Michael O. Rabin

Michael Oser Rabin (September 1, 1931 – April 14, 2026) was a computer scientist. He shared the 1976 ACM Turing Award with Dana Scott for their important work in understanding how computers solve problems.

Rabin's work helped shape the field of computational complexity, which looks at how much time and resources computers need to solve different kinds of tasks. His ideas are still used today in computer science and technology.

Born in Jerusalem, Rabin made many contributions throughout his life. He will always be remembered for his clever thinking and for helping make computers smarter and more efficient.

Life and career

Rabin was born in 1931 in Breslau, Lower Silesia, Prussia, Germany (today Wrocław, in Poland). He grew up loving math and went to a top school in Haifa. After finishing school, he joined the army but was allowed to study instead. He earned degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton University.

Rabin’s career began with important work in computer theory. He and Dana Scott wrote a key paper that helped shape the study of computers. Later, he developed ways to test if numbers are prime quickly, which is important for keeping information safe online. Rabin also created methods for secure communication and efficient searching through text. He taught at many universities and retired from Harvard University and the Hebrew University. He passed away in 2026 at the age of 94. His daughter, Tal Rabin, is also a successful computer scientist.

Awards and honours

Michael O. Rabin was honored with many important awards for his work. He was a member of several famous groups, including the United States National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society.

In 1976, Rabin received the Turing Award together with Dana Scott for their important paper about computers. In 1995, he was given the Israel Prize for his work in computer sciences. Later, in 2010, he won the Tel Aviv University Dan David Prize for computers and communications. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Science from Harvard University in 2017.