April 9, 2024
Duke University professor to speak at mathematics lecture and awards banquet
Ingrid Daubechies, professor of mathematics and electrical and computer engineering at Duke University, will present as part of two events hosted by the K-State mathematics department on Tuesday, April 16.
At 2:30 p.m., Daubechies will present a colloquium titled "Discovering Low-Dimensional Manifolds in High-Dimensional Data" in Room 102 of Cardwell Hall as part of the Mathematics Department Colloquium Lecture series.
Abstract: This talk reviews diffusion methods to identify low-dimensional manifolds underlying high-dimensional datasets, and illustrates that by pinpointing additional mathematical structure, improved results can be obtained. Much of the talk draws on a case study from a collaboration with biological morphologists, who compare different phenotypical structures to study relationships of living or extinct animals with their surroundings and each other. This is typically done from carefully defined anatomical correspondence points — landmarks — e.g. on bones. Such landmarking draws on highly specialized knowledge. To make possible more extensive use of large — and growing — databases, algorithms are required for automatic morphological correspondence maps, without any preliminary marking of special features or landmarks by the user.
At 6 p.m., Daubechies will present "Mathematicians Helping Art Historians and Art Conservators" in the K-State Alumni Center Banquet Room.
Abstract: 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, decide that certain paintings by masters were "roll mates" — their canvases were cut from the same bolt — virtually remove artifacts in preparation for a restoration campaign, 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.
The math department is a part of K-State's College of Arts and Sciences. To learn more about opportunities in math at K-State, visit the department's website.