Davida Teller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davida Young Teller
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Davida Y. Teller, Ph.D.
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| Born | July 25, 1938 |
| Died | October 11, 2011 (aged 73) Seattle, Washington, USA
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| Alma mater | Swarthmore College University of California, Berkeley (PhD) |
| Known for | Pioneering the scientific study of infant visual development. Development of the Teller Acuity Cards. |
| Spouse(s) | David Teller Anthony Young |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Friedenwald Award (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) Glenn Fry Award (American Academy of Optometry) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Psychology Physiology/biophysics |
| Institutions | University of Washington |
| Thesis | The influence of borders on increment thresholds (1965) |
| Doctoral advisor | Tom N. Cornsweet |
Davida Young Teller (July 25, 1938 – October 11, 2011) was a brilliant scientist. She taught at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Davida Teller was a leader in studying how babies learn to see. Her work helped us understand how vision develops in infants.
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Early Life and Education
Davida Young Teller was born in Yonkers, New York, on July 25, 1938. Her parents were David and Jean Young. She grew up in Connecticut with her four siblings.
Davida went to Swarthmore College on a special scholarship. After college, she continued her studies at the University of California, Berkeley. There, she earned her PhD degree in psychology. Her main advisor was Professor Tom Cornsweet. She also did more research after her PhD with Professor Horace Barlow.
Davida Young married David C. Teller. He was also a scientist, studying biochemistry. They had two children, Stephen and Sara. Later, Davida married Anthony W. Young. Davida Teller passed away in Seattle, Washington, on October 11, 2011.
A Career in Science
Teaching and Research
In 1965, Davida Teller started working at the University of Washington. She became a professor in the Department of Psychology. Two years later, she also joined the Department of Physiology/Biophysics. She taught and did research in both departments until she retired in 2004.
Davida Teller was a wonderful teacher. The students at the University of Washington even created an award in her honor. It's called the Davida Teller Distinguished Faculty Award. This award is given every year to a professor chosen by the graduate students. Professor Teller was the very first person to receive it!
Understanding Vision
Davida Teller's research focused on how we see. She was very interested in how our eyes and brains work together. She studied how tiny changes in light affect what we see.
One big idea she explored was "linking propositions." This sounds complicated, but it's about how what we *feel* or *see* (like a bright light) connects to what's happening in our *brains* and *nerves*. She believed scientists should be very clear about these connections. This helped make vision science more accurate.
Her work was especially important for understanding how babies see. She wanted to know how a baby's developing brain affects their vision.
Teller Acuity Cards
One of Davida Teller's most famous inventions was the Teller Acuity Cards. These cards are a special way to test the vision of babies and young children. Before these cards, it was hard to know how well a baby could see. Babies can't tell you what they see!
The cards have stripes of different widths. Babies naturally look at patterns. By watching where a baby looks, doctors can figure out how sharp their vision is. These cards are still used today around the world. They help doctors find vision problems early in infants.
Supporting Women in Science
Davida Teller was a strong supporter of women in science. She believed women should have every chance to succeed in scientific careers. She was a great role model for many young women.
After she passed away, the Vision Sciences Society created an award in her name. The Davida Teller Award is given each year to a woman who has made amazing contributions to vision science. It also honors women who have helped mentor and guide other scientists.
Awards and Recognition
Davida Teller received many awards for her important work:
- Glenn A. Fry Lecture Award from the American Academy of Optometry (1982).
- Friedenwald Award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (1997).
- She was made a Fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA).
- She was made a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Psychologists (SEP).
- She was made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
- She received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the State University of New York (1992).
