# Edward Feigenbaum

> American computer scientist (born 1936)

**Wikidata**: [Q92823](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92823)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Feigenbaum)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/edward-feigenbaum

## Summary
Edward Feigenbaum is an American computer scientist born in 1936, widely recognized for his pioneering work in artificial intelligence. He is particularly noted for his contributions to the development of expert systems and was awarded the Turing Award in 1994 for his foundational work in this field. Feigenbaum has served as a university teacher and academic at Stanford University.

## Biography
- Born: 1936-01-20, Weehawken
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Carnegie Mellon University, Weehawken High School
- Known for: Pioneering work in artificial intelligence and expert systems
- Employer(s): Stanford University, Stanford University Computer Science Department
- Field(s): Computer science, informatics, artificial intelligence, expert system, health informatics

## Contributions
Edward Feigenbaum's primary contributions lie in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly through his pioneering work on expert systems. An expert system is defined as a computer system that emulates the decision-making ability of a human expert. His research and development in this area were instrumental in advancing artificial intelligence, which is a field of computer science that develops and studies software enabling machines to exhibit intelligent behavior.

His significant impact on computer science and artificial intelligence was recognized with the Turing Award in 1994, shared with Raj Reddy. He also received the Computer Pioneer Award in 2013 and was named a Computer History Museum Fellow in 2012. Feigenbaum's academic career at Stanford University, where he served as a university teacher and academic, further contributed to the field by educating and advising numerous doctoral students, including notable computer scientists like Niklaus Wirth, Alon Y. Halevy, and Douglas B. Lenat. His work helped establish the practical application of AI through expert systems, influencing the trajectory of computational systems for data storage and retrieval, and even extending to health informatics.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Edward Feigenbaum primarily known for?
A: Edward Feigenbaum is primarily known for his pioneering work in artificial intelligence, specifically his foundational contributions to the development of expert systems. This work earned him the Turing Award in 1994.

### Q: What awards has Edward Feigenbaum received?
A: Edward Feigenbaum has received several prestigious awards, including the Turing Award in 1994, the Computer Pioneer Award in 2013, and was named a Computer History Museum Fellow in 2012. He is also an AAAI Fellow (1990) and an ACM Fellow (2007).

### Q: Where did Edward Feigenbaum work?
A: Edward Feigenbaum was employed by Stanford University, specifically within its Computer Science Department, where he served as a university teacher and academic.

### Q: Who was Edward Feigenbaum's doctoral advisor?
A: Edward Feigenbaum's doctoral advisor was Herbert Simon, an American political scientist, economist, sociologist, and psychologist.

### Q: What fields did Edward Feigenbaum work in?
A: Edward Feigenbaum's fields of work include computer science, informatics, artificial intelligence, expert systems, and health informatics.

## Why They Matter
Edward Feigenbaum's work fundamentally shaped the field of artificial intelligence, particularly by demonstrating the practical utility of expert systems. His pioneering efforts in developing computer systems that could emulate human expert decision-making moved AI from theoretical concepts to tangible applications. This innovation paved the way for numerous subsequent developments in AI and its integration into various industries, including health informatics.

His recognition with the Turing Award, one of the highest honors in computer science, underscores the lasting impact and significance of his contributions. As a university teacher and academic at Stanford University, he not only advanced research but also mentored a generation of computer scientists, including notable figures like Niklaus Wirth and Douglas B. Lenat, ensuring his influence propagated through the academic and industrial landscape. Without his foundational work, the trajectory of artificial intelligence and its real-world applications would likely be significantly different.

## Notable For
*   Recipient of the Turing Award in 1994 for his pioneering work in artificial intelligence and expert systems.
*   Awarded the Computer Pioneer Award in 2013.
*   Inducted as a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1986.
*   Named an ACM Fellow in 2007 for contributions to artificial intelligence.
*   Recognized as an AAAI Fellow in 1990.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Edward Feigenbaum was born on January 20, 1936, in Weehawken. He attended Weehawken High School. For his higher education, he studied at Carnegie Mellon University. His doctoral advisor was Herbert Simon.

### Career and Affiliations
Feigenbaum is an American computer scientist, university teacher, academic, artificial intelligence researcher, and inventor. He has been employed by Stanford University, specifically within the Stanford University Computer Science Department, and his work location is Stanford. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering (inducted in 1986), the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and the Association for Computing Machinery (named an ACM Fellow in 2007).

### Fields of Work
His primary fields of work include computer science, informatics, artificial intelligence, expert systems, and health informatics. Artificial intelligence is defined as a field of computer science that develops and studies software enabling machines to exhibit intelligent behavior. An expert system is a computer system that emulates the decision-making ability of a human expert. Informatics is the study of computational systems, especially those for data storage and retrieval, and health informatics is a discipline at the intersection of information science, computer science, and health care.

### Awards and Recognition
Edward Feigenbaum has received numerous accolades for his contributions:
*   **Turing Award**: 1994 (shared with Raj Reddy)
*   **Computer Pioneer Award**: 2013
*   **Computer History Museum Fellow**: 2012
*   **AAAI Fellow**: 1990
*   **ACM Fellow**: 2007, for contributions to artificial intelligence

### Doctoral Students
Feigenbaum has advised several doctoral students, including:
*   Peter D. Karp
*   Niklaus Wirth
*   Alon Y. Halevy
*   Douglas B. Lenat
*   Lawrence Marvin Fagan
*   John Llewelyn Mohammed
*   Jonathan Jay King
*   Robert Elliot Kling

### Archives
His archives are held at the Computer History Museum and Stanford University Libraries.

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## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eaf/wordpress/)
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. [Edward A Feigenbaum - A.M. Turing Award Laureate](https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/feigenbaum_4167235.cfm)
5. [Edward Feigenbaum. 2018](https://www.computer.org/profiles/edward-feigenbaum)
6. [Source](https://aaai.org/about-aaai/aaai-awards/the-aaai-fellows-program/elected-aaai-fellows/)
7. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2007/december/acm-names-38-fellows-for-computing-and-it-innovations-in-industry-education-entertainment)
8. Mathematics Genealogy Project
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. CiNii Research
11. Virtual International Authority File
12. [Dr. Edward A. Feigenbaum](https://www.nae.edu/27996/wd)
13. [Past AAAI Officers](https://aaai.org/about-aaai/aaai-officers-and-committees/past-aaai-officers/)
14. [Source](http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102746203)
15. SNAC
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. [Source](https://oralhistory.library.ucla.edu/catalog/21198-zz002jxzh3)