Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Speaker Series: Dr. Ingrid Daubechies

Mathematicians Helping Art Conservators and Art Historians.

Public lecture with Phi Beta Kappa Induction Ceremony for new members.

In recent years, mathematical algorithms have helped art historians and art conservators putting together the thousands of fragments into which an unfortunate WWII bombing destroyed world famous frescos by Mantegna. Their work revealed that certain paintings by masters were “roll mates” (their canvases were cut from the same bolt), so they could virtually remove artifacts in preparation for a restoration campaign, and get more insight into paintings hidden underneath a visible one. The presentation reviews these applications and gives a glimpse into the mathematical aspects that make this possible.

Ingrid Daubechies is James B. Duke Professor Emerita of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University. She was recently awarded a National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest honor for scientists and engineers.

Professor Daubechies earned her Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Although her degree is in (theoretical) physics, she thought she would become an engineer while growing up. Her mother was heartbroken when she opted for pure science instead, and predicted Ingrid would end up in the gutter, jobless. Fortunately, matters turned out better. Her academic work focuses on mathematical methods for the analysis of signals, images and data, with applications in many directions.

She enjoys working in collaboration with others, in her scientific work as well as otherwise. The latter includes, most recently, a collaborative mixed media art installation that celebrates the beauty, creativity and fun of mathematics: https://mathemalchemy.org.

Light refreshments will be provided.

This event is sponsored by LUAG, Department of Mathematics, Department of Art, Architecture and Design, ADVANCE, and the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Speaker Series.