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                Department of Mathematical Sciences
                                and
                    Department of Mathematics 
                   The Johns Hopkins University

                  THE INAUGURAL SIMCA COLLOQUIUM 

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David Mumford                                     Tuesday April 30, 2002
Division of Applied Mathematics                   Levering Hall, Arellano Theater 
Brown University                                  Reception: 3:45 PM 
                                                  Seminar: 4:30 PM 
                                                  (NOTES SPECIAL TIME AND PLACE)

                                                      
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         MODELING SHAPE: COMPUTER VISION MEETS THE EULER EQUATION

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                               ABSTRACT

Like pure mathematics, applied mathematics thrives on unexpected links 
between subfields.  The stochastic modeling of perception has created the
need for new types of probability models of the patterns of the world. 
One of these is "shape", the illusive quality that tells, for instance, 
what is a dog, what is a cat.  We will review various models to capture 
these patterns, especially the wonderful link, based on the work of 
Arnold and forged by Grenander and Miller, with the Euler equation.