Carnegie Mellon University, in cooperation with the Tokyo University of Technology (TUT) in Tokyo, Japan, has established the Katayanagi Prizes in Computer Science. The prizes have been endowed with a gift from Japanese entrepreneur and education advocate Mr. Koh Katayanagi, who founded TUT and several other technical institutions in Japan during the last 60 years.

The awards, to be made annually, include the Katayanagi Prize for Research Excellence and the Katayanagi Emerging Leadership Prize. The former will be awarded to an established researcher with a record of outstanding, sustained achievement, while the latter will honor someone recognized as an emerging research leader. The prizes carry an honorarium of $20,000 for the senior researcher and $10,000 for the junior. Awardees are chosen through a selection process involving nominations and voting by committee members at both institutions.

The first recipients of the prizes are David A. Patterson, the E.H. and M. E. Pardee Chair of Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley; and Takeo Igarashi, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science in the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo.

Patterson's distinguished research career encompasses all aspects of computer system design, including processors, storage and memory systems, and system management. Many of his results, including RISC microprocessors and RAID file systems, have led to multibillion-dollar industries. His project-oriented research style has served as a model for many academic computer scientists.

Igarashi has created a great deal of excitement among computer graphics researchers with his novel ways for creating complex animated objects using simple graphical interfaces. His work points to a future where animation design will be much more intuitive and less labor-intensive than it is today.

Patterson and Igarashi will deliver the inaugural Katayanagi Prize lectures in ceremonies at TUT on March 13 and at Carnegie Mellon March 20 and 22. Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon and TUT President Hideo Aiso will preside over the ceremonies at their respective institutions.

"As the founder of the Katayanagi Prizes in Computer Science, I am personally very pleased to learn that the first prizes are awarded to two distinguished researchers," said Koh Katayanagi, chairman of the Katayanagi Institute. "As one of the pioneers in Japan's computerTakeo Igarashi education, I have devoted my life to the growth of the Japanese computer industry and academia for the past 60 years through the establishment of Tokyo University of Technology and other institutions. Since 2001, we have been collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University in recognition of its position as the world's leader in computer research and education. Against this background, the establishment of the Katayanagi Prizes in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon was indeed a manifestation of my sincere desire to contribute to further advancement of computer science and technology. I hope the new Katayanagi Prizes will be of some value to the progress of research in this important field."

"The first Katayanagi Prizes honor two researchers whose work is generating wide impact on computer science, with applications in many areas of human life and work," Cohon said. "Carnegie Mellon is very grateful to Mr. Koh Katayanagi for his far-sighted generosity in establishing these prizes, and we are pleased to join with the Tokyo University of Technology in recognizing work of such significance. This is a strong beginning to what will be an important honor in the field of computing."

"I wish to thank all the members of the Katayanagi Prize selection committee representing Carnegie Mellon University and Tokyo University of Technology for their arduous task of selecting two outstanding, internationally recognized researchers as the recipients for this year after careful scrutiny based on the prescribed procedures," said TUT President Hideo Aiso. "I believe the fact that the two prizes have been awarded to David A. Patterson, who has long engaged in research in information technology and through his excellent achievements in the field has made outstanding contributions to academic progress, as well as advancement in IT industry; and Takeo Igarashi, a young researcher who is expected to take up a leadership position in research in the future, really endorses the value and authority of the Katayanagi Prizes. I am personally delighted to share this pride and pleasure with everyone today."

"We are pleased to be able to present the Katayanagi Prizes as a way to recognize outstanding achievement in computer science, as a way to connect our university and the Tokyo University of Technology, and to honor the contributions of Mr. Koh Katayanagi," said Randal E. Bryant, dean of Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science. "Our selection committee considered computer science researchers from around the world. We are very excited about the winners for this inaugural awarding of the prizes."