The Lifetime Service Award honors individuals who have contributed to the growth of the Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) in a variety of capacities and for extended service to the community over many years.

“We want to thank Geraldine Fitzpatrick for her significant and important impact on our community through her many services roles and innovations – always engaging us with humor, energy, and care,” emphasizes Philippe Palanque, Chair of the SIGCHI Service Award Committee and Professor for Computer Science at the Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse, who presented the Lifetime Service Award at the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) on May 4th, 2022.

Fitzpatrick has been active in the ACM SIGCHI community since the 1990s, serving in chair roles at various ACM conferences, including the General Chair of the CHI 2019 conference. She is a member of the CHI steering committee and has also been involved in multiple regional ACM and SIGCHI-affiliated activities. At the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), she is not only an ACM Distinguished Scientist, but a co-editor of the CACM column ‘Computing Enabled me to…’, part of the Distinguished Members Selection Committee, and was ACM Distinguished Speaker. Fitzpatrick, an IFIP Fellow and Pioneer Award recipient, also represents Austria on the IFIP Technical Committee on Human-Computer Interaction (TC-13). Despite her impressive activities, Fitzpatrick states that “we never feel that we’re ready for these roles, and neither did I. You just have to be ready enough, and the fact that others believed in me kept me going further.”

About Geraldine Fitzpatrick

At TU Wien Informatics, Geraldine Fitzpatrick is leading the Human Computer Interaction Research Unit and is Professor of Technology Design and Assessment. She has a very diverse background, holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering (University of Queensland) and a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology (University of East London). Her research draws from her international academic background and her previous career as a nurse and midwife – contributing socio-technical and human-centered perspectives on collaboration, healthcare, aging, well-being, and sustainability.

Geraldine Fitzpatrick is particularly passionate about how we can craft better academic cultures and peer communities. “It is crucial to make academic work sustainable. Taking on service roles like conference chairs on top of your research and teaching responsibilities is tough, especially for young academics. I want people to truly realize the value of this ‘unseen work’. Because every decision – from water bottles to inviting keynote speakers – is done by a person investing time and energy into this decision.”

Fitzpatrick hosts the Changing Academic Life Podcast Series and facilitates many colloquia and workshops relevant to Ph.D. students, early career development, academic leadership development, diversity, and mentoring. She also mentors many women and young researchers internationally.

Check out the interview with Geraldine Fitzpatrick on her Lifetime Service Award with Anna Cox at the CHI 2022 Conference in New Orleans, LA, here.

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