Erik Demaine

Erik Demaine is a renowned professor of computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Here are some key points about him:

Academic Career

• Joined MIT's faculty in 2001 at age 20, becoming the youngest professor in MIT's history12
• Currently a Professor in Computer Science at MIT1
• Received his PhD from the University of Waterloo at age 202

Research Interests

Professor Demaine's research spans a wide range of topics in algorithms and theoretical computer science, including:

• Computational geometry
• Data structures
• Graph algorithms
• Computational origami
• Folding and bending problems
• Computational complexity of games12

Achievements and Recognition

• Awarded a MacArthur Fellowship ("genius grant") in 200312
• Received the EATCS Presburger Award for young scientists in 20132
• Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 20132
• Elected as an ACM Fellow in 20162

Artistic Endeavors

Erik Demaine is also known for his artistic work, often in collaboration with his father Martin Demaine:

• Creates curved origami sculptures and other mathematical art
• Has artwork in permanent collections of major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian13
• Featured in origami documentaries and exhibits1

Publications

• Co-authored books on geometric folding algorithms and computational complexity of games12
• Published numerous research papers, many in collaboration with his father3

Erik Demaine's unique combination of mathematical brilliance, artistic creativity, and interdisciplinary approach has made him a standout figure in both academia and the art world.