Nadia Magnenat Thalmann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann
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Thalmann in 2009
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| Nationality | Swiss, Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Geneva École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) |
| Awards | Humboldt Research Award The Canadian Human Computer Communications Society Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer Graphics Virtual Humans Social Humanoid Robotics |
| Institutions | Université Laval HEC, University of Montréal University of Geneva Nanyang Technological University (NTU) |
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann is a famous scientist. She works with computer graphics and robotics. She started and leads a special lab called MIRALab at the University of Geneva. From 2009 to 2021, she also led the Institute for Media Innovation in Singapore.
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About Nadia Magnenat Thalmann
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann studied many subjects. She earned degrees in psychology, biology, and biochemistry. These were all from the University of Geneva. In 1977, she got her PhD in Quantum Physics from the same university.
She began her teaching career in Canada. First, she was a professor at the University Laval. Then, she taught at HEC, University of Montreal until 1988. In 1989, she moved back to the University of Geneva. There, she created the MIRALab laboratory.
Thalmann has written over 600 papers. These papers are about Virtual Humans, social robots, and 3D simulations. She has worked on more than 45 European research projects. She also helped create the Computer Animation and Social Agents (CASA) conference. She manages Computer Graphics International (CGI). She is also a main editor for two important journals. These are The Visual Computer and the Computer Animation Journal.
Cool Research and Discoveries
Thalmann has made many important discoveries. Her work is mostly in computer graphics. She is best known for making very realistic Virtual Humans.
She also helped with early computer graphics. This was during her PhD studies in 1977. She simulated 3D electronic densities. These were based on complex physics equations.
Later, she became a pioneer in creating realistic Virtual Humans. She made the first 3D version of Marilyn Monroe. This was for a film called Rendez-vous in Montreal in 1987.
This film was shown for the first time in Montreal. It celebrated 100 years of engineering in Canada. She also showed her film at the Modern Art Museum in New York in 1988.
She also made new ways to use MRI scans. These methods helped doctors with medical findings. She even modeled virtual ballerinas. You could see their hip cartilage move while they danced. She also showed see-through knee joints of real soccer players.
Since 2008, she has worked with a humanoid robot named EVA. This robot is at MIRALab. She showed a realistic robot that could express feelings. It also had a memory. She has also worked on the social robot Nadine. This robot looks like her. Nadine can talk, recognize people, and show emotions. She can also remember things. Nadine was shown at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore. Over 100,000 people saw her there.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Special Degrees
- In 2009, she received an honorary doctorate. This was from Leibniz University Hannover.
- In 2010, she received another honorary doctorate. This one was from the University of Ottawa.
Awards
- In 1987, she was named "Woman of the Year." This was by HEC Montréal. It was for her early work in computer graphics.
- In 2007, her film "High Fashion in Equations" won an award. It was the CGI 2007 Best International Scientific Video award. It was also shown at the SIGGRAPH Electronic Theatre.
- In 2012, she received the Career Achievement Award. This was from the Canadian Human Computer Communications Society.
- In 2012, she also received the important Humboldt Research Award in Germany.
- Thalmann was chosen as a Pioneer in Information Technology. Her name is on the Electronic Wall of Fame. This is at the Heinz Nixdorf Computer Museum in Germany.
