Charles Babbage Institute | Awards for the History of Computing
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CBI London · Est. 1978 Charles Babbage
Institute
Nominations open, 2027 round Nominations close 15 January 2027 {{ daysLeft }} days remaining · fourteen trophies to be awarded

Founded 1978 · London · Registered charity

Charles Babbage Institute

Honouring the history of computing.

Fourteen named awards, each a hand-engraved glass plaque, for the people writing the history of British and international computing and for the students contributing to the subject today. Reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

Charles Babbage, photographed c. 1860 Charles Babbage, c. 1860
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Open for nomination

Four senior awards · fourteen in all · one common form
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Student trophies · history of computing

Sixth form to taught postgraduate · a tutor’s note is enough
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Undergraduate trophies

For contributions to computing itself · nominated by peers or staff
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Open awards

New for 2026 · for practice, not history
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Holder of the Cipher Plaque, 2026

Archie Farell

“The work was unglamorous: reporting flaws politely, then teaching small employers in Burnley how to store a password properly. The plaque is on the wall outside the lab, and the first years walk past it every day.”

Institution
Burnley College University Courses
Field
Data security

Announcements

Fourteen awards, open until January.

Nominate a colleague, a student, or yourself. The panel wants to know what the work asked, which sources it used, and what it found.