VUB alumna Ingrid Daubechies, professor emeritus of mathematics at Duke University and visiting professor in our department, has been awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest scientific award in the United States. The award was presented by President Joe Biden, who praised her for her outstanding contributions to science and technology, particularly in the areas of signal and image processing.
Daubechies is known worldwide for her research on wavelet theory, a mathematical method crucial to modern technologies such as compression and noise reduction of digital images and audio. Her elegant and innovative techniques have had a lasting impact not only on science, but also on the way mathematics is applied in our daily lives. Her work has found numerous practical applications, including in the film industry, where her methods are used for image compression in video files, in medical imaging and in analyzing painting style.
In addition to her scientific achievements, Daubechies is known for her inspirational role as a mentor and her commitment to making mathematics accessible, especially to underrepresented groups in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). For example, she also founded the mathematics competition Wiskunnend Wiske at VUB.
The National Medal of Science has been awarded since 1959 to scientists who have made exceptional contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation in the United States. That Daubechies received this prestigious award underscores her status as one of the most influential mathematicians of her generation.
This recognition honors her decades of work that uniquely links science, education and practical applications.
Read more on https://today.duke.edu/2025/01/ingrid-daubechies-awarded-national-medal-science