OIL & GAS

The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) today announced that Gregory S. Johnson, one of its research associates, is one of eight recipients of the NVIDIA 2005 International Fellowship Award. This is the second year in a row that Johnson has been named a NVIDIA Fellow based on his cutting edge research and innovative ideas in the field of computer graphics. Johnson, who is currently a third year student in The University of Texas at Austin Ph.D. program in Computer Sciences, submitted a statement of research titled "Spatial Data Structures for Real-Time 3D Graphics: Architecture and Algorithms for the General Case." The research proposes fundamental architectural changes to graphics hardware to achieve the goal of "real-time global illumination," a common term in the computer graphics industry to describe the complex, on-the-fly process of simulating light to create a synthetic world that resembles reality. "A key goal of computer graphics is the ability to produce dynamic, computer-generated imagery that is indistinguishable from real life as we know it," Johnson said. "My research is motivated by this goal. It has many applications, from helping scientists and engineers gain increased insight into their data via advanced scientific visualization methods, to improving the realism of virtual environments like those used in games. Independent of the application, this work has the potential to help shape the future of commodity graphics hardware." Each academic year, the NVIDIA Fellowship program provides top Ph.D. students and professors in university environments crucial funding to further develop their research while offering practical experience to students completing their doctoral theses. Johnson was recommended for the fellowship by Computer Sciences Professor Bill Mark based on academic achievement and area of research focus. "Our company's goal with the International Fellowship Program is to support the next generation of high-tech innovators as they explore uncharted territories," said David Kirk, chief scientist at NVIDIA. "We are certain that each recipient will contribute significantly to our industry's development. This is a very competitive process and our hats go off to this impressive group of individuals." Fellows receive a $25,000 award and access to NVIDIA tools and technology. These awards assist with school-related costs associated with specific research work in the coming year. Please contact Faith Singer-Villalobos to obtain a copy of "Spatial Data Structures for Real-Time 3D Graphics: Architecture and Algorithms for the General Case."