"The underlying theme of my professional life has been the liberal arts tradition of crossing boundaries and making connections: between teaching and research, between math and computer science, between computer science and the arts, between theory and application. Humor, hard work, and creativity are absolutely essential."

- Bridget Baird

Bridget B. Baird
Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
On Sabbatical Spring 2009 on Fulbright

Judith Ammerman '60 Director of
The Center for Arts and Technology 1997-2008

• Virtual reality
• Interactions of touch and sound
• Multiple modalities and way-finding

Professor Baird's current research has concentrated on the recent technology of virtual reality, haptics (force feedback) and multiple modalities.

Working with several colleagues and students, she has been working on using virtual reality to explore how people correlate sound and touch, to examine how multiple modalities can be used to assist in way-finding and spatial cognition, create artistic musical and haptic 3D worlds, and to illustrate archaeological sites.

Other research has involved such topics as virtual conductors, artificial intelligence and music, discrete mathematics, enumerations of trees, and visualization of mathematics.

Baird takes her research into the classroom, teaching classes in both mathematics and computer science. She has also supervised numerous student research projects both during the academic year and during the summer. Currently several students are looking at virtual reality and way-finding that uses audio, touch and sight.

Recent new courses explore applications of computer science in a wide range of fields, mathematics from a cultural perspective (sometimes called ethnomathematics), and dimensional color from a joint CS/art point of view.

In addition, Baird is interested in issues about gender equity and ways to increase the participation of women in mathematics and computer science.

Baird has published and made presentations extensively in recent years, including "Web Design: Interface to the Liberal Arts"at the Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges Northeastern Conference in 2006, "Red Ball: A Collaboration to Develop an Interdisciplinary Interactive Space" at the Tenth Biennial Arts & Technology Symposium at Connecticut College in 2006, "Attribute Correlations between Haptic and Auditory Modalities" at the 9th International Workshop on Immersive Projection Technology and 11th Eurographics Symposium on Virtual Environments in 2005, "Haptic and Sound Correlations: Pitch, Loudness and Texture" at the International Symposium on Non-visual & Multimodal Visualization in 2004; "Curricular Modules: 3D and Immersive Visualization Tools for Learning in Syllabus (2001); "A Tool for Designing Interactions with Multimodal Objects" at the Eighth Biennial Symposium for Arts and Technology, New London, CT (2001).

Baird has received many grants, including: the Mellon Foundation (2005-2007) to foster cooperation in computer science among Wesleyan, Trinity and Connecticut College; the Sherman-Fairchild Foundation (2006-2008) to encourage cooperative teaching in the arts; Citizens Bank and AT&T to support the arts and technology symposium and to encourage local teachers to attend (2006-2007); the National Science Foundation (2002-2006) to increase enrollments (particularly of women and minorities) in math and computer science; the Center for Teaching & Learning at Connecticut College (2003-2005) to develop curricula in ethnomathematics; AT&T for professional development of local arts teachers (2001-2003); the National Science Foundation for visualization and immersion modules of scientific principles (1998-2000); the State of Connecticut (Eisenhower grant) for math/technology institutes for K-12 teachers (1998); Apple Computer and the Consortium for Liberal Arts Colleges for visualization of parallel algorithms (1990); the National Science Foundation for real-time tracking of simultaneous musical inputs (1990-93); and the Department of Education for teaching foreign languages across the curriculum (1995). In 1996, she received a Fulbright grant to study and teach in Mexico.

Baird is the 2008 recipient of the Helen B. Regan Faculty Leadership Award, which recognizes faculty members who exemplify the College's commitment to shared governance, democratic process and campus community development. Baird is the recipient of the Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Award for 1994.

Baird was awarded a Fulbright faculty grant in 2008 and will spend the spring semester of 2009 at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Baird, a professor at Connecticut College since 1982, will teach a mathematics course that focuses on computer applications and a project-based seminar in virtual reality, developing a multimedia, interactive virtual reality simulation focusing on an Ecuadorian archaeological site or historical event.

Visit Bridget Baird's personal home page, the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology Web site, and the computer sciences Web site.