The International Society for Artificial Life is pleased to confirm the winners of the 2020 ISAL Awards. The awards were presented to recipients during the online 2020 Conference on Artificial Life organised at the University of Vermont, USA.
After a nomination process open to all members of the broader Artificial Life community, three committees reviewed the nominations and made recommendations that were then approved by the ISAL board of directors.
The awards and 2020 winners are:
2020 ISAL Award for Lifetime Achievement
To recognize an individual who has made profound contributions to the field of Artificial Life, influencing the work of many others and helping to shape the state of the art.
Winner:
Prof. Randall Beer
2020 ISAL Award for Distinguished Early-Career Investigator
To recognize an individual who is early in their career (typically pre-tenure), but has already made important contributions to the field of Artificial Life.
Winner:
Dr. Xabier Barandiaran
2020 ISAL Award for Outstanding Publication of 2019
To recognize the authors of a publication in any venue during the previous calendar year that shows significant potential to advance the field of Artificial Life.
Winner:
Lenia: Biology of Artificial Life
Bert Wang-Chak Chan
Complex Systems, 28(3), 2019 pp. 251–286
2020 ISAL Award for Education and Outreach
To recognize the authors of an outstanding project that either teaches about Artificial Life or uses Artificial Life techniques to teach about another topic, or inspires users to learn more on their own.
Winner:
Scary Beauty / Android Opera (Prof. Takashi Ikegami)
2020 ISAL Award for Exceptional Service
To recognize an ISAL member who has provided truly exceptional service to the field of Artificial Life by, for example, helping to organize the Artificial Life community, developing valuable resources, or facilitating administration of ISAL.
Winner:
Dr. Alexandra Penn
Our sincere thanks to the volunteers who reviewed these nominations and recommended the winners to the ISAL board of directors.
In addition, the ISAL student group, ERA (Emerging Researchers In ALife) presents the Outstanding Student Publication Award, which is judged by a committee organised by ERA. The 2020 winner is:
2020 ISAL Award for Outstanding Student Publication
To recognize a student or postdoc for a paper or other publication that they published while a student; any researcher who is still a student or within approximately three years of graduation is eligible.
Winner:
Spatial Structure Can Decrease Symbiotic Cooperation
Anya E. Vostinar (co-authored with Charles Ofria)
Artificial Life 2019 24:4, 229-249
Congratulations to all the winners!