The late School of Computer Science researcher and faculty leader was a founding member of the ICAC Steering Committee and helped create the IEEE-sponsored conference 13 years ago. Schwan passed away in September 2015 after a battle with cancer.

“The award is a nice and fitting memorial for Karsten’s incredible contributions to the computing world,” said Lance Fortnow, chair for the School of Computer Science.

A favorite among a generation of students, Schwan started teaching at Georgia Tech in 1988. He was celebrated for his passion for student development and active involvement within the computer science industry. Schwan’s nearly 30-year legacy includes mentoring more than 70 Ph.D. students, as well as writing and contributing to hundreds of publications.

“Karsten was a vital force on our steering committee,” said Jeff Kephart, chair of the ICAC Steering Committee. “He was always pushing us all to make the conference what it is today.” The ICAC is considered the foremost conference on self-managing computing systems, thanks in part to Schwan’s dedication and leadership.

The inaugural ICAC Karsten Schwan Best Paper Award will be given out during the annual IEEE ICAC conference in Würzburg, Germany, July 19-22.