Dr. Maneesh Agrawala stands as a preeminent figure in the field of visual computing and human-centered technology. He currently serves as the Forest Baskett Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Stanford University, where he has held prominent positions since returning to his alma mater in 2015. Prior to his appointment at Stanford, he was a distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley from 2005 to 2015. Dr. Agrawala earned both his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University in 1994 and 2002 respectively, establishing the foundation for his groundbreaking career in visual communication and interface design.
Dr. Agrawala's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed how we understand and create effective visual representations, with his work cited over 35,000 times according to Google Scholar. His development of cognitive design principles for visualization led to innovative tools such as LineDrive, an automated system for generating route maps that intelligently emphasizes essential navigation information while simplifying complex spatial data. His laboratory has produced numerous influential systems including QuickCut for editing narrated video and ShowMeHow for translating user interface instructions between applications, demonstrating his ability to bridge theoretical insights with practical tools. This integrative approach, combining computer graphics, human-computer interaction, and cognitive psychology, has established new methodologies for creating both interactive and automated design tools that enhance human understanding of complex information.
As Director of the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, Dr. Agrawala has been instrumental in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science and journalism, shaping the emerging field of computational journalism. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to influential positions in academia and industry, while his courses on data visualization and human-computer interaction continue to shape the next generation of technologists. His leadership extends to professional service as an ACM Fellow, member of the SIGCHI Academy, and advisor to various academic journals and media organizations. Currently, Dr. Agrawala continues to explore the frontiers of visual communication, investigating how cognitive principles can be applied to create more effective audio-visual media and advancing the development of tools that enhance human understanding in an increasingly data-rich world.
