Hal Abelson

Hal Abelson is the Class of 1922 Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is affiliated with the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and holds an office at 32-G516 (MIT campus). His work focuses on democratizing access to computing through initiatives like App Inventor, MIT OpenCourseWare, and the Free Software Foundation. He has contributed to foundational educational technologies such as the Logo programming language and co-authored influential textbooks like Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs.

• Education: PhD in Mathematics (MIT, 1973) following studies in Mathematics starting 1969
• Key roles: Co-chair MIT Council on Educational Technology, Founding Director of Creative Commons and Public Knowledge
• Research Themes: AI ethics, educational technology, programming languages, and computational action

Abelson's App Inventor platform enables millions worldwide to create mobile applications, with notable projects addressing dementia support, carbon footprint reduction, and mental health. He advocates for computational literacy as a universal right, emphasizing children's capacity to innovate through technology.