Visiting expert discusses mathematics of photography
Oct. 18, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Anyone who has wondered how the color film in a camera becomes a snapshot in their hand can get the answers when an expert on that topic visits Western Michigan University this month.
Dr. David Ross, professor of mathematics and statistics at Rochester Institute of Technology, will make two presentations during his visit to campus Thursday and Friday, Oct. 25 and 26.
In his first presentation, which will be held at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, Ross will examine the rapidly growing field of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, which have made it possible to build small machines on computer chips. That talk, titled "Temperature-Dependent Vibrations of Bi-Layer Microbeams," is part of WMU's Department of Mathematics colloquium series and will take place in Alavi Commons on the sixth floor of Everett Tower.
On Friday, Oct. 26, Ross will explore "Mathematics in Photography" at 4:10 p.m. in Room 1104 of Rood Hall. In that talk, Ross will explain the basic physics, chemistry and color science of how photographic film works.
A former researcher for the Eastman Kodak Co., Ross is knowledgeable in the areas of aerodynamics, microelectronic device fabrication, colloid chemistry, coating technology and MEMs. He is a patent holder on optical devices, inks and ink jet printing mechanisms and is the co-author of a forthcoming book, "Mathematical Models in Photographic Science."
Ross' visit is sponsored by the WMU chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, an undergraduate mathematics honor society, and the Department of Mathematics. His presentations are free and open to the public.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu