Agere Chair Professor Carolina Cruz-Neira was recognized for her pioneering work in modeling and simulation.
Carolina Cruz-Neira, Agere Chair Professor in the UCF Department of Computer Science, was honored by the National Center for Simulation (NCS) with her induction to its 2024 Hall of Fame, a testament to her groundbreaking work and global acclaim in modeling and simulation, virtual reality, interactive visualization, high-performance computing and digital twins.
She was one of three inductees this year, along with Daryl Holt, vice president and chief operating officer of Electronic Arts, and the late Navy Capt. Daniel Holsenback, former vice president of university relations and director of government relations at UCF.
“Their leadership and accomplishments in their different areas contribute to the growth of the modeling and simulation field and impact every industry sector,” says George Cheros, NCS president and CEO, in a release.
The recognition marks the second time in the last six months that Cruz-Neira has been honored for her research. Earlier this year, she was inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo XR Hall of Fame along with an elite group of 100 other inductees worldwide, representing just 22 researchers selected overall.
Cruz-Neira says the accolade from NCS is a tribute not only her research, but also an honor for the volume of work done in collaboration with the amazing people she has worked with over the years.
“I had incredible mentors when I was a student and a junior faculty who opened my eyes to the exciting world of modeling and simulation,” she says. “Talented students, postdocs and collaborators inspired me, challenged me and encouraged me to strive for excellence, to address hard problems without fear, and to think differently about each problem we tackle.”
A member of the National Academy of Engineering, Cruz-Neira is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality and interactive visualization. She internationally known for being the creator of the CAVE virtual reality system, which allows multiple people to have an immersive experience in the same space. Over her career, she has created and deployed a variety of technologies that have become standard tools in industry, government and academia.
Cruz-Neira’s latest work involves a number of modeling and simulation projects for Florida companies, all contributing to innovative research in areas such as microelectronics, space and national security.
She says one of the research projects closest to her heart is the UCF Knights Digital Twin, a strategic funding initiative developed to grow UCF’s research capabilities in this rapidly emerging strategic discipline.
“Prior to coming to UCF, I was already developing a plan to create a research focus in this area for my previous institution, and coming to UCF made this vision a reality due to UCF’s strong faculty and researchers in that area,” says. “Together with [UCF Institute for Simulation and Training Director] Dr. Grace Bochenek, we developed the vision for UCF to become a national leader in digital twins and this vision is now growing fast.”
They have made impressive inroads toward this goal, including receiving funding from President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with Osceola County to develop digital twins for the microelectronics industry.
In addition, she and UCF computer science Associate Professor Dirk Reiners have partnered with Miami-based company Buendea to create a digital twin of the surface of Mars. Their work will influence the design of the astronauts’ suits for extravehicular activity missions, funded by a large award from NASA.
Locally, she’s working with Orange County to create digital twins of beautiful places in virtual reality to reduce stress in first responders and other high-stress occupations.
“Pretty much all my projects involve modeling and simulation with an applied focus of a ‘modeling and simulation for good’ approach, with is grounded on my fundamental belief of applying my engineering knowledge to make the world a better place and improve the quality of life for all.”
Story by Bel Huston