)
11. BNE authority file
12. [Source](https://sigchi.org/awards/sigchi-award-recipients/2015-sigchi-awards/)
13. [Holders of Inria International Chairs](https://www.inria.fr/en/institute/careers/inria-international-chairs/international-chairs)
14. [Titulaires des chaires internationales](https://www.inria.fr/institut/carrieres-metiers/chaires-internationales-inria/chaires-internationales)
15. [Source](https://www.inria.fr/equipes/aviz)
16. [Source](https://sigchi.org/awards/sigchi-award-recipients/)
17. Virtual International Authority File
18. International Standard Name Identifier
19. Integrated Authority File
20. Library of Congress Name Authority File
21. [Source](https://data.bnf.fr/fr/17105787/catherine_plaisant/)
22. dblp computer science bibliography
23. Open Library
24. [Source](https://www.umiacs.umd.edu/people/plaisant)
25. ACM Digital Library
26. [Source](http://datos.bne.es/persona/XX1656669.ttl)
27. WorldCat
28. Classify
29. SUDOC
30. Google Books
31. Scopus
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33. Name and Title Authority File of Catalonia
34. CONOR.SI
35. Trove
36. X
37. Facebook
38. ResearchGate
39. Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
40. The Academic Family Tree
41. [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/catherineplaisant/about)
42. BabelNet
43. Goodreads
44. RERO
45. SNAC
46. Medium
47. Semantic Scholar
48. [Source](https://app.dimensions.ai/details/entities/publication/author/ur.01062150526.15)
49. Microsoft Academic
50. [Source](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37283026800)