Drs. Eugene Fiume (University of Toronto), Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz (University of Calgary), Regan Mandryk (University of Saskatchewan) and Catherine Middleton (Ryerson University)

The Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) have elected two GRAND researchers, Drs. Eugene Fiume (University of Toronto) and Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz (University of Calgary), as new Fellows. As well, Drs. Regan Mandryk (University of Saskatchewan) and Catherine Middleton (Ryerson University) were selected as inaugural members of the new RSC College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

The Royal Society was established in 1882 as the senior Canadian collegium of distinguished scholars, artists and scientists. Composed of over 2,000 distinguished fellows from a broad range of intellectual disciplines, the main purpose of the Society is to promote learning and research in the arts, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences, and to advise Canadians and their government on matters of public interest.

The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, established this year, is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership.

A Professor and past Chair of the Department of Computer Science at U of T, Dr. Eugene Fiume is GRAND’s incoming Scientific Director, set to lead the network’s second five-year phase as an NCE. Dr. Fiume is cited by the RSC for his significant contribution to the science of realistic computer graphics: “Eugene Fiume has made outstanding contributions to the mathematical foundations of the field, pioneering the creation of new algorithms in physical computer animation, illumination, and geometric modelling. His algorithms, such as the simulation of fire and water, the animation of human bodies, the manipulation of shapes, and the computation of light and shadow, are now part of the products that are used to create the images we see every day in film and design”.

Dr. Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz pioneered the use of computational models and visualizations in developmental plant biology. His work made possible the simulation of plant development with unprecedented biological and visual fidelity. “His innovative programming languages and widely used software for simulating plant development stimulated acceptance of computational modeling as an illuminating research tool in plant biology. His models, derived in collaboration with biologists, provide mechanistic explanations of fundamental processes in plant development and the resulting diversity of plant form.”

As the Canada Research Chair in Communications Technologies in the Information Society, Dr. Catherine Middleton is addressing critical questions about the impact of emerging mobile and wireless technologies in research that has shaped Canadian and global tech policy. She describes her role as “helping society reap the greatest benefits possible from connectivity to the Internet and other advanced technologies.” Dr. Middleton is GRAND's Director, Social Sciences & Humanities Research and co-leads the PROTECT project (Policy, Practice and Technology for Protection of Privacy, Integrity and Access). Her RSC citation states: “[Dr. Middleton] is an in-demand speaker at international academic and policy events, and her national and international collaborations along with her contributions to Ryerson’s research capacity make her an ideal candidate for this great honour.

Dr. Regan Mandryk is an internationally recognized researcher in the area of affective computing, and her work is redefining the role of video games and other forms of technology to improve lifestyle choices. She incorporates fitness and other therapeutic processes into video games and, relatedly, tracks a user’s emotional experience while using computers. Dr. Mandryk is GRAND's theme co-leader of "Entertainment" and leads GRAND’s CONNECT project examining how we leverage the motivational pull of social play to create social, work, health, and economic benefits. From her citation: “She has worked with leading technology companies, has had her work cited over 3000 times, and her ambitious research program has attracted more than $1.4 million in funding since 2007.”

Other RSC Fellows in GRAND include Dr. Barry Wellman (University of Toronto), elected to the Academy of Social Sciences in 2007, and GRAND Board member Dr. John Hepburn, VP Research & International at the University of British Columbia, elected to the Academy of Science in 2005.

All of this year's Fellows will be formally inducted at a ceremony on November 22, 2014 in Quebec City.