Simon, Herbert A. (Herbert Alexander), 1916-2001

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1916-06-15

Death 2001-02-09

Nationality: Americans,

Language: English,

Biographical notes:

Social scientist.

From the description of Reminiscences of Herbert Alexander Simon : oral history, 1979. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309739214

Born in 1916 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Simon was educated at the University of Chicago. Since 1949, he has been on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University, where he is University Professor of Computer Science and Psychology.

In 1978, he received the Alfred Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, and in 1986 the National Medal of Science. Dr. Simon's research is centrally concerned with cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence, and the use of computers to stimulate human thinking and problem solving processes and the implications of these processes for social institutions. His work in artificial intelligence has helped build the foundations for the modern development of so-called "expert systems," widely used in industry, science and medicine. In the past 25 years, he has made extensive use of the computer as a tool for both stimulating human thinking and augmenting it with artificial intelligence. At present most of his research effort is directed to four areas: (1) programs that discover scientific laws, (2) modeling expert and novice skills, (3) learning programs, and (4) diagrammatic representation and imagery. The Chinese Academy of Sciences recently elected Dr. Simon as a Foreign Member of the academy.

He is also currently the Principal Investigator for two grants from the National Science Foundation and from the Office of Naval Research. Dr. Simon is also very dedicated to campus growth and well-being. Among the committees at Carnegie Mellon he gives counsel to, are: The Board of Trustees, Carnegie Mellon's Executive and Budget Committees, the Committee on Undergraduate Education and the Philosophy and Physics Advisory Committees.

From the description of The Herbert A. Simon collection, 1940-, 1950-1990. (Carnegie Mellon University). WorldCat record id: 38110566