Maria Francesca Costabile wins IFIP TC13 Pioneer Award 2025

We are proud to announce that Maria Francesca Costabile, founder of the IVU Laboratory and its director until her retirement at the end of December 2024, has been honored with the IFIP TC13 2025 Pioneer Award. The award was conferred during the INTERACT 2025 conference, held in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

This prestigious recognition celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), both at the global level and within their local communities.

The Pioneer Award Committee—composed of Jan Gulliksen (Sweden), Zhengjie Liu (China), Mark Apperley (New Zealand), Cesar Alberto Collazos (Colombia), Carmelo Ardito (Italy), and Paula Kotzé (South Africa)—selected Prof. Costabile for her exceptional and pioneering role in advancing Human-Computer Interaction research and practice.

An IFIP TC13 Pioneer is recognized for achievements such as:

  • active involvement in IFIP through TC13, working groups, and the organization of INTERACT conferences,
  • influential publications and participation in multiple INTERACT editions,
  • significant research contributions across diverse application domains,
  • and a pioneering impact in the development and recognition of HCI, locally and internationally.

Prof. Costabile’s career embodies all these aspects. Her research and tireless commitment have not only advanced the discipline of HCI but have also inspired generations of scholars and practitioners. As the founder of IVU, she laid the foundation for a vibrant community devoted to Human-Centered Computing and innovation in interactive systems.

This award stands as a testament to her visionary leadership, her scientific excellence, and her lasting legacy in shaping the future of Human-Computer Interaction.

On behalf of the entire IVU Laboratory, we extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Maria Francesca Costabile on this well-deserved honor.

Maria Francesca Costabile's headshot

Maria Francesca Costabile has been a Full Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Bari, where she is the director of the Interaction Visualisation Usability (IVU) and UX Lab. She was a pioneer of Human-Computer Interaction in Italy and promoted the ACM SIGCHI Italian Chapter in 1995. She received the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award and the AVI-SIGCHItaly Lifetime Service Award.