The SIGCAS Outstanding Service Award is presented annually to a SIGCAS member for outstanding service to SIGCAS in carrying out responsibilities that foster the viability of SIGCAS and enable it to continue to make a contribution to the field of computing in the context of its stated mission.

Dr. Epstein is a talented, creative, and dedicated scholar who has written extensively on computer ethics and software engineering education. The breadth and creativity of his writings are truly extraordinary. He is unabashed in his desire to uncover the ethical dilemmas present in the rapid adoption of computer technologies in order to make people think about the consequences, intended and unintended, brought about by the technology. He has served SIGCAS since 1996 as a column editor for Computers & Society . He has also been part of every conference and symposium committee for SIGCAS since 1990. In that role he has made many thought-provoking presentations at SIGCAS conferences and symposia.

Most of Dr. Epstein's creative works have been freely published in SIGCAS Computers and Society and posted on the Web. They are now used by countless colleagues to illustrate the complex issues related to the social and ethical implications of technology. His book, The Killer Robot, is used in computer science and software engineering classes all over the world to demonstrate principles of technical and ethical practice. It has also been used in corporate settings as a way to demonstrate ethical principles to computing professionals.

Undergirding his scholarly output is his deep conviction that computer science professors have a moral imperative to provide ethical principles as a foundation for preparing students for professional practice as computer scientists and software engineers. It is this uncompromising ethic that makes Dr. Epstein truly outstanding among his peers. SIGCAS is very pleased to recognize his service to both SIGCAS and the computing profession with the 2003 SIGCAS Outstanding Service Award.