A legacy of innovation: Eugene Fiume reflects on a distinguished career in computer science

What does receiving this lifetime achievement award mean to you?

For me, an award like this is a vibrant reminder of all the cherished mentors, colleagues, students and staff who helped shape my approach to science, collaboration, leadership and technology transfer. I owe so much to so many. Because of my early mentors, I gained the confidence to move past a challenging early life to one that freed me to think about and collaborate on interesting problems...and get paid for it! I have had the privilege of passing from mentee to mentor and watching those I mentored go on to do great things.

What helped you discover and develop your passion for Computer Science (CS)?

My original passion for CS began in high school, where a generous, open-minded teacher facilitated my getting a small grant to work on cool projects using a programming language called APL at the University of Toronto’s Computer Centre. A friend and I then worked on several applications in another language called FORTRAN in the mid-1970s, including a novel typesetting program and an exam scheduler. The same teacher then introduced me to folks at the National Trust Company, where I worked on various software systems over my undergraduate years. What an exciting time! Several years later, I was given a free hand by my computer graphics professor at the University of Waterloo to work on a real-time computer where I developed an interactive paint program that turned into my first co-authored publication. This set me on my path to a career in computer graphics.

Can you briefly describe your research and the goals you’re working toward?

The natural world is so beautiful, and while my career has been a seemingly random walk over many research topics, my aim has always been to do fundamental research in user-centred depiction of realistic visual phenomena. It is a wonderfully enriching area in which to work, since it requires excursions into the mathematical sciences, and into art and design, to develop plausible, feasible and usable computational models for phenomena such as fire, smoke, water, faces, lighting, geometry, deformations and biomechanical characters, while always keeping artists and their needs in the centre. I have also had the opportunity to transfer some of that basic science to industry, and indeed I joined a computer graphics company for a time and currently chair the board of directors of a facial animation company. Playing in both industry and academia has sharpened my science and my choice of problems. 

How has your experience as the Dean of SFU's Faculty of Applied Sciences and a professor at the School of Computing Science shaped your career?

After many mischievous years at the University of Toronto (UofT), I decided in 2016 to come to SFU. Several of my UofT colleagues expressed enthusiasm about CS at SFU, which made the decision easier. A particularly motivating reason for coming to SFU was to participate in the development of the Sustainable Energy Engineering initiative here. This included, as it turned out, helping to build both a new school and building. It was an exciting opportunity to work intensively with terrific people here to see both projects come to successful fruition. My life as dean gives me a broader perspective on the vast range of deep topics encompassed by the Applied Sciences. As a dean, my priority has been on how I can make small contributions here and there to the developing careers of others. A strong focus has been on enhancing diversity, especially on attracting more women to the Applied Sciences. I still very much enjoy being a researcher, and I work with a small group of excellent graduate students on various topics in visual computing.

What do you enjoy most about your job, and what do you find most rewarding in your work today?

I revel in the success of others. Seeing hundreds of graduands walking across the stage at Convocation never ceases to bring me joy. Watching graduate students develop into accomplished scholars, seeing our administrative staff develop their skills, witnessing early-career faculty prosper and celebrating the awards that established academics win are all truly inspiring to me. The intellectual and professional development of everyone associated with a university is key to me. The is the core of the university’s mission.

Looking back, what stands out most when you reflect on your career?

I don’t think I would have said this at the beginning of my career, but as I look back, the thing that most stands out is the wonderful relationships that emerged. I have always preferred building and working in small teams in which each person’s contribution is clear, and the resulting synergies are tangible. Perhaps just as important is that even as we focus on certain outcomes as a team, whether in research, committees, task forces, panels, or administration, a broader benefit emerges in that I have learnt a great deal from people and have gotten to know them and myself better.