The aim of this biweekly virtual seminar is to develop and strengthen the network of algebraic geometers at predominantly undergraduate institutions. In Fall 2025, it runs on Thursday at 4 - 5 pm (Eastern), 3 - 4 pm (Central), 2 - 3 pm (Mountain), and 1 - 2 pm (Pacific). The current organizers are Han-Bom Moon, Julie Rana, and David Swinarski.
This event is open to everyone, not just faculty at PUIs. If you want to receive a biweekly announcement email, please contact Julie.
The seminar is broadcasted via zoom. Check the announcement emails for the link.
Bring a cup of coffee or tea!
Date: September 11
Speaker: Jessie Loucks-Tavitas (California State University, Sacramento)
Title: Algebra and geometry of camera resectioning
Abstract: Algebraic vision, lying in the intersection of computer vision and projective geometry, is the study of three-dimensional objects being photographed by multiple pinhole cameras. Three natural questions arise:
Triangulation: Given multiple images as well as (relative) camera locations, can we reconstruct the scene or object being photographed?
Resectioning: Given a 3-D object or scene and multiple images of it, can we determine the (relative) positions of the cameras in the world?
Structure-from-motion: Given only 2D images, can we recover both the camera positions and the object being imaged?
We will discuss and characterize certain algebraic varieties associated with the camera resectioning problem. As an application, we will derive and re-interpret celebrated results in computer vision due to Carlsson, Weinshall, and others related to camera-point duality. Time-permitting, we will additionally discuss ongoing work (joint with Timothy Duff) towards a stratification of the singular locus of the resectioning variety. This is joint work with Timothy Duff and Erin Connelly.
Date: September 25
Speaker: Nathan Pflueger (Amherst)
Title: TBA
Date: October 9
Speaker: Maggie Regan (Grand Valley State University)
Title: TBA
Date: October 23
Speaker: Jack Petok (Colby College)
Title: TBA
Date: Nov 6
Speaker: Aaron Wooton (University of Portland)
Title: TBA
Date: Dec 4
Speaker: Dustin Ross (San Francisco State University)
Title: TBA