Established in 1998, the BCS Lovelace Medal recognises people who have made exceptional contributions to either the understanding and advancement of computing, or to computing education.

The Lovelace Medal for Computing Research recognises contributions made through research in academia or industry.

The Lovelace Medal for Computing Education recognises contributions made in any educational setting, through practice, research, or policy.

The expectation is that one award in each field will be given each year, although we reserve the right to award one, several or none in a single year.

Winners are presented with a Lovelace Medal, and their contribution and achievements are celebrated at a special event.

Nominate someone for a Lovelace Medal

Thank you for helping us to highlight and appreciate extraordinary people and their exceptional contributions to computing.

Nominations for the 2023 Lovelace Medal are now open. They will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 24th May 2023.

Eligible candidates

Nominations are accepted from anyone, anywhere in the world but it is expected that nominees are academic, industry or education professionals who have a direct connection with the UK. Nominators and nominees do not need to be BCS members.

Nominees will have had major, notable impact in their field, and be widely recognised for their excellence as well as their wider contribution to the computing community.

They will have furthered knowledge or public understanding, or driven a transformational change in their discipline. They may have made a breakthrough, opened a new area of research, or advanced the efficacy or availability of computing education, including through public policy.

There are no career stage restrictions or expectations with this prize, the emphasis is on impact.

Information to be provided

Nominations should be written for a general computing audience and submitted online.

Entries need to include the following:

  • full name and contact details for both nominator and nominee
  • a short citation to briefly describe what the nominee should be awarded for
  • concise information on the nominee’s contributions, impact and exceptionality
  • brief supporting evidence including a short CV
  • name and email address of someone who will endorse your nomination.

Endorsers will be asked to confirm their endorsement and provide a short statement of support.

All nominators and endorsers are asked to confirm that to the best of their knowledge there is no impediment, relating to professional conduct, to their nominee receiving this prize.

Selection criteria

Selection of the Lovelace Medal winners is made by a Lovelace Medal Selection Panel appointed each year by the BCS Academy of Computing Board.

The Selection Panel will base their evaluations on the overall quality of relevant contributions and achievements by nominees, in relation to the selection criteria outlined below.

Research:

  • originality, significance and impact of research, innovation.
  • quality of publications and/or patents and/or software.
  • collaborations and teamwork, supporting the development of colleagues and encouraging wider collaboration.
  • consideration of ethical and societal implications within their research and its direction.
  • professional standing.

Education:

  • quality of contributions to and impact on availability and quality of educational provision.
  • raising the profile and reach of computing in the curriculum, within and across departments and disciplines.
  • scale and quality of computing talent that has been inspired, nurtured and developed through their efforts.
  • championing and advancing inclusion and diversity in computing education.
  • supporting the development of colleagues and encouraging wider collaboration.

Guide to nominating

Our guidance for nominators has advice on making a good quality nomination. Offline copies of the nomination forms are available for download, to assist with preparing your nomination.

Prepare Lovelace Education nomination 
Prepare Lovelace Research nomination 

Make a nomination

Nominate for education

Make a nomination for The Lovelace Medal for Computing Education.

Education nomination

Nominate for research

Make a nomination for The Lovelace Medal for Computing Research.

Research nomination

About Ada Lovelace

Augusta Ada King-Noel, Countess of Lovelace (1815-1852) was the daughter of the poet, Lord Byron, and an accomplished mathematician, scientist and writer.

Today she’s chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine.

Ada was the first to recognise that the machine had applications beyond pure calculation and created the first algorithm intended to be carried out by such a machine. As a result, she’s regarded by many as the first computer programmer.