Erik Demaine
Encyclopedia
Erik D. Demaine is a professor
of Computer Science
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
with his father, Martin Demaine
, an artist and sculptor; he was home-schooled
. Demaine was a child prodigy. He entered Dalhousie University
in Canada at the age of 12, completed his bachelor's degree
when only 14 and completed his PhD when only 20 years old.
dissertation, a seminal work in the field of computational origami, was completed at the University of Waterloo
. This work was awarded the Canadian Governor General's Gold Medal
from the University of Waterloo
and the NSERC Doctoral Prize (2003) for the best PhD thesis
and research in Canada (one of four awards).
This thesis work was largely incorporated into a book.
He joined the MIT faculty in 2001 at age 20, reportedly the youngest professor in the history of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 2003 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
He is a member of the Theory of Computation
group at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
.
Mathematical origami artwork by Erik and Martin Demaine was part of the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art
in 2008 and has been included in the MoMA permanent collection.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
Early life
Erik was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His parents are Martin Demaine and Judy Anderson. At age 7, he spent time travelling North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
with his father, Martin Demaine
Martin Demaine
Martin L. Demaine is an artist and mathematician, the Angelika and Barton Weller artist in residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology....
, an artist and sculptor; he was home-schooled
Homeschooling
Homeschooling or homeschool is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school...
. Demaine was a child prodigy. He entered Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Canada at the age of 12, completed his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
when only 14 and completed his PhD when only 20 years old.
Professional accomplishments
His PhDDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
dissertation, a seminal work in the field of computational origami, was completed at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. This work was awarded the Canadian Governor General's Gold Medal
Governor General's Academic Medal
The Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program...
from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and the NSERC Doctoral Prize (2003) for the best PhD thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
and research in Canada (one of four awards).
This thesis work was largely incorporated into a book.
He joined the MIT faculty in 2001 at age 20, reportedly the youngest professor in the history of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 2003 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
He is a member of the Theory of Computation
Theory of computation
In theoretical computer science, the theory of computation is the branch that deals with whether and how efficiently problems can be solved on a model of computation, using an algorithm...
group at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is a research laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology formed by the 2003 merger of the Laboratory for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory...
.
Mathematical origami artwork by Erik and Martin Demaine was part of the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in 2008 and has been included in the MoMA permanent collection.
External links
- Erik Demaine
- Biography in MIT News
- Between the Folds Documentary film featuring Erik Demaine and 14 other international origami practitioners