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NSF IGERT

Interactive Digital Multimedia involves a range of technologies and applications centered on the creation, encoding, transmission, storage, presentation, and analysis of multimedia data, as well as the study of human interaction with multimedia systems. There are numerous applications of interactive multimedia in learning, communication, medicine, arts and entertainment, and other areas, and there is a clear demand for a workforce and leaders educated in these areas. Although there are many academic departments that offer courses and research groups in particular aspects of the field, there is a great need in both industry and academia for graduates who understand the big picture and have expertise in several of the component technologies. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to adequately prepare future generations of educators, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners in this broad environment.

Our IGERT program received nearly $3 M over 5 years to create an interdisciplinary community of researchers at UC Santa Barbara. Since 2003, we have funded 38 trainees and 23 research associates. Five of our trainees have graduated with a PhD (with seven more expected by Dec. 2008). Of our 35 participating faculty from 11 departments, 17 act directly as research advisors to our trainees. Our program has generated over 149 publications, presentations, and performances in various conferences and journals and has brought together faculty from disparate departments to write grants and develop new, multidisciplinary courses. The program has also helped institute a doctoral track in the Media Arts and Technology Program at UCSB, the first of its kind at the University of California. Finally, our weekly seminar series has attracted nearly 60 external speakers from academia and industry around world.