Ingrid Daubechies, Ph.D.

RECIPIENT OF THE HONORARY DEGREE

Ingrid Daubechies majored in physics at the Free University of Brussels where she went on to earn her doctorate in theoretical physics. She joined the Mathematics Research Center at AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1987 and, that same year, published the paper that launched her global reputation in the field of wavelets. These mathematical tools allow efficient information packaging, especially when signals undergo sudden dramatic changes.

Undaunted by the entrenched belief that putting mathematics to work compromises its underlying beauty, Dr. Daubechies aimed to create practical tools that retained the wavelets’ theoretical integrity. The wavelets that she developed transformed signal processing in many digital settings. In images, for instance, they facilitate the ability to minimize bandwidth while maximizing quality. This work underlies many applications, including the JPEG 2000 image compression and coding system. Dr. Daubechies has exploited wavelets and numerous other mathematical tools to solve problems in a tremendous range of fields, including brain imaging, geology, evolution, and even art restoration.

Dr. Daubechies joined the mathematics faculty at Rutgers University in 1991 and, three years later, Princeton University recruited her. In 2011, she moved to Duke University, where she is currently the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Dr. Daubechies was named a MacArthur Fellow, and her many honors include the National Academy of Sciences Award in Mathematics, the L’Oréal-UNESCO International Award for Women in Science, and the 2023 Wolf Prize in Mathematics. She has held numerous leadership positions, including president of the International Mathematical Union. In this role, she promoted equal opportunities in science and math education, especially in developing countries. She also co-founded Duke University’s Summer Workshop in Mathematics for rising female high school seniors, and she serves on the board of directors of the EDGE Foundation, which aims to increase gender and racial diversity and equity in the mathematics community.

Away from academia, Dr. Daubechies teamed up with fiber artist Dominique Ehrmann to create an exhibit called Mathemalchemy. This traveling museum piece aims to convey the beauty and fun of mathematics by celebrating the relationship between math and art.