Alumnus receives second Academy Award

ECE Alumnus Steve Sullivan (MSEE '91, PhD '97) received an Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering for his contribution in the design and development of the Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) Image-based Modeling System. Colin Davidson, Max Chen, and Francesco Callari shared the award.

The ILM Image-based Modeling System takes an image of an object or scene and uses a combination of computer algorithms and artist tools to create a 3D model. Sullivan said the system reconstructs the shape of things using photographs.

"Anything with textures can give you accurate shape," he said.

The Annual Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards, which recognize accomplishments that contribute to the progress of the industry, were presented on February 10 in Beverly Hills, California. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal hosted the black-tie event and introduced clips from the presentation during the 2006 Academy Awards on February 25, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center.

Sullivan also received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 2001, along with a fellow ILM technician, Eric Shafer, for the development of the Motion and Structure Recovery System (MARS). The innovative system analyzes camera and object motion for special effects work.

Sullivan said that it always feels great to be acknowledged for his work. He said even though he and his coworkers applied for the achievement awards, it's still an honor.

"It's always a surprise to get an award like this, especially since science awards are based on impacts over a span of time," he said.

Sullivan earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a minor in computer science from the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1989. He earned his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1996. Sullivan, who hopes to eventually change the way films are made so directors can create their stories more interactively, said that his education had a direct impact on helping him succeed in his goals and dreams because it focused on the type of work he does today.

Sullivan is currently employed at George Lucas' visual effects company, ILM, as the director of research and development. He has worked on special effects in numerous blockbuster films including "A.I.," "Minority Report," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," and "Star Wars Episode III."