Justin Solomon, based at MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a member of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, is using modern geometric techniques to solve a wide range of mathematical and AI problems. Drawing on the principles of ancient geometry, Solomon’s work has applications from autonomous vehicles identifying pedestrians using spatial data to creating better AI models that generate new images. Solomon’s interest in this field was sparked by an early interest in computer graphics during a high school internship where he developed algorithms for 3D face recognition. His subsequent work in the field took him from Stanford University to Pixar Animation Studios where he worked on simulating cloth and fluids for film animations.
In his current role, Solomon’s work includes investigating whether the same machine-learning model will function across multiple datasets. By analysing geometric structures, such as the arrangement of data in high-dimensional space, Solomon believes one can gain insights into the effectiveness of a model’s operation. Additionally, Solomon’s work extends to the optimal transport problem, where the goal is to move a distribution of items to another distribution as efficiently as possible.
Despite his varied research interests, Solomon also has a focused mission: making the field of geometric research accessible to those who are usually excluded, particularly underrepresented students. To achieve this, he has initiated the Summer Geometry Initiative, a paid research programme predominantly for underrepresented undergraduate students. Since its inauguration, the programme has witnessed a change in the composition of PhD intake, not only at MIT but at other institutions also. Reflecting on this, Solomon emphasised the importance of diversifying the field of geometric research to allow for fresh ideas and perspectives.
Away from his research, Solomon revealed another dimension to his character – a love for classical music. An accomplished pianist and cellist, Solomon is a consistent member of local symphony orchestras and is currently associated with the New Philharmonia Orchestra in Newton, Massachusetts. His passion for music he sees as a complement to his research, noting the analytical nature of music and its connection with artistic practice in computer graphics.
