A MOOC pioneer honored at EPFL

Jennifer Widom, dean of the Stanford School of Engineering, has won the Erna Hamburger Prize, which she will be awarded this evening by the EPFL-WISH Foundation. Professor Widom, the Frederick Emmons Terman Dean of the Stanford School of Engineering, is an accomplished researcher in the field of data and information management. She is also a staunch advocate of education for all, which she supports through MOOCs and by taking her teaching to other parts of the world. When Professor Widom receives the Erna Hamburger Prize this evening from the EPFL-WISH Foundation, she will add it to an already long list of distinctions. "I commend the EPFL-WISH Foundation for creating the Erna Hamburger prize to honor women in science and humanities," said Professor Widom. "Professor Hamburger is an inspiration. I'm flattered and humbled to join the truly distinguished list of recipients of the prize in her name." Professor Widom started out studying music before an interest in computer science set her off on a brilliant career, including 25 years - and counting - of teaching at Stanford.