Summer Geometry Initiative
Abstract
The emerging discipline of geometry processing aims to develop algorithms, software, and theory relevant to geometric data. In this research area, concepts from mathematics, computer science, and engineering are combined to design efficient algorithms for acquisition, modeling, analysis, manipulation, simulation, 3D printing, and other types of processing of 3D models and shape collections. In summer 2021, we launched a new program titled the Summer Geometry Initiative (SGI; formerly Summer Geometry Institute), which engaged 34 Fellows in 6 weeks of paid research/training related to geometry processing. Designed to broaden access to geometry processing research experiences, the program attracted Fellows drawn from a diverse set of backgrounds, geographic locations, and undergraduate/master s institutions, with a focus on underrepresented students otherwise unlikely to have access to this cutting-edge discipline. SGI took place completely online and experimented with several new pedagogical techniques for research-based education. Feedback about the program was near-exclusively positive, including broad enthusiasm among SGI Fellows to deepen their research careers and praise from faculty/PI mentors for broadening the diversity and inclusion of the student base in geometry processing research. Here, we propose to continue the program in 2022, following a similar model to the 2021 offering. Our goal is to develop SGI as a mainstay of the geometry processing community and as a model program for computational disciplines seeking to broaden the diversity of future generations of researchers. The Summer Geometry Initiative aims to accomplish the following objectives: (1) spark collaboration among students and researchers in geometry processing, (2) launch inter-university research projects in geometry processing involving team members across levels of seniority (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, industrial researcher), (3) introduce students to geometry processing research and development, and (4) diversify the ``pipeline of students entering geometry processing research, in terms of gender, race, socioeconomic background, and home institution. During the first week of the workshop, we will invite a diverse set of guest speakers to lead tutorials in various aspects of geometry processing research. A number of software libraries recently have been released for geometry processing, so emphasis will be put on hands-on activities in which students will learn state-of-the-art geometry processing algorithms by experimenting with them. For many years, the Symposium on Geometry Processing (SGP) has held a ``graduate school program which can serve as an abridged model for this week of SGI; SGI 2021 team members also developed a prototype curriculum that we will build on in the current iteration. For the remaining weeks, the students will participate in an intensive program intended to kick off research projects in geometry processing. Each week, program staff and short-term (at least one week) visitors from the geometry processing research community will pitch research directions to the cohort of SGI students. Then, the students and senior attendees will be divided into teams of 3-5, designed to mix attendees with different backgrounds and levels of seniority. The teams will spend the week collaborating on problems in geometry processing, with the loose goal of exploring a new research direction identified by senior attendees. Beyond these day-long research interactions, we will periodically invite visitors to give talks on frontier areas in geometry processing and to lead relevant tutorials; to the extent possible, we will broadcast these talks online and share accompanying materials broadly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210113
Entities
People
- Justin Solomon
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- United States Army