CURRICULUM VITAE
THOMAS J. TUCKER
711 Burruss Dr.
Blacksburg, VA
Cell: 704 773 2721
Email: thomasjt@vt.edu
Web site: thomastucker.net
EDUCATION
1996-1998 Masters of Fine Arts – School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1992-1996 Bachelor of Fine Arts – Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
2024 World 16 project, at University of MIT, Boston, Massachusetts
Training in VR and NFT applications with Forum 8 F8VPS software
2023 World 16 project, in Groningen, Netherlands.
Training in VR and NFT applications with UC-Win/Road software and Chidori Engine
2022 World 16 project, in Tokyo, Japan
Training in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software and Chidori Engine
2021 World 16 project, in Tokyo, Japan
Training in Scent in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software
2020 World 16 project, at Taipei, Tiawan (joined virtually due to Covid-19)
Training in physical tracking in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software
2018 World 16 project, at Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Training in utilizing point cloud data in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software
2017 World 16 project, at University of MIT, Boston, Massachusetts
Training in utilizing point cloud data in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software
2016 World 16 project, at Osaka, Japan
Training in utilizing point cloud data in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software
2015 World 16 project, at Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki, Greece
Training in utilizing point cloud data in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software
2014 World 16 project, at University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HA
Training in utilizing point cloud data in VR applications with UC-Win/Road software and projection mapping seminar
2013 FARO Laser Scanner training at Kennett Square, PA
Training how to use the FARO laser scanner and 3D applications
2013 Qualisys motion capture training on hardware and software in the ICAT Cube space.
2011 World 16 project, at University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Training in utilizing VR applications with UC-Win/Road software.
2010 World 16 project, at University of California in Santa Barbara
Training in utilizing VR applications with UC-Win/Road software.
2009 World 16 project, at Forum 8, Tokyo, Japan
Training in utilizing VR applications with UC-Win/Road software.
2005 Escape Studios Ltd., London, UK
Maya data flow/node structure, MEL and conditional testing (data types, syntax and flow control), indoor and outdoor illumination techniques, conditional dynamic events, scripted/expression based activation and instigation of dynamic elements based on rules, element driven particles, seed driven controlled elements (crowd) control within a multi-element system.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2012-Present Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Position: Director of MFA Creative Technologies Program, Associate Professor with Tenure, The School of Visual Arts, Creative Technologies, College of Architecture and Urban Planning and Fellow at Institute for Creative Art and Technologies
Teaching Responsibilities: Intro to 3D Animation, Animation, CG Visual Effects, Tools for Visualization, Projection Mapping, Video Gaming, 3D Heritage, Grad Seminar and Begining and Advanced Character Modeling
Other Responsibilities include: University Research Committee, Associate Dean Review Committee, Curriculum Development, Scholarship Committee, Undergrad Portfolio Review, MFA Portfolio Review, Thesis Advisor for Undergrad, Graduate Students, Curriculum Committee, Photography, Multi-Media, Gaming and Animation Search Committee, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Program SOVA Director Five-year Review Committee, SOVA XCOM Committee, Member of Bioinspired Science & Technology Center (BIST), University Undergraduate Research Advisory Board, CAUS Honorifics Committee, ICAT Catalyst member and ICAT Fellow and Senior Fellow
2007-2012 Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC
Position: Tenured Associate Professor, Art & Design, College of Arts & SciencesTeaching Responsibilities: Desktop Publishing 1, 2, 3D Animation/Modeling 1, 2, Interactive Design, Web Design, Multimedia Design, Independent Study and Virtual Environments/Game Design
Other Responsibilities include: Strategic Planning Council, Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee Chair of Hiring Committee, WSSU Recruitment Council Committee, The General Education Task Force Committee, Senior Research Symposium Undergraduate Forum Committee, Health Committee, Student Recruitment Committee, Curriculum Committee for BFA program, E-portfolio Committee, and Student Advisor.
2009 The Serious Game Group, Piedmont Triad Partnership Design Consortium, Winston-Salem, NC
Position: Game developer for Surgical Mayo Tray GameGame Developer Responsibilities: Developing tech documents for the Maya game, finding street value of game, Flash programmer, and modeler of Mayo surgical tools using Maya.
Other Responsibilities include: lighting, texturing and rendering of all Mayo surgical tools, setting up modeling sequencing for team.
2008-2012 Center For Design Innovation, Winston-Salem, NC
Position: Workshop InstructorTeaching Responsibilities: Conducting workshops on fundamentals of Maya polygonal modeling techniques, subdivision modeling, organic modeling, industrial modeling, lighting and animation using Maya.
Other Responsibilities include: Setting up 10 Mac laptops for the Maya workshop.
2003-2007 Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Position: Assistant Professor, Art & Design, College of Arts & SciencesTeaching Responsibilities: Basic Graphic Design, Graphic Design 1, 2, and 3, 3D Animation/Modeling 1, 2, and 3, Virtual Environments/Game Design, Capstone, and The Dart Program (3D Animation)
Other Responsibilities include: Department Criteria for Promotion and Tenure Committee, Student Recruitment Committee, Exhibition Committee, Art Conference in the UAE Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, International Exhibition Planning Committee, Curriculum Committee, Program Revision Committee, Student Advisor, Grading and Assessment Formats Committee, Research Threshold and Faculty Time Allocation and Reporting, Documentation of Student Artwork and Faculty Projects, SAFE Project, Continuing Education Courses, International Institution Links, Art Conferences in the UAE, UAE Design Group, Student Organization – Art Club, Designed a poster and brochure for the Art and Design Department, ZU Magazine, Safe Book Project and IT Help within the department.
2006 Latifa College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Position: Assistant Professor, Art & DesignTeaching Responsibilities: 3D Animation
2002-2003 University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago, IL
Position: Project Coordinator for Compliance EducationResponsibilities included: Providing essential support to educational initiatives; Coordinating of training rooms, schedules, orientation and monitoring of hospital staff; facilitating for faculty and staff in accessing information to managers and administrators; providing support in preparation of video presentations. Maintaining web site and supporting the technical aspect of the computer based programs for all staff and faculty on and off site.
2000-2002 Image Source Creative, Chicago, IL
Position: Head of Web Development, Multimedia and Video/Post Production Department.Responsibilities included: Development and production of site specific projects including web sites, site maintenance, CD-ROM, Interactive CD-ROM, Interactive DVD, 3-D animation, and video dependent on the clients needs.
GRANTS AND EXTERNAL FUNDING
2024 ICAT Mini SEAD Grant Award ($6,000) Drosera Obscura: A Multi-Sensory XR Installation and Performance, Thomas Tucker, Brook Kennedy, Joseph Kubalak, and Dongsoo Choi. Description: Drosera Obscura is an immersive XR installation that blends virtual reality, animatronics, sound, scent, and physical interaction to push the boundaries of multisensory engagement. The interdisciplinary team aims to refine and expand the project with two new iterations in the next year.
2024 TLOS AI-centered course enhancement grant sponsored by the Provost’s Office ($5,000) summer stipend to design or redesign assignments, assessments, and/or classroom activities to leverage generative AI — and to ensure that AI is used responsibly and appropriately.
2024 ICAT Major SEAD Grant Award ($40,000) “Breathing Life into Meketre’s Tomb Models”, Elgewely Eiman, Thomas Tucker, Amanda Nelson, Ico Bukvic and Sang Won Lee. Description: This project digitally repatriates Meketre’s Tomb Models by transforming them into immersive, life-size virtual environments. By reconnecting artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Cairo Museum in Egypt, it preserves cultural heritage and makes it more accessible.
2023 Smithsonian Pixel Project sponsored by the Smithson and ICAT ($40,000). 2nd Preliminary projection mapping research was conducted in the Flag Hall at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian. This is a three-year project with goals of permanent installation by 2024. Principal investigators: Brodie, J., Knapp, B., Franusich D, and Tucker, T.
2023 ICAT Major SEAD Grant (2023-2024) ($15,000) Title: Building A Sustainable Future by Learning from the past: Reinterpreting Passive Sustainable Design through Immersive Virtual Heritage Environments. Elgewely, E., Whitney, B., Tucker, T., Hicks, D., and Ogle, T.
2023 CHCI Travel recipient for ($800.00) travel funding for the VR Swirling Senses VR project. Funding used for travel to the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz Austria for Summer 2023.
2023 ICAT Funded Grant ($5,000) travel funding for the VR Swirling Senses VR project. Funding used for travel to the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz Austria for Summer 2023.
2023 Funding for AGLS (Association for General & Liberal Studies) ($1,300) Keep Gen Ed Weird conference at Austin Texas (September 22-23, 2023) History Lab: Four Instructors, One Cours – Fostering Experiential Learning Across the Disciplines Location: Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Quigley, P., and Tucker, T. funded by Office of the Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
2020-23 Entomo-3D: Digitizing the Virginia Tech Insect Collection, Council on Library & Information Resources, USD 244,752 (Active: 06/01/2020 – 05/31/2023), Principal Investigators: Hall Nathan (50%), Marek Paul (45%), Tucker Thomas J (5%)
2021-22 Experiencing Civil War History Through Augmented Reality: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Environment at Pamplin Historical Park, National Endowment for the Humanities, Other, USD 30,000 (Active: 03/01/2021 – 02/28/2022), Principal Investigators: Quigley Paul (23%), Bowman Douglas A (11%), Duer Zachary R (11%), Guimont Corinne (11%), Hicks David (11%), Luther Kurt (11%), Ogle Jeffrey T (11%), Others (11%)
2021-22 Experiencing Civil War History Through Augmented Reality: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Environment at Pamplin Historical Park., National Endowment for the Humanities, Other, USD 30,000 (Active: 03/01/2021 – 04/28/2022), Principal Investigators: Quigley P; Guimont C; Ogle J; Bowman D; Luther K; Hicks D; Tucker T; Duer Z
2022 The modern skeleton: Translating natural history into interactive and immersive experiences, Institute for Creativity, Art, and Technology, USD 25,000 (Active: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2022), Principal Investigators: Nesbitt S; Stocker M; Ofsa M; Tucker T; Bradley J; Fralin S; Newbill P
2021-22 Virtual Reality Scents, ICAT, USD 3,000 (active: 12/18/2021 – 03/17/2022), Principal Investigators: Tucker T; Lahondere C; Lahne J; Latimer J; James J
2022 ICAT Funded Grant ($5,000) travel funding for the New Orleans Film Festival. Funds were to help with travel and housing for the event in which we hosted a full day VR 360 workshop and projection mapping art installation.
2022 CHCI Travel recipient for ($400.00) travel funding for the VR Senses Swirling project. Funding used for travel to the FilmGate Festival in Miami during Art Basel week.
2022 Experiencing Civil War History Through Augmented Reality: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Environment at Pamplin Historical Park. Funder name: National Endowment for the Humanities (USD 100,000) Principal investigators: Quigley P, Guimont C, Ogle J, Bowman D, Luther K, Hicks D, Tucker T, Duer Z
2022 Smithsonian Pixel Project sponsored by the Smithson and ICAT ($8,000). Preliminary projection mapping research was conducted in the Flag Hall at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian. This is a three-year project with goals of permanent installation by 2024. Principal investigators: Brodie J, Knapp B, Franusich D, and Tucker T.
2021 Virtual Reality Scents Start date: 18 December 2021 End date: 17 March 2022 Funder name: ICAT Amount: (USD 3,000) Status: active Collaborators: Tucker T, Lahondere C, Lahne J, Latimer J, James J Types: Sponsored Research Included in the database of medical student research projects.
2021 The Modern Skeleton: Translating natural history into interactive and immersive experiences Start date: 1 July 2021 End date: 30 June 2022 Funder name: Institute for Creativity, Art, and Technology Amount: (USD 25,000) Status: Active Collaborators: Nesbitt S, Stocker M, Ofsa M, Tucker T, Bradley J, Fralin S, Newbill P Types: Grant Included in the database of medical student research projects?: false Record created at source: 3 May 2021
2021 Experiencing Civil War History Through Augmented Reality: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Environment at Pamplin Historical Park. Funder name: National Endowment for the Humanities Funder type: Federal Federal agency (if appropriate): Other Funder reference: GRANT13135983 Virginia Tech grant number: PT6IJ3DX Amount: (USD 30,000) Principal investigators: Quigley P, Guimont C, Ogle J, Bowman D, Luther K, Hicks D, Tucker T, Duer Z Start date: 1 March 2021 End date: 28 April 2022 Status: Active Record created at source: 16 April 2021
2021 If this place could talk – Visualizing 150 years of VT as part of the Council of VT History Abstract: The grants supports the VT 150 Visualizing history team of faculty, staff and students to use innovative technologies including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 360 video to help visualize and bring the universities past to life through immersive exhibits and walking tours. Details regarding the project can be found here: https://hci.icat.vt.edu/research/vt150–visualizing-150-years-of-virginia-tech-history.html and https://historylab.squarespace.com/ Start date: 2021 End date: 2022 Funder name: Office of the President / Office of Strategic Affairs, Amount: (USD 137,900.00) Collaborators: Quigley P, Tucker T, Ogle J, Hicks D Included in the database of medical student research projects?: false Record created at source: 25 January 2022
2021 Entomo-3D: Digitizing the Virginia Tech Insect Collection Funder name: Council on Library & Information Resources Funder type: Private Federal agency (if appropriate): **Non Federal** Funder reference: DHC_2019_000697 Virginia Tech grant number: 549753 Amount: (USD 244,752 Maximum award amount: USD 244,752) Principal investigators: Hall N, Marek P, Tucker T Start date: 1 June 2020 End date: 31 May 2022 Status: Active PI list: Hall Nathan (50%), Marek Paul (45%), Tucker Thomas J ( 5%) Publicity Code: AR – Acknowledgement Required Banner title: Entomo-3D: Digitizing the Virginia
2021 Virtual Reality Horse Start date: 1 February 2020 End date: 31 January 2021 Funder name: Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning High Impact Instructional Grant Amount: (USD 10,800) Status: Active Collaborators: Nappier M, Byron C, Corcoran L, Elnady F, Smith B, Walz A, Tucker T, Wilson K Record created at source: 29 May 2020
2020 If this place could talk – Visualizing 150 years of Virginia Tech Start date: 21 January 2020 End date: 15 May 2020 Funder name: Office of the President / Office of Strategic Affairs Amount: (USD 54,000) Status: Completed Collaborators: Quigley P, Hicks D, Bowman D, Tucker T Record created at source: 29 May 2020
2020 NEH Civil War Grant, Quigley, P., Guimont, C., Ogle, J. T., Bowman, D., Luther, K., Hicks, D., Tucker, T., & Duer, Z. (03/01/2021 -02/28/2022). Experiencing Civil War History Through Augmented Reality: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Environment at Pamplin Historical Park. National Endowment for the Humanities – Digital Projects for the Public Grant program [$30,000.00] Role: Co PI. This initial planning grant is focused on the design of an Augmented Reality application for visitors to Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, Virginia. At its museums, battlefield, and historic homes, Pamplin HP educates large public audiences of all ages about Civil War history. Our application will share new stories, informed by current humanities scholarship, presented in innovative ways. Using mobile devices, visitors will learn about less familiar Civil War topics: interconnections between the environment and military affairs; the war’s transformative impact on African Americans and other civilians; and the benefits of reading wartime documents with a historian’s eye. On their phone or tablet, they will construct their own fortifications and overlay them onto the real world. They will experience multimedia guided interpretations of documents from this place, see video of historians sharing diverse perspectives, and more. Visualizing the past in new ways will inspire deeper empathy, curiosity, and understanding.
2020 VT Pathways Grant, Quigley, P., Hicks, D., & Tucker, T. (2020). Transdisciplinary Pathways Course Proposal – History Lab: Creative Technologies, Hidden Histories, Informal Learning. Office of Provost: Pathways 2020 Grant Program [$10,000] Role: Co-PI
2020 The grant supports the design and development of a pathways transdisciplinary team-taught course entitled History Lab: Creative Technologies, Hidden Histories, Informal Learning. History Lab is a new transdisciplinary experiential learning course, team taught by faculty from disciplines such as history, education, computer science, and visual arts, with support from the Library’s Applied Research in Immersive Experiences and Simulations program. Students will work in small groups to use creative and innovative technologies (e.g. extended reality) to explore, interpret, and visualize the past in new ways, creating immersive informal learning experiences. The emphasis will be on uncovering hidden or marginalized histories. The course meets Core Concepts Critique and Practice in Design and Arts and Critical Analysis of Equity and identity in the US.
2020 VT 150 Grant, Quigley, P., Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Bowman, D., Tucker, T., (2019-2020). If this place could talk – Visualizing 150 years of VT as part of the Council of VT History. Office of the President / Office of Strategic Affairs, Virginia Tech. [subaward to project = $251,000] Role: Co-PI. The grants supports the VT 150 Visualizing history team of faculty, staff and students to use innovative technologies including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 360 video to help visualize and bring the universities past to life through immersive exhibits and walking tours. Details regarding the project can be found here: https://hci.icat.vt.edu/research/vt150–visualizing-150-years-of-virginia-tech-history.html
2020 VT Grant, Quigley, P., Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Bowman, D., and Tucker, T. (2018-2019). Office of the President / Office of Strategic Affairs, Virginia Tech. If this place could talk If this place could talk – Visualizing 150 years of VT as part of the Council of VT History. Office of the President / Office of Strategic Affairs, Virginia Tech. [subaward to project = $54,000] Role: Co-PI. The grants supports the VT 150 Visualizing history team of faculty, staff and students to use innovative technologies including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 360 video to help visualize and bring the universities past to life through immersive exhibits and walking tours.
2020-21 Awarded Spring 2021 for course buyout for Thomas Tucker and his work for the Council on VT History from the Office for Strategic Affairs. The buyout is for the development of an interactive projection mapping kiosk, AR and VR development to celebrate the 150th Virginia Tech Anniversary, working with Todd Ogle, Paul Quigley, David Hicks, Doug Bowman, Gary Warley, and SOVA 3D Visualization class
2017 VDR Project working with ICAT in developing prototype a basic VDR to create a virtual environment where kitchen and bath dealerships can design consumer and builder kitchens and give their clients the chance to experience a life-size image of what their project will look like when completed. The consumer will interact with the design to try different finishes, hardware, appliances, flooring, etc. to give them the confidence to purchase that new kitchen from the VDR dealership. Partnership with local businessman Dan Stout and Gene Swartz (awarded contract $3,000)
2017 Oba’s Dream working with ICAT in developing VR experience with international film maker Shawn Peters (awarded contract $7,000)
2017 Technology-Enhanced Learning & Online Strategies Grant Program, Awarded funding to support our work in three projects World War I, Christiansburg Institute and Blacksburg 16 Squares 3D Printing Project (15,000 awarded) PI: Thomas Tucker
2017 NSF MRI proposal selected in the internal competition for Development of a Motion-Capture System for Occlusion-Free Recording of Complex Animal Motion KinematicsInvestigators: PI: Rolf Müller, ME, COE, Co-PI: A. Lynn Abbott, ECE, COE, Jake Socha, BEAM, COE, Thomas Tucker, SOVA/ICAT, CLAHS, Hongxiao Zhu, Statistics, COS Senior Personnel: Nicole Abaid, BEAM, COE, Pinhas Ben-Tzvi, ME, COE, Andy Kurdila, ME, COE, Sunny Jung, BEAM, COE, Alexander Leonessa, ME, COE, Danesh Tafti, ME, COE ($356,500 pending)
2017 Enigma Project, VR project PI: Joe Gabbard, Co-PI: Doug Bowman and Thomas Tucker ($280,000 awarded by Facebook)
2016 ICAT SEAD Major Grant for “Stepping into the past through Visualization: Exploring America’s Forgotten War” ($25,000 awarded) PI: Thomas Tucker, Co PI: David Hicks, Todd Ogle, David Cline
2015-16 Awarded, presented and participated at the Advanced Challenges in Theory and Practice in 3D Modeling of Cultural Heritage Sites at Amherst College, Maryland and UCLA, Las Angeles, CA. (2,300 awarded stipend)
2015 China Cave Scan, Shandong University, Jinan, China, funded by the China Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (22,000 Yuan awarded).
2015 Awarded, Presented and participated at the Advanced Challenges in Theory and Practice in 3D Modeling of Cultural Heritage Sites at Amherst College, Maryland. ($2,300 awarded stipend)
2015 ICAT SEAD Mini Grant for Moss Arts Center Projection Mapping Project ($2,200 awarded)
2015 Towards Printing a Stradivarius, Institute For Creative, Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Major Initiative Program Grant, PI: Pablo Tarazaga, PhD, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, Co PI: Thomas Tucker, BFA, MFA, Creative Technology, School of Visual Arts, Virginia Tech, Chris Williams, PhD, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, David Ehrlich, Outreach Fellow, Fine Arts, Virginia Tech, Stefan Hersh and Violinist and Violin Maker, Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins, Chicago Il ($25,000) Responsible for 12%.
2014 Advancing Transportation Infrastructure 3D Image-Based Reconstruction, Visualization, and Non-Contact Measurement for Condition Assessment and STEM Education, Institute For Creative, Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Mini Grant, PI: Cristopher D. Moen, PhD, PE, Co PI: Thomas Tucker, MFA, Kevin Kochersberger, PhD, Gerardo Flintsch, PhD, PE ($3,000) Responsible for 33%.
2014 Christiansburg Institute, Augmented Reality for Historical Inquiry, NSF project, NSF grant, CNS, Division of Computer and Network Systems Grant, PI: Doug Bowman, Co PI: Todd Ogle, David Cline, David Hicks, Gurjot Singh, Stipend Support: Thomas Tucker ($585,510.00) Awarded. Responsible for 1%
2014 Puppy CT Scan, Institute For Creative, Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Mini Grant, PI: Thomas Tucker, Co-PIs: Bess J. Pierce, DVM, DABVP, DACVIM, Jeryl C. Jones, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVR, Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC ($1,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%.
2014 China Cave Scan, University, Jinan, China, Funded by the China Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Grant (22,000 Yuan) Awarded. Responsible for 100%.
2015 China Cave Scan, University, Jinan, China, Funded by the China Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Grant (22,000 Yuan) Awarded. Responsible for 100%.
2014 Nano Pod Project, Open at the Source, Institute for Creativity, Art, and Technology at the Cube, Moss Arts Center, PI: Thomas Tucker, Virginia Tech Co PI: Tohm Judson, Winston-Salem State University ($1,500) Awarded. Responsible for 100%.
2014 Puppy CT Scan, Institute For Creative Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Mini Grant, PI: Thomas Tucker, Co-PIs: Bess J. Pierce, DVM, DABVP, DACVIM, Jeryl C. Jones, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVR, Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC ($1,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2013 Living Lab for Asynchronous and Synchronous Investigation of Virtual and Real Environments, NSF grant, CNS, Division of Computer and Network Systems Grant, PI: Benjamin Knapp, Co PI: Nicholas Polys, Ivica Bukvic, Yong Cao, James Ivory, Dane Webster and Thomas Tucker ($585,510.00) Awarded. Responsible for 12.5%
2013 Blacksburg’s 16 Squares: A Study of Time in Place AR and VR Recreation of Blacksburg’s 16 Squares, Funding from Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Major Initiative Program Grant PI: Thomas Tucker ($25,000) Awarded. Responsible for 68%
2013 Bodies of Interaction, Projection Mapping project inside the new ICAT cube, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Mini-Grant, PI: Ann Kilkelly, Ph.D, MA, BA, Co-PIs: Carol Burch-Brown, BA, MFA, Thomas Tucker, BFA, Tohm Judson, Ph.D ($3,000) Awarded. Responsible for 15%
2013 Salt Marsh Suite: Revealing a Coastal Estuary through 3D Visualization, Max/MSP/Jitter, and Projection Mapping SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Mini-Grant, PI: Carol Burch-Brown, BA, MFA, Co-PIs: Thomas Tucker, BFA, MFA, Sam Blanchard, BFA, MFA and Dongsoo Choi, BS ($3,000) Awarded. Responsible for 15%.
2013 Odd Fellows Hall And New Town Virtual Reality Tour, Institute For Creative, Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Mini Grant, ($3,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2013 Odd Fellows Hall And New Town Virtual Reality Tour, Funding from Outreach and International Affairs, Virginia Tech ($10,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2012 Creating 3D Visualization Tools to Study Canine Puppy Socialization Behaviors, Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology, SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art, and Design) Major Initiative Program Grant, ($9,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2007 Robotic Rack and Pinion Project, Zayed University Basic Research Funding Grant ($3,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2007 Ras Al Khaimah Project, GPS Survey, Zayed University Basic Research Funding Grant ($3,000) Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2006 Modular Unit Project, Ziva Gallery, Zimbabwe, Africa, Zayed University Professional Development Grant. ($3,500). Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2006 Self-Contained Modular Unit Project, Joan Mitchell Foundation Opportunity Grant, ($5,000). Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2006 Ras Al Khaimah Project, Zayed University Basic Research Funding Grant, ($1,500). Awarded. Responsible for 100%
2006 Self-Contained Modular Unit Project, Zayed University Basic Research Funding Grant, ($1,500). Awarded. Responsible for 100%
1998 Joan Mitchell Foundation Recipient Grant, ($10,000). Awarded. Responsible for 100%
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2024 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. (July 15, 2024). Rally Japan VR and XR Projects with NFT development with Forum 8. World 16 VR Symposium Summer Workshop 2024 at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Recipient of the Academic Encouragement Award (1,000 US)
2024 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. (November 8-12, 2024). Rally Japan VR and XR Projects in Forum 8. Forum 8 18th Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan. Recipient of the Academic Encouragement Award (1,500 US)
2023 XCaliber Awards for Teaching Excellence at Virginia Tech Tucker, T., Hicks, D., Ogle T., and Quigley P. (March 21, 2023) our class ‘History Lab’ in the transdisciplinary experiential learning course, HIST 4014 / ART 4014 / EDCI 4014 History Lab: Creative Technologies, Hidden Histories, Informal Learning (Spring 2022) was awarded the 2023 XCaliber Award for extraordinary contributions to technology-enriched active learning. (1,000 US)
2023 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award Tucker, T. (July 15, 2023). Cooperation of the metaverse and NFT. World 16 VR Symposium Summer Workshop 2023 in Groningen, Netherlands. Recipient of the Academic Encouragement Award (1,500 US)
2023 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award Tucker, T. (November 8-12, 2023). Cooperation of the metaverse and NFT. Forum 8 17th Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan. Recipient of the Academic Encouragement Award (1,500 US)
2023 Best paper award at the Cultural Heritage and New Technologies Conference in Vienna, Eiman, E., Tucker, T., Hicks, D. and Ogle, T. (November 17, 2023). Sustainable Traditional Arab Dwellings in VR: The Educational Virtual Model of Sheikh Isa House, Bahrain
2022 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. (July 15, 2022). NFT Content Creation for World Rally Championship. World 16 VR Symposium Workshop 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. Recipient of the Academic Encouragement Award (1,000 US) from FORUM 8.
2022 University of Miami Honorarium, Tucker, T., (March 28, 2022) Artist/Research Talk at the School of Communication and Interactive, Media at the University of Miami (Wolfson Building, 1021) hosted by the Ribeiro Innovation Fund Speaker Series
2022 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. (November 18, 2022). NFT Content Creation for World Rally Championship. Forum 8 16th, Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan. Recipient of the Academic Encouragement Award (1,000 US)
2021 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. (July 28, 2021). Scent + VR. World 16 VR Symposium 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (joined virtually due to Covid-19) Academic Encouragement Award (1,000 US) from FORUM8 on my project presented at the 2021 Summer Symposium Workshop.
2021 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. (November 17-19, 2021). Scent + VR. Forum 8 15th Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan (presented virtually due to Covid-19). Awarded the Academic Encouragement Award (1,000 US) from FORUM8 on my project presented at the 15th VR Symposium. https://www.forum8.co.jp/fair/df/day2-e.html
2021 Course Release for VT 150 Research Leave Award for Spring 2021 (President’s Office). (Awarded $10,000)
2020 Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) Sabbatical Research Augmentation Leave Award for Spring 2020. (Awarded 50% salary).
2020 ICAT Day Board Choice Award, Tucker, T., Judson, T., David Franusich, D., Monzel D., Freeman L., Ngo H., Comstock H., Ngo P., Kubalak J., Bibel J., Hamilton J., Upthegrove T. and Hardebeck G. Dee, M., Stiles, P., Hase, A., Okumura, H., Shokhov, H., Salisbury, A. and Duff, C. (May 5, 2020) The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project. Presented at ICAT C+I Day. Awarded: This project was selected by a panel of experts as exemplary of the Creativity + Innovation Day goals. Online Presentation: https://icat.vt.edu/events/2020/05/icat-c-i-day-2020/the-virtual-sensory-interfaces-project.html
2020 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. and Choi, D. (June 24, 2020). Interactive Mixed Reality Buildings. World 16 VR Symposium in Taipei, Tiawan (joined virtually due to Covid-19) Academic Encouragement Award from FORUM8 on my project presented at the 2020 Summer Symposium Workshop.
2020 Forum 8 Academic Achievement Award, Tucker, T. and Choi, D. (November 19, 2020). Interactive Mixed Reality Buildings. Forum 8 13th Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan (presented virtually due to Covid-19). Awarded the Academic Encouragement Award from FORUM8 on your project presented at the 13th VR Symposium.
2019 Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) Sabbatical Research Augmentation Leave Award for spring 2020. (Individually awarded 50% salary.)
2019 “The Pélleas Project”. Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) Science, Engineering, Arts, and Design (SEAD) Grant. Opera Project. PI: Ariana Wyatt, Co-ˇPI: Thomas Tucker, Richard Masters, Doug Bowman ($25,000 at 25% = $6,250).
2018-20 Awarded Spring 2019 for course buyout for Thomas Tucker and his work for the Council on VT History from the Office for Strategic Affairs. The buyout is for the development of an interactive projection mapping kiosk, AR and VR development to celebrate the 150th Virginia Tech Anniversary, working with Todd Ogle, Paul Quigley, David Hicks, Doug Bowman, Gary Warley, and SOVA 3D Visualization class
2018 National Technology Leadership Initiative (NTLI) Fellow for CUFA Social Studies Education.
2018 Academy Encouragement Award for Best VR in UC-WinRoad, Forum 8, World 16 17th 3DVR Conference November 20. Presented by the President Yuji Ito (CEO of FORUM 8) Tokyo, Japan. (Individually awarded $1,000.)
2018 Academy Encouragement Award for Best VR in UC-WinRoad, Forum 8, World 16 Summer Workshop in New Zealand at the University of Victoria at Wellington, NZ. (Individually awarded $1,000.)
2017 Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE)/National Technology Leadership Initiative (NTLI) Technology Paper Award, College and University Faculty of National Council for the Social Studies, November, San Francisco, CA. (Group awarded.)
2017 Nexus Award at ICAT Day 2017 for the project that best exemplifies working at the nexus of science, engineering, arts, and design. Collaborators: Dongsoo Choi, Todd Ogle, David Hicks, Erik Westman, David Cline, David Newcomb, Yves Massotte, Celine Beauchamp, and Adrien Arles. (April 27- May 20.) The Disappeared Village of Vauquois. ICAT: Open (at the) Source- Sensing Place. Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. (Group awarded.)
2019 Recognition of Teaching Excellence Award from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at Virginia Tech.
2017 Awarded The 2017 Favorite Faculty Nominations by a MFA CT graduate student Mahshid Gorjian
2017 Awarded The SITE/NTLI Technology Paper Award presented to Thomas Tucker, College and University Faculty of National Council for the Social Studies, November 2017, San Francisco, CA
2017 Awarded the National Distinction Salary Award presented by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors on November 6, 2017
2017 Awarded the Nexus Award at ICAT 2017 “At the Nexus” Award for the project that best exemplifies working at the nexus of science, engineering, arts, and design for the Tucker, T., Choi, D., Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Westman, E., Cline, D., Newcomb, D., Massotte, Y., Beauchamp, C., & Arles, A. (April 27th- May 20th 2017). The disappeared village of Vauquois. ICAT: Open (at the) Source- Sensing Place. Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
2016 Awarded Tenure at current rank of Associate Professor
2016 Nominated and accepted position for the Director of the Master of Fine Arts of Creative Technologies
2016 Awarded for the 15th 3DVR Simulation Contest on the Cloud “Academic Encouragement Award” November 20, 2016 Presented by the President Yuji Ito (CEO of FORUM 8) Tokyo, Japan.
2016 Nominated for 2016 XCaliber Award, nominated for Lighting and Projection Mapping Class
2015 Virginia Tech merit increase by the Board of Visitors, August 10, 2015.
2015 14th 3DVR Simulation Contest on the Cloud “Academic Encouragement Award” November 20, 2015 Presented by the President Yuji Ito (CEO of FORUM 8) Tokyo, Japan.
2015 Nominated and Finalist of the Virginia Tech Excalibur Award.
2015 Awarded and voted into the Center for Human-Computer Interaction group at Virginia Tech by Director Doug A. Bowman.
2014 “Top 8 Awesome Research Projects at Virginia Tech, One of the Top R&D Institutions in the US”, Puppies at Play Predict Disease; Recognized by Virginia Tech and Gothamist Staff.
2014 Academy Encouragement Award for Best AR in UC-WinRoad, Forum 8 Company, Tokyo, Japan.
2014 College Award in Creative Achievement, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Annual Awards Ceremony, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
2014 Merit Award for Valuable Academic and Service Contributions to the School, College and University, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
2013 Joan Mitchell Foundation Residence Program Award, Joan Mitchell Center, New Orleans.
2013 PDI Nomination and Award, Professional Development Institute (PDI) Program, Virginia Tech.
2010 Academy Award for Best Virtual Reality Project using UC Win/Road Software, World 16 project with Forum 8, 4th International VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan.
2005 Experts List, Zayed University publication recognizing top internationally known scholars and teachers.
2004 Merit Award, Zayed University top ten percent of faculty recognized for outstanding achievements.
1998 Ryerson Fellowship Award (SAIC)
1993-1996 Silver Screen Scholarship Award (KCAI)
EXHIBITION RECORD
2024 Exhibition, SIGGRAPH ‘24: ACM SIGGRAPH 2024 Immersive Pavilion, T.Tucker and T. Judson, Drosera Obscura is an interactive installation that explores the evolutionary journey of a carnivorous plant thriving in the Pacific Northwest after humanity’s departure. We imagine the remnants of human existence—plastics, metals, and machinery—become integral elements in the life and ecosystem of this resilient organism. This work incorporates aspects of touch, smell, sound, and animatronics to create an immersive experience.
2024 Performance at Creativity, Empathy and AI: A National Summit on The Human-AI Creative Partnership at the Torpedo Factory Art Center on Thursday, April 11, 2024 Performance of Laptop Orchestra Concert and Projection mapping at 6:00 to 6:45 pm, Participants were A2RU, VT, Penn State, Carnegie Mellon University and the City of ALexadria Office of the Arts and Hilton Sponsor.
2024 Purdue Performance at the Web/Music Conference (WAC) in the Spring 2024, Bukvic, I. and Tucker, T. and L2ork Laptop Orchestra, Transcontinental Grapevine – interactive work for the Linux Laptop Orchestra’s (L2Ork) L2Ork Tweeter platform that makes the work’s strict EDM timing possible despite two groups of performers (total of 11) being over 5,000 miles apart (Blacksburg, VA, USA, and Buenos Aires, Argentina). A theme and variations based on the opening from Lane 8’s “Grapevine” feat. Elderbrook. All the content is crowdsourced, or co-created by 11 participants, including instruments.
2024 New York Electroacoustic Music Festival, New York, New York, (June 21, 2022), Bukvic, I. and Tucker, T. and L2ork Laptop Orchestra, Transcontinental Grapevine – interactive work for the Linux Laptop Orchestra’s (L2Ork) L2Ork Tweeter platform that makes the work’s strict EDM timing possible despite two groups of performers (total of 11) being over 5,000 miles apart (Blacksburg, VA, USA, and Buenos Aires, Argentina). A theme and variations based on the opening from Lane 8’s “Grapevine” feat. Elderbrook. All the content is crowdsourced, or co-created by 11 participants, including instruments.
2024 Performance for commissioned piece for Torpedo Factory working with outdoor projection mapping installation, Intersteller Influencer (2,200 paid Torpedo Commission) – interactive work for the Linux Laptop Orchestra’s (L2Ork) L2Ork Tweeter platform that makes the work’s strict EDM timing possible despite two groups of performers (total of 11) being over 5,000 miles apart (Blacksburg, VA, USA, and Buenos Aires, Argentina).
2023 SEAMUS Conference Live from NYC 2023 (March 1 – 4, 2023) Swirling Senses. Virtual Reality demonstration and performance at the New York University, Silver Bldg. Director; Tucker, T., Co-director; Judson T., Puppeteer and Manager; Kimbangu, R.,
2023 Ars Electronica, Who Owns the Truth? (September 6-10, 2023) Virtual Reality demonstration and performance at Post City, Linz, Austria. Swirling Senses Director; Tucker, T., and Co-director; Judson T., Puppeteer and sound engineer.
2023 The L2ork Laptop Orchestra performance at Creativity and Innovation District LLC Building, (December 5, 2023) Bukvic, I., (SOPA) and Tucker, T., (SOVA)
2022 ARS ELECTRONICA, Garden Aotearoa, Art, Technology & Society (16 June – 22 June) The Senses Swirling VR Project was showcased at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington, New Zealand. Director; Tucker, T., Co-director; Judson T., https://www.ars.nz/exhibitions/
2022 Film Gate Interactive Film Festival, during Art Basel week, The Senses Swirling VR Project was presented at the Downtown Financial Center in Miami from December 2-5, 2022. Director; Tucker, T., Co-director; Judson T., Puppeteer and Manager; Kimbangu, R.,
2022 ACCelerate Creativity + Innovation Festival, Celestial Garden: Interactive Installation, Tucker, T., Franusich, D., Upthegrove, T., Duff, C., Swars, M., Kimbangu, R., Ge, T., (April 8- 10, 2022). Exhibition: https://acceleratefestival.com/exhibits/celestial-garden/
2022 New Orleans Film Festival, Invited as an artist to participate with Projection Mapping Event
2022 VT 150 Torgenson projection mapping event (October 25) Advisor on 3D scanning, 3D modeling of the building structure and participated in over eight key strategic meetings. https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/10/icat-cm-history-on-the-big-screen.html
2022 Tucker, T. J. (n.d.). Exploring Local History at the Virginia Tech Library “The Christiansburg Institute and the CI-Spy Application”. (No. Of Pieces: 1) [Installation and app showcase on iPads]. Exploring Local History at the Virginia Tech Library.Abstract: Exhibited at Exploring Local History at the Virginia Tech Library “The Christiansburg Institute and the CI-Spy Application”. The exhibit offed an opportunity to explore and celebrate the often-overlooked history of the Christiansburg Institute and our rich local African American heritage. The exhibit featured work from Virginia Tech’s Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies unit and the computer science, education, arts, and public history programs and an app developed around the history of the CI called CI-Spy.
2021 Ars Electronica, Senses Swirling in Virtual Reality: A Sensual Exploration in VR, Tucker, T., Judson, T., Franusich, D., Freeman L., Bibel J., Nguyen P., Dee M., Stiles P. and Upthegrove T. (September 8- 11,2021). Exhibition: https://www.ars.nz/senses-swirling-in-virtual-reality-2/
2021 Pelléas et Mélisande. Wyatt, A., Co-Director and Producer. Moss Arts Center, Fife Stage. Joshua May, co-director; Richard Masters, musical director; Tatiana Vintu, scenic designer; Chriss Russo, technical director and projection engineer; Táloc López Watermann, projection designer; Cindy Moon, costume and mask designer; Amy Luce, stage manager; Thomas Tucker, projection consultant; Doug Bowman, computer science consultant.
2021 The ICAT Cube Research Performance at Virginia Tech, The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project 2.0, Puppeteers: Hase, A., Tucker, T., Tucker, H., Weaver, R., Okumura, H., Winters, E., Dietz, T., Short, A., EDeisa E., Voice Director: Wyatt, A., Singers: Wright M., Jagdhari, T., Phillips, K., Docents: Copper, C., Knapp, B., PC Tower Controller: Franusich, D., Videographer/Photographer: Schoenborn, E., Sound Designer: Tohm Judson, T., Sound: Upthegrove, T., Hale, B., Support and Logistics: Copper, C., Carberry, R., Williams, H., Wyers M., Wine Lab: Kessman, C., Boyer, J., 3D Printing: Bibel, J., Feast & Company Catering: Boling, M., and Garito-Reighley, K. (December 17, 2021)
2020 Ars Electronica (Visual Sensory Convergence), Tucker, T., Judson, T., Franusich, D., Vitale, L., Monzel, D., Freeman L., Ngo, H., Comstock, H., Ngo P., Kubalak J., Bibel J., Hamilton J., Upthegrove T. and Hardebeck G. (October 8, 2020). The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project. CHCI Virginia Tech Friday Presentation. Online Presentation and Virtual Exhibition: https://www.ars.nz/visual-sensory-convergence/
2020 ICAT Cube Research Project (The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project), Tucker, T., Judson, T., David Franusich, D., Monzel D., Freeman L., Ngo H., Comstock H., Ngo P., Kubalak J., Bibel J., Hamilton J., Upthegrove T. and Hardebeck G. Dee, M., Stiles, P., Hase, A., Okumura, H., Shokhov, H., Salisbury, A. and Duff, C. (December 10, 2020) The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project. ICAT Research Project in the ICAT CUBE Virginia Tech. Online Presentation of Research Project: https://vimeo.com/506832409
2019 Exhibited at ACCelerate 2019 Festival The Vauquois, WWI VR Project (get title) was a small village before it became critical high ground that was fiercely contested for four years by the French and Germans during World War I, with the Americans finally taking the position during the Meuse–Argonne offensive of 1918. In an area smaller than the Virginia Tech Drillfield, a quiet, agricultural village became a killing ground starting in the streets, moving to trenches, and finally moving underground into a network of miles of tunnels used to set over 500 mine explosions in four horrific years of endless combat. Funded through an ICAT SEAD Grant, our team of technologists, artists, educators, historians, engineers, and archaeologists performed a comprehensive site survey of the Hill of Vauquois, combining ground penetrating radar, photogrammetry, and laser scanning to create a digital recreation of the above and below ground features of the craters, trenches, tunnels and galleries that allows us to see Vauquois as it has never been seen before. 360 degree video, animation, and virtual reality tell the story in an immersive experience. Collaborators include Thomas Tucker, visual arts faculty member and Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) Fellow;; Zach Duer, visual arts faculty member, Dongsoo Choi, visual arts faculty member, Todd Ogle, senior associate director of applied research and planning and ICAT Fellow;; David Hicks, history and social science faculty member, Doug Bowman, Dongsoo Choi, visual arts faculty member;; and Run Yu, Huy Ngo, and Xindi Liu 2018 Exhibition at Michigan State University Museum for the mixed reality Vauqois experiences. If This Place Could Talk: Lost Village of Vauquois: at the Digital Scholarship Lab in the MSU Library. Participants: Todd Ogle, David Hicks, Thomas Tucker, Zach Duer and Dongsoo Choi. Curated by Max Evjen (Exhibitions Technology Specialist, Arts & Cultural Management and Museum Studies, Michigan State University)
2019 Sound Arcade, ACCelerate 2019 Festival at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Projection mapping and interactive sound art installation exhibition.
2019 Exploring the World War I Tunnels of Vauquois through Virtual Reality, ACCelerate 2019 Festival at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Vauquois immersive virtual experience exhibition.
2019 Watershed Projection Mapping Project, Krewe of Vaporwave Opera in the Piazza d’Italia in New Orleans, LA. Projection mapping exhibition.
2017 Tucker, T., Choi, D., Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Westman, E., Cline, D., Newcomb, D., Massotte, Y., Beauchamp, C., & Arles, A. (April 27th- May 20th 2017). The disappeared village of Vauquois. ICAT: Open (at the) Source- Sensing Place. Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
2017 Tucker, T., Choi, D., Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Bowman, D., Yu, R., Cline, D., Duer, Z., Upthegrove, T., & Westman, E. (May 2017). Visualizing World War I through mixed reality: The mystery of the destroyed village of Vauquois and the War of the Mines. ICAT Creativity and Innovation Day. The Cube, Moss Arts Center: Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
2017 Panel/Conversation topic presentation on panel for Civic Engagement at ACCelerate 16 Squares Project that took place at the ACCelerate Creativity and Innovation Festival 2017 hosted by The Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Virginia Tech.
2017 Exhibited at ACCelerate, ACC Smithsonian Creativity and Innovation Festival at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The 16 Squares Project works to develop an online resource and on-site augmented and virtual reality experience of the original 16 Squares of Blacksburg, Virginia. The original Town of Blacksburg was laid out in a grid on land that was donated by William Black, for whom the town is named. The multilayered and sophisticated program not only provides a factual history of the town, but also an educational treasure about the successes and challenges of civic life, capturing the extensive emotions that people experienced as they lived at various times.
2017 The “ACCelerate Projection Mapping Project” took place at the ACCelerate Creativity and Innovation Festival hosted by The Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Virginia Tech. The projection mapping piece took place at the National Mall entrance of the Museum. Two 20,000 lumens Christie Projectors and a stereo sound system powered by two 220 volt generators were utilized to cover the 7012 square feet of the grand façade of the building entrance.
2016 Exhibited at South by Southwest Conference and Festival 2016 “Mirror Worlds” Mirror worlds is an infrastructure project created to study human interaction. With various sensors installed in the Moss Art Center, the system is able to sense the physical world and generate a virtual model of the building so people can interact from both physical and virtual environments in this shared space. For the South by Southwest Conference we created a mini Mirror Worlds by creating an interactive virtual experience of the actual space at SXSW. The whole Virginia Tech booth was recreated in 3D and the tracker was on site to capture audience members in real time. The data was then translated in real time.
2016 Performance at SECAC 2016 with “Moss Arts Center Projection Mapping” on the grand staircase. By utilizing project light and imagery, and complemented by sound, guests visiting the Moss Arts Center will experience a study in aesthetic design that showcases the unique architecture of the building.
2016 Performance at SECAC 2016 “Space Echoes: An Immersive Audio-Visual Environment” This fully immersive experience was a collaboration of Eric Lyon, Associate Professor of Practice from the School of Performing Arts, and Thomas Tucker, Associate Professor for the School of Visual Arts. The performance showcased an array of technologies available from the institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology’s state of the art Cube at Virginia Tech. 3D Animations and 3D sound compositions were presented in unison to create a sensation of other worldly experiences. The visual components of the animations were projected onto a Cyclorama screen that is 16 feet tall by 40 feet wide. Audience members wore 3D googles while listening to 3D musical compositions relayed from an array of 139 speakers, collectively creating a new kind of visual and auditory encounter.
2016 Forum 8 Design Festival 2016 on November 20 on the Smithfield Class project showcasing the implementing of point cloud data, scanning, photogrammetry, 360 video and using quad copter for photogrammetry with the utilizing UC win/Road software and Virtual Reality project using the OculusRift and VIVE
2015 Projection Mapping of ABB 120 Robot, The Design Robotics Summit, Center for Design Research, Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design.
2015 Salt Marsh Suite Installation, SEAMUS 2015, Experience Studio, Moss Arts Center, Salt Marsh Suite, Carol Burch-Brown, Ann Kilkelly, Tohm Judson and contributor Thomas Tucker (3D laser scanning)
2014 Projection Mapping Exhibition, World 16 Group with Forum 8, Tokyo, Japan at University of Hawaii,
2014 The Nano Pod Project, Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT). Thomas Tucker and Tohm Judson, Winston-Salem State University.
2014 Salt Marsh Suite, Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) with support from the School of Performing Arts and the School of Visual Arts. Carol Burch-Brown, School of Visual Arts, Ann Kilkelly, School of Visual Arts, Thomas Tucker, School of Visual Arts, Tohm Judson, Winston-Salem State University, Rachel Grant Bella, Steve Williams, Theatre Arts MFA, Katie Conner School of Visual Theatre Arts and DongSoo Choi, School of Visual Arts.
2014 Material and Embodiment, Projection Mapping Show in the gallery space 371. Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Canada, Nicole Burisch, Canadian curator, artist, critic, Thomas Tucker artist and researcher, Gwendolyn Yoppolo, performance artist, Lucky Leone, sculpture artist.
2013 t3j Show: at the Contemplative Practices in a Technological Society, Conference at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA
2013 t3j Show: at the Joan Mitchell Foundation Residence Program, Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans
2011 Strictly Academic, Part 1: at The Womble Carlyle Gallery at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Winston-Salem, NC Exhibition features work by: Thomas Tucker, Scott Betz, Tammy Evans, Alison Fleming, Christine Kirouac, Leo Morrissey, Juie Rattley III, and Adrew Fansler
2011 Solo Show, Dialect Design Art Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2010 Winston Salem State University faculty show at Diggs Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
2009 Solo Show, Amanda Schedler Fine Art, Homewood, AL
2008 Winston Salem State University faculty show at Diggs Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
2007 Five schools/Five miles: at The Rhodes and Davis Galleries at The Sawtooth Center, Winston-Salem, NC
2007 Minus Reality, Art Attack Gallery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2007 Zayed University Faculty Exhibition, Meem Gallery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2007 Solo Show, East Tennessee State University in Slocumb Galleries, Johnson City, Tennessee
2007 Southern Appalachian International Film Festival (SOAPIFF) – Honorable mention prize for animation
2006 Solo Show, Zimbabwe Institute of “Vigital” Arts in Zimbabwe, Africa
2005 Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant Recipients Group Show, CUE Art Gallery, NYC
2005 Reinventing the Present, Meramec Art Gallery, Saint Louis Community College, St. Louis, Missouri
2005 Reinventing the Present, Amelia Center, Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, Florida
2004 Drawing Show, Overground Gallery, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2004 14 Artists, faculty members from Zayed University, Cultural Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2003 12 Artists, faculty members from Zayed University, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
1999 Synapse Group, a group of electronic artists Kevin Heisner, Robert Kephart, Daniel Miller, Fernando D. Orellana, Sabrina Raaf, Eric Ravenstein, Valerie Sullivan Fuchs, Karen Thornton, Thomas Tucker, Lauren Was, Amy Youngs. Earth Goddess Gallery, Chicago, IL
1999 Group Show, The Aaron Packer Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998 Group Show of Graduating Seniors, Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago, IL
1998 M.F.A The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating show (sold out), Chicago, IL
1996 B.F.A. Kansas City Art Institute graduating show (sold out), Kansas City, MO
1994-1996 Kansas City Art Institute National Tour: Kansas City, MO
VISITING ARTIST/RESEARCH LECTURES
2024 Tucker, T., Presented Visualizing the Unseen: Transdisciplinary Art, Technology, and Immersive Exploration at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Department of Architecture in the Design School in Suzhou, China – honorarium (October 9 2024 at 5:00 pm at DB455 South Campus)
2024 CHCI Big Presentation invited to present at Big Ideas Workshop Program, Season 4 Talks: Personal and Social Experiences with Technology, Thomas Tucker Drosera Obscura Project. – competitive invite
2023 Tucker, T. (July 15, 2023) Cooperation of the Metaverse and NFT. Presentation at FORUM 8, WORLD16 VR Symposium Summer Workshop 2023. Groningen, Netherlands.
2023 Hicks, D., Quigley, P., Ogle, T., & Ogle, T. (2023). History Lab: Fostering experiential learning across the disciplines. Presentation at the TLOS Showcase 23. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
2023 Tucker, T., Presented at the Big Ideas at the CHCI Big Idea Workshop in Session 4: Immersive Virtual Reality with Animatronics + Artificial Intelligence. Blacksburg, VA.
2022 Tucker, T., (March 28, 2022) Artist/Research Talk at the School of Communication and Interactive Media at the University of Miami (Wolfson Building, 1021) hosted by the Ribeiro Innovation Fund Speaker Series
2022 Tucker, T. and Franusich, D., (September 30, 2022) Celestial Garden, Panel Session at Future Bodies 2022 New Media Caucus Symposium held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.
2022 Tucker, T., (June 18, 2022) The Garden Aotearoa Artists Talk at Ars Electronica, Senses Swirling in Virtual Reality: A Sensual Exploration in VR
2022 Tucker, T. (July 15, 2022). NFT Content Creation for World Rally Championship. Presented at World 16 VR Summer Workshop in Tokyo, Japan
2022 Tucker, T., (November 18, 2022). NFT Content Creation for World Rally Championship. Forum 8 16th Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan. Presented at the 16th VR Symposium.
2022 Tucker, T., Weaver, R., and King, N., Hosted a Virtual Reality/360 Video Workshop and presentation at New Orleans Film Festival 2022.
2021 Tucker, T., (September 10, 2021) The Garden Aotearoa Artists Talk at Ars Electronica, Senses Swirling in Virtual Reality: A Sensual Exploration in VR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0B_-Vwf8AI (1:13:40 minute mark)
2021 Tucker, T., (July 28, 2021). Scent + VR. World 16 VR Symposium 2021 in Tokyo, Japan (joined virtually due to Covid-19) Presented at the 2021 Summer Symposium Workshop.
2021 Tucker, T., (November 17-19, 2021). Scent + VR. Forum 8 15th Annual VR Symposium in Tokyo, Japan (presented virtually due to Covid-19). Presented at the 15th VR Symposium. https://www.forum8.co.jp/fair/df/movie-ppt/2021/day2-w16.html (at the 3:40 minute mark)
2021 Tucker, T., Voice of America (VOA) interview on VR Research: The Virtual Sensory Interfaces by Andrei Dziarkach for the Technology story aired on TV-show ‘Detali’ on Current Time Channel (https://www.currenttime.tv/) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M26pkncrQxQ (at the 15:41 minute mark)
2021 Tucker, T., (April 15-16, 2021) The Power of Immersive Storytelling, the 5th CHCI workshop on the future of human-computer interaction, presentation of VR Research: The Virtual Sensory Interfaces held virtually.
2021 Tucker, T. (March 1, 2021). Open Education Symposium interdisciplinary panel, “Connecting the Opens: A Panel Discussion for the Future Professoriate.” The issues discussed included cost and issues of persistent access/equity, pedagogical affordances, persistent access, and editability/customization. This panel consisted of faculty colleagues from across Virginia Tech and within the University Libraries.
2021 Ogle, T., Hicks, D., and Tucker, T., (February 10, 2021) presented Accessing the Past through Virtual Reality: First World War Landscapes at the Gorffennol Digidol/Digital Past Conference in New Technologies in Heritage, Interpretation & Outreach held online via Zoom hosted by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
2020 CHCI Presentation. Tucker, T., Judson, T., David Franusich, D., Monzel D., Freeman L., Ngo H., Comstock H., Ngo P., Kubalak J., Bibel J., Hamilton J., Upthegrove T. and Hardebeck G. (October 8, 2020). The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project. CHCI Virginia Tech Friday Presentation. Online Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pacyTsvi3yM
2020 ICAT Day Presentation.Tucker, T., Judson, T., David Franusich, D., Monzel D., Freeman L., Ngo H., Comstock H., Ngo P., Kubalak J., Bibel J., Hamilton J., Upthegrove T. and Hardebeck G. (May 5, 2020). The Virtual Sensory Interfaces Project. ICAT Creativity and Innovation Day 2020. Online Exhibit: https://icat.vt.edu/events/2020/05/icat-c-i-day-2020/the-virtual-sensory-interfaces-project.html
2020 ICAT Day Presentation. Quigley, P., Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Barnes, K., Harman, R., Bautista, C., Olson, B., Carroll, T., Monzel, D., Taylor, J., Forte, J., Kraft, B., Shelburne, S., Gutkowski, N., Bowman, D., Tucker, T., Humes, E., & O’Dea, A. (May 5, 2020). Visualizing Virginia Tech History. ICAT Creativity and Innovation Day 2020. Online Exhibit: https://icat.vt.edu/events/2020/05/icat-c-i-day-2020/visualizing-virginia-tech-history–if-this-place-could-talk-.html
2020 Forum 8 Presentation Summer. Tucker, T. and Choi, D. (June 24, 2020). Interactive Mixed Reality Buildings. World 16 VR Symposium 2020 in Taipei, Tiawan (joined virtually due to Covid-19)
2020 Forum 8 Presentation Fall. Tucker, T. and Choi, D. (November 19, 2020). Interactive Mixed Reality Buildings. Forum 8 13th Annual VR Sumposium in Tokyo, Japan (presented virtually due to Covid-19). The project utilizes physical scaled building forms overlayed with virtual reality. The interactive experience has the participant wear a VIVE head-mounted display (HMD), so they can engage with physical and VR buildings in real-time. The physical buildings have been modeled, and laser scanned to match the VR 3D buildings, so they are in sync when the participant grabs or moves a building form. To make the buildings interactive, VIVE Trackers have been placed on each building. Then the XYZ coordinates are fed into VR-Design Studio. The tracking is processed in the software to give real-time responses to movements and to give responsive 3D visuals to the HMD participant of the buildings in the VR space. The participant can manipulate both the physical and virtual objects and place them where desired
2020 University of Miami Presentation. Tucker, T. (October 5th, 2020) Presentation to Professor Ruth Ron’s class “Designing for the Internet of Things” at in University of Miami School of Architecture,9:00 am-12:05 pm (via Zoom)
2016 Presented at the DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion, ICAT DAY Keynote presentation with Jacques Heim, Daniel Wheeler, Chisa Yamaguchi and the Technical Team at Virginia Tech. Carol and I presented on stage our projection mapping research, animation and shadow studies
2016 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – A Virtual Reality Experience by Thomas Tucker and Eric Lyon and two other SOVA students.
2016 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – Stepping into the past through visualization by David Hicks, David Cline, Todd Ogle, Thomas Tucker and two other SOVA students.
2016 2016 College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Research Symposium – Robotic Projection Mapping, Project by Thomas Tucker, David Clark and Matthew Bender
2016 Innovation Space, Storytelling: Presented our VR and AR research by Thomas Tucker David Hicks, David Cline, and Todd Ogle.
2016 Meet the Makers, Newman Library Multipurpose Room, presented my research from the last four years at Virginia Tech, on Tuesday, April 26th 2016 at 7:00 pm.
2016 Presented to The Elumenati and The Newseum our Cyclorama Demo in the ICAT Cube.
2016 Presented to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Doug Wagoner, President and James Jackson, Senior Vice President. Todd Ogle and I presented our World War I Virtual Reality project in the Cube.
2016 Presented to Professor Bailey’s MA class on the New Town/Odd Fellow’s Project at the Odd Fellow Hall, Blacksburg, VA
2016 Presented to Professor Ann-Marie Art History Class (200 students) on 3D scanning research of St.Denis, Rippon, and Australia aboriginal cave painting sites.
2015 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – 16 Squares AR and VR Project by Thomas Tucker, Todd Ogle, David Hicks, David Cline, Tom Sherman, Phat Nguyen, Daniel Monzel and 6 other SOVA students.
2015 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – World War I Project by Thomas Tucker, Todd Ogle, David Hicks, David Cline, Phat Nguyen.
2015 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – Motion Capture Puppy Project by Jeri Jones and Bess Pierce.
2015 Presented to Professor Bailey’s MA class on the New Town/Odd Fellow’s Project at the Odd Fellow Hall, Blacksburg, VA
2015 Presented to Professor Ann-Marie Art History Class (200 students) on 3D scanning research of St.Denis, Rippon, and Australia aboriginal cave painting sites.
2015 Odd Fellow Hall Open House, April 25th, 2015, “Presentation of New Town Remembered, A Virtual Re-Creation”. Attendees could walk the streets, experience the sounds and sights, and meet residents in a virtual environment. Nikki Giovanni, Neal Wyms and the realease of the children’s book Three Boys in New Town will be presented. The program was created by Thomas Tucker (School of Visual Arts), Todd Ogle (VT Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies), and Tom Sherman (Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation).
2014 ICAT Learning Studio, Community Meeting Lecture – “3D Visualization Tools” by Thomas Tucker and Bess Pierce.
2014 SOVA 50th, 2014 Faculty Research Symposium, Thomas Tucker presenter of “Puppy Motion Capture and Odd Fellows Hall”
2014 Presented 3D scanning research at UNC Asheville, Keith Krumpe and Christopher Oakley, Head of New Media faculty and animator.
2014 Presented my 3D scanning research at UNC Chapel Hill to the Transatlantic Teacher Scholars Program: Change of Time and Place in the Meuse Argonne American Cemetery. American Battle and Memorial Commission.
2013 Artist lecture on current research and projection mapping workshop at Xavier University, Art Department in New Orleans, LA
2013 Artist lecture at Tulane University, Art Department in New Orleans, LA on current research
2012 Artist lecture on current research and projection mapping workshop at Stetson University, Art Department in DeLand, FL
2011 Artist lecture at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Film Department on current “T2 show” animation collaboration project with Tohm Judson
2011 Lecture at the Idea Exchange at the Center for Design Innovation. Presenters include: Nickolay Hristov, CDI & WSSU, Dennis Nikolaidis, Animusing Productions, Josh Tan, WFUSM School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Thomas Tucker, WSSU Department of Fine Arts, David Norman & DeEtta Famiano, Famiano Design Group, Keith Hobgood, Out of Our Minds Animation Studios, Glenn Johnson & colleagues, B/E Aerospace
2011 Lecture at Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, NC on collaborative Virtual Reality research project with the Forum 8 World 16 Group in Tokyo, Japan
2010 Lecture at Forsyth Tech in Winston-Salem, NC on collaborative Virtual Reality research project with the Forum 8 World 16 Group in Tokyo, Japan
2010 Lecture at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers section for Winston-Salem, NC
2010 Lecture at the Idea Exchange at the Center for Design Innovation on my research with the Forum 8 World 16 group in Tokyo, Japan
2010 Lecture at World 16 workshop, at University of California in Santa Barbara on current research and proposals for VR model research on Dubai, UAE project
2010 Guest Artist Lecture at Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
2009 Lecture at the Idea Exchange at the Center for Design Innovation on Thomas Tucker and Ryan Gilliam (WSSU Art & Design student)
2009 Pecha Kucha Night at High Point University at the Design, Art and Technology Symposium
2009 Guest Artist Lecture at Amanda Schedler Fine Art, Homewood, AL
2009 Lecture at the Idea Exchange at the Center for Design Innovation on current body of work
2008 Lecture at Idea Exchange at the Center for Design Innovation on my findings from the International Conference on Entertainment Computing at Carnegie Mellon University
2007 Guest Artist Lecture, University of Alabama at Birmingham Art Department
2007 Guest Artist Lecture, East Tennessee State University in Slocumb Galleries
2006 Guest Artist Lecture and Five Day 3D Workshop, Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts in Zimbabwe, Africa
2005 Guest Artist Lecture, Opening of Meramec Art Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri
2005 Guest Artist Workshop Lecture one day on Maya and the effects of 3D in the commercial design industry, Latifa College, Dubai, UAE
2005 Guest Artist Lecture, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1998 Guest Artist Lecture, Virginia Common Wealth University, Richmond, Virginia
1998 Guest Artist Critique, Virginia Common Wealth University, Richmond, Virginia
1998 Guest Artist Lecture, Mobil Headquarters, Richmond, Virginia
1997 Guest Artist Lecture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Post Back Students during the Summer Term), Chicago, IL
GALLERY OWNER/CURATOR
2005 Curator: Miniature Chair Design Exhibition, Lecturer: Susan Hefuna, Professor of Art and Design from the German University in Cairo, Reception opened by H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan
2003-2005 Owner: Overground Gallery, The first gallery in Abu Dhabi showing avant-garde works ranging from video installations, paintings, drawings, and robotic installations. Represented by the gallery: Jason Demarte, Michael Rodriguez, Chae Ho Lee, Terry Dowse, Francoise Dureese, Todd Devriese, Patricia Ball, Russell Hamilton, Neil Chowdhury and Thomas Tucker.
PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES
2024 Tucker, T. (November 7-12, 2024) WORLD16 XR World Rally Racing with F8VP, Presented at the 18th FORUM8 Design Festival. Tokyo, Japan.
2024 15th World16 Summer Workshop – Presentation XR World Rally Racing with F8VP at FORUM 8 at MIT Summer Workshop in Cambridge, MA
2017 Presented at the Forum 8 Design 8th VR Summer Workshop at Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT on July 18-21 on the scanning MIT site and implementing latest tools of point cloud data, scanning with the utilizing UC win/Road software and Virtual Reality project using the HTV VIVE VR System. 2016 Presented at the Forum 8 Design Festival in Tokyo, Japan on the Smithfield Class project showcasing the implementing of point cloud data, scanning, photogrammetry, 360 video and using quad copter for photogrammetry with the utilizing UC win/Road software and Virtual Reality project using the Oculus Rift and VIVE.
2016 Presented at the World 16, 7th Annual International VR Symposium Workshop hosted by Forum 8 in Osaka, Japan. Dongsoo Choi and I presented our research with Photogrammetry and Laser scanning.
2016 Presented at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities Summer Institute at UCLA in Los Angeles. David Cline and I presented our findings on the 16 Squares project.
2015 Panel discussion at the Forum 8 Design Festival 2015 at Forum 8 on November 20th on the future of Augmented and Virtual Reality in our field with Yoshi Kovayashi from Arizona State University, Matthew Swarts from Georgia Tech, Ruth Ron from Shenkar College, Kostas Terzidis from Harvard University, Paolo Flamma from University of Pisa, Tomoshiro Fukuda from Osaka University and Taro Narahara from New Jersey Institute of Technoloy.
2015 Ogle, T., Tucker, T. & Bunin, C. (2015, March). Bringing the War Back Home: Using Geospatial and Situation-based Technology to Teach World War I. Poster session presented at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2015 Hicks, D., Ogle, T., & Tucker, T.(2015, March). Visualization as a Tool to Support the Inquiry Arc in Social Studies Education: Notes from the Field. Paper presented at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2014 Singh, G., Bowman, D., Ogle, J.T., Hicks, D., Cline, D., Ragan, E., Johnson, A., Zlokas, R., and Tucker T. (2014, September). CI-Spy: Using Mobile-AR for Scaffolding Historical Inquiry Learning. Poster session presented at the IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, Munich, Germany.
2014 The 15th UC-win/Road Conference, Tokyo, Japan, Laser Scanning for research about the cave of bats Presented research on a case study using UC-win/Road used in the ecological research of bats.
2014 The 15th UC-win/Road Conference, Tokyo, Japan, Projection mapping of World 16 group work.
2014 World 16 Project, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HA, Presentation on Laser Scanning for research about the cave of bats. Presented research on a case study using UC-win/Road used in the ecological research of bats and projection mapping exhibition of my work.
2014 College Art Association, 102 Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, Art Historians interested in Pedagogy and Technology, Visual Histories in Virtual Spaces, Engaging on the Value of Artists’ Legacies, Chair: Judy B. Bullington, Belmont University, Dominic Marner, University of Guelph Ron Hawker, Alberta College of Art and Design and Thomas Tucker Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Australia, St. Denis and Rippon)
2013 eLearning Conference, Wilmington, NC, Presentation on Virtual Reality as an Instructional Tool to Recreate a Segregation Era Community, Thomas Tucker, School of Visual Arts Virginia Tech
2013 Seminar for Arabian Studies at The British Museum, 26th – 28th July, 2013, Presented paper on Computer-based Analysis of the Performance and Spatial Organization of Historic Towns in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. R. Hawker, Alberta College of Art and Design, T.Tucker, School of Visual Arts, VT and M. Whiteley, Alberta College of Art and Design.
2013 University Arts Association of Canada Conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada presented paper on Nookoowayi: Digitalizing a Siksika Tipi, in the Narratives of Continuity and Resistance in Aboriginal Art session, Thomas Tucker, Virginia Tech and Ron Hawker, Alberta College of Art and Design, October 18-20.
2013 AR Camp Conference, Canberra University in Canberra, Australia, Conducted presentations and workshops on Unity work of Odd Fellows Hall, motion capture research and the scanning of several indigenous cave sites with a cultural heritage group and local experts. FARO 3D laser scanned the caves and the aboriginal rock art.
2011 5th International VR symposium, World 16 project: presentation on VR model research on character simulation with motion capture data Tokyo, Japan (presented published paper and VR project)
2011 World 16 project: presentation on VR pipeline for 3D modeling and motion capture for UC/Win road software, Pisa, Italy
2011 Archaeology in the United Arab Emirates Conference 2011 in Ali Ainn, United Arab Emirates: Thomas Tucker (WSSU), Ron Hawker and Dina (Zayed University) presented published paper on The Analysis of Digitally-Recreated Heritage Spaces: Case Studies from the United Arab Emirates.
2010 4th International VR Symposium, World 16 project: presentation on VR model research on Dubai, UAE Project, Tokyo, Japan (presented published paper and VR project).
2010 The Fifth International Conference of ASCAAD (The Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design), Fes, Morocco. Thomas Tucker (WSSU), Ron Hawker and Dina (Zayed University) will present their published paper on understanding of architecture in the United Arab Emirates.
2010 Triangle Game Conference, Raleigh NC, Thomas Tucker (WSSU), Andrew Young (Independent game designer) and Tony Makin (Guilford Technical Community College) presented their Piedmont Triad Partnership game development findings on their Mayo surgical training game.
2010 The Center of Design and Innovations at Idea Exchange, Winston Salem, NC, Thomas Tucker and the Piedmont Triad Partnership Game Development Team presented their findings of their recent surgical training game.
2009 Annual Scientific Meeting, American College of Veterinary Radiology, Memphis, Tennessee with Josh Tan (Wake Forest), Jeri Jones (Virginia Tech), Judy Foxworth and Ben Long (WSSU), and Thomas Tucker (WSSU) will present a poster presentation of our findings from our case study that indicate the use of multi-slice CT, motion capture, and computer animation on feasible techniques for visualizing and modeling joint movements in working dogs.
2009 6 Days in November Conference, presented at The Center for Design Innovation with, Corey Bruse (CDI), Tammy Evans (WSSU faculty), Tunde Adeyemi (WSSU student), a software traffic simulation augments discussion of possibilities for public art, considering the upcoming renovation of bridges along the downtown Winston-Salem stretch of Business Route 40.
2009 The Arts Council’s 60th Anniversary Luncheon, presented a software traffic simulation video showing possibilities for public art, considering the upcoming renovation of bridges along the downtown Winston-Salem stretch of Business Route 40.
2009 Emirates Heritage Club and the Zayed Center for Heritage and History Sixth Annual Archaeology Symposium: A New Generation of Archaeologists: Building National Capacity through Teaching, Media and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Al Ainn, Emirati Heritage Architecture in Geographic Context: The Rams-Dhayya-Barama triangle as Case Study, (co-presented lecture)
2009 3rd International VR Symposium, World 16 project: presentation on VR model research on RAK project Tokyo, Japan (presented published paper and VR project)
2009 10th UC-win/Road Conference, Lecture at 3D Realtime Virtual Reality, Tokyo, Japan.
2008 Digital Media and its Applications in Cultural Heritage 2008 Conference, Petra University, Amman, Jordan. “Maya Simulations of Place, Space and Climate: Digital Media and Its use in Understanding Vernacular Architecture in the United Arab Emirates” (presented published paper)
PUBLICATIONS
2024 SIGGRAPH ‘24: ACM SIGGRAPH 2024 Immersive Pavilion, T.Tucker and T. Judson, Drosera Obscura is an interactive installation that explores the evolutionary journey of a carnivorous plant thriving in the Pacific Northwest after humanity’s departure. We imagine the remnants of human existence—plastics, metals, and machinery—become integral elements in the life and ecosystem of this resilient organism. This work incorporates aspects of touch, smell, sound, and animatronics to create an immersive experience. https://doi.org/10.1145/3641521.366441
2024 Tucker, T. (November 7-12, 2024) WORLD16 XR World Rally Racing with F8VP, Presented at the 18th FORUM8 Design Festival. Tokyo, Japan. pg. 10
2023 Tucker, T., and Judson, T. Swirling Senses. (2023) Published in the Ars Electronica 2023 Festival for Art, Technology, & Society, Who Own’s the Truth?, Ars Electronica Garden Blacksburg, Catalogue. (page 95) https://ars.electronica.art/who-owns-the-truth/files/2023/09/festival2023.pdf
Abstract: In the realm of virtual reality, we embark on a journey where sound and visuals attempt to obscure the boundaries between the virtual and the real. However, even within this illusion, we maintain a connection to the tangible world through subtle sensory cues. But what if we could augment those cues, allowing a more immersive experience? Can we also ensure inclusivity and extend the reach of traditional VR to accommodate users with disabilities? Swirling Senses serves as a conduit bridging the digital and the physical worlds to create an immersive experience that aims to convince our minds of a “true” virtual reality. In contrast to conventional VR that isolates users, Swirling Senses takes an alternative approach, expanding the boundaries, striving to convince our minds of the experience. By integrating VR with theatrical sets, soundscapes, scents and live puppetry, the Virginia Tech (US) — Thomas Tucker (US), Tohm Judson (US) Swirling Senses environment manipulates our senses to foster a heightened sense of reality. As we venture through this landscape, the evolving sonic atmospheres and intertwining fragrances create an illusion that engulfs us, leaving us immersed in the experience. Mysterious objects and creatures, brought to life by puppeteers, respond to our physical touch and proximity, further strengthening our perception of an authentic reality. Together, Swirling Senses challenges our expectations of VR, coaxing our minds into embracing a world that transcends the confines of VR, bursting the boundaries of the imagination.
2023 Hicks, D., Quigley, P., Ogle, T., & Tucker, T. (2023). History Lab: Four professors, one course: Fostering Experiential Learning across the disciplines. Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for General and Liberal Studies. Austin, Texas. Pg. 7
2023 Tucker, T. (November 7-12, 2023) WORLD16 Cooperation of the Metaverse and NFT. Presented at the 17th FORUM8 Design Festival. Tokyo, Japan. pg. 10
2022 Skarbez, R., Gabbard, J. L., Bowman, D. A., Ogle, J. T., & Tucker, T. (2022). Virtual Replicas of Real Places: Experimental Investigations. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 28(12), 4594-4608. doi:10.1109/TVCG.2021.3096494 Abstract: As virtual reality (VR) technology becomes cheaper, higher-quality, and more widely available, it is seeing increasing use in a variety of applications including cultural heritage, real estate, and architecture. A common goal for all these applications is a compelling virtual recreation of a real place. Despite this, there has been very little research into how users perceive and experience such replicated spaces. This article reports the results from a series of three user studies investigating this topic. Results include that the scale of the room and large objects in it are most important for users to perceive the room as real and that non-physical behaviors such as objects floating in air are readily noticeable and have a negative effect even when the errors are small in scale.
2022 Tucker, T., Hicks, D., & Ogle, T. (n.d.). Visualization as a Tool to Support the Inquiry Arc. Pedagogy in Practice.
2021 Gutkowski, N., Quigley, P., Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Taylor, J., Tucker, T., & Bowman, D. (n.d.). Designing Historical Tours for Head-Worn AR. In Unknown Conference (pp. 26-33). doi:10.1109/ISMAR-Adjunct54149.2021.00016
2021 McNabb, K. B., Miles, R., Wolfe, M. L., DePauw, K. P., Ogejo, J. A., & Tucker, T. J. (2021). Open Education Forum 2021: Connecting the Opens: Open Access, Open Education & More. Virginia Tech.
2021 Miles, R., McNabb, K., Ogejo, J., Tucker, T., & Wolfe, M. (2021). Open Education Forum 2021: Connecting the Opens: Open Access, Open Education & More. In 2021 Open Education Symposium. Blacksburg, VA. Retrieved from https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/102636
2021 Schnabel, M., Kobayahi, Y., Bennadji, A., Choi, D., Fiamma, P., Fukuda, T., Lo, T., Novak, M., Narahara, T., Ron, R., Pencreach, Y., Swarts, M., Terzidis, K., Tucker, T., and Vital, R., (2021). Virtual world16: Virtual design collaboration for the intersection of academia and industry. In Projections – Proceedings of the 26th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2021 Vol. 2 (pp. 203-212).
2021 Skarbez, R., Gabbard, J., Bowman, D. A., Ogle, T., & Tucker, T. (2021). Virtual replicas of real places: Experimental investigations. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. doi: 10.1109/TVCG.2021.3096494
2021 Ogle, J., Hicks, D., & Tucker, T. (2021). Accessing the past through Virtual Reality: First World War Landscapes (Digital Heritage). In Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru / Royal Commission of the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales Digital Past Conference.
2021 Tucker, T., Wyatt, A., Judson, T., & Franusich, D. (2021). Virtual Sensory Interfaces. NIME International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. doi: 10.21428/92fbeb44.9203be1d
2020 CAADRIA (Forum 8, World 16 Group) Schnabel, M., Kobayahi, Y., Bennadji, A., Choi, D., Fiamma, P., Fukuda, T., Lo, T., Novak, M., Narahara, T., Ron, R., Pencreach, Y., Swarts, M., Terzidis, K., Tucker, T., and Vital, R., (2021) Virtual Design Collaboration for the Intersection of Academia and Industry. CAADRIA 2021. Abstract. Over the past 13 years, the ‘World16’-group has collaborated face-to-face on various challenges that architectural design faces within VR, architecture, urban design, and its delivery to the professional industries. The focus of the collaboration is to foster pathways of academic research and developments to industries and professions. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the group was forced to rethink and redevelop of how to collaborate meaningfully and become resilient: for the first time the group collaborated akin to the Virtual Design Studios (VDS) of the Nineties virtually becoming the ‘Virtual World16’. The paper critically reflects on the lessons learned from VDS-methodologies and presents a variety of projects that are transformative to the discussion in VR architecture, design and urban design.
2020 IEEE Publication, Richard Skarbez, Member, IEEE, Joseph L. Gabbard, Member, IEEE, Doug A. Bowman, Member, J. Todd Ogle, Thomas Tucker. (2020) Virtual replicas of real places: Experimental investigations. IEEE, Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. Abstract—As virtual reality (VR) technology becomes cheaper, higher-quality, and more widely available, it is seeing increasing use in a variety of applications including cultural heritage, real estate, and architecture. A common goal for all these applications is a compelling virtual recreation of a real place. Despite this, there has been very little research into how users perceive and experience such replicated spaces. This paper reports the results from a series of three user studies investigating this topic. Results include that the scale of the room and large objects in it are most important for users to perceive the room as real, that non-physical behaviors such as objects floating in air are readily noticeable and have a negative effect even when the errors are small in scale, and that differences in lighting quality seem to have a minimal effect on users’ perceptions of a replicated space.
2019 Grado, R., Bowman, D., Ogle, T., Tucker, T., & Gabbard, J. (2019). “Virtual Replicas of Real Places: Experimental Investigations.” Journal Paper presented at IEEE VR 2019 Osaka Conference, Osaka, Japan.
2018 Sweeney, S. K., Newbill, P., Ogle, T., Terry, K., Hicks, D., Tucker, T., & Cline, D. (2018). “Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Environments in Historic Places to Scaffold Historical Empathy.” Tech Trends 62, 114-118.
2018 Yu, R., Duer, Z., Ogle, T., Bowman, D., Tucker, T., Hicks, D.,…Liu, X. (2018) “Experiencing an Invisible World War I Battlefield Through Narrative-Driven Redirected Walking in Virtual Reality.” Paper presented at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, Reutlingen, Germany. Paper published in the Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR), pp. 313-319.
2018 Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Johnson, A., & Tucker, T. (2018). “Authentic Problem-Based Learning with Augmented Reality.” Paper presented at the 13th International Conference of the Learning Science, London, UK. Paper published in J. Kay & R. Luckin (Eds.), Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age: Making the Learning Science Count, Volume 1. Proceedings of the 13th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (pp. 136-143). International Society of the learning Sciences: London.
2018 Verdegem, S., Ogle T., Hicks, D., Tucker, T., Duer, Z., & Choi, D. (2018). “Belgium WWI Archeological Summer 2018 VR and AR Data with Dig Hill Group.” Presentation at the Archeological Summit at the University of London, London, UK.
2018 Tucker, T., & Choi, D. (2018). “Belgium, Dig Hill 80, WWI Archeological Site Project.” Presentation at the Forum 8 Design Festival 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.
2018 Tucker, T., & Choi, D. (2018). “Belgium, Dig Hill 80, WWI Archeological Site Project.” Presentation at the Forum 8, World 16 Summer Workshop in New Zealand at University of Victoria at Wellington, NZ.
2018 Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Duer, Z., Tucker, T., Choi, D., Mullins, R. & Shelbourne, S. (2018). “Virtual Reality and Immersive Experiences of a Great War Battlefield.” Presentation at the annual conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Chicago, Ill.
2018 Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Duer, Z., Tucker, T., Choi, D., Mullins, R., … Shelbourne, S. (2018). “Virtual Reality and Immersive Experiences of a Great War Battlefield.” Presentation at the annual conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Chicago, Ill.
2018 Johnson, A., Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Duer, Z., Tucker, T., Choi, D., …Mullins, R. (2018). “Design-Based and Transdisciplinary Research Using Mixed Reality to Teach about Hard and Hidden Histories.” Symposium presentations at the annual conference of the college and faculty assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies, Chicago,
2018 Nappier, M., Tucker, T., & Smith, B. (2018). “Use of Virtual Reality in Teaching Anatomy and Clinical Skills.” Presentation in Educators/Veterinary Educator Collaborative Combined Symposium. Ithaca, NY.
2018 Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Tucker, T., & Duer, Z. (2018). “If This Place Could Talk: The Lost Village of Vauquois.” Invited demonstration/presentation at the Applied Research on Immersive Environments for Learning / Instructional Technology SIG at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association. New York, New York.
2017 Stoddard, J., Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Tucker, T., Walsh, B., & van Hover. S. (2017). “Teacher Development and Place-Based History and Heritage Education.” Presentation at the annual HEIRNET (History Educators International Research Network) conference, Dublin, Eire.
2017 Hicks, D., Ogle, T., Tucker, T., Cline, D., and Abbott, J. (2017). “Introducing Mixed Reality (AR and VR) to Support Teaching and Learning History via a Transdisciplinary Course.” Presentation at the International Technology and Teacher Education (ITTE) Conference, University of Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, UK.
2017 Hicks, D., Johnson, A., Ogle, T., van Hover, S., Tucker, T., Ragan, E., & Bowman, D. (2017 November). “Making the Invisible Visible: Evaluating the Use of Augmented Reality to Teach a Forgotten Local History – School Segregation – with 5th Graders.” Paper presented at the annual conference of the College and Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies. San Francisco, CA. This conference paper received the 2017 SITE / National Technology Leadership Initiative Technology Paper Award.
2017 Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Tucker, T., Cline, D., & Abbott, J. (2017). “CI Spy: The Use of Mixed Reality to Support Inquiry into Local Hidden Histories.” Invited presentation at the Applied Research in Immersive Environments for Learning SIG at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, San Antonio, TX.
2017 Ogle, T., Hicks, D., Tucker, T., Cline, D., & Abbott, J. (2017). The use of mixed reality to support inquiry into hidden histories. Invited presentation at the Applied Research in Immersive Environments for Learning SIG at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, San Antonio, TX.
2017 Yu, D., Ogle, T., Tucker, T., Hicks, D., Bowman, R., Duer, Z. Experiencing an Invisible World War I Battlefield Through Narrative-Driven Redirected Walking in Virtual Reality E. Accepted paper for IEEE VR Conference 2018 Conference Papers, Reutlingen, Germany
2016 Book Publication “EMERGE”, Projects at the Nexus of Science, Engineering, Art and Design, 2016: Projects: Four Four Beat Project pg. 46-47, Blacksburg 16 Square pg.52-53, Bridge Decking Mapping pg. 56-57, Puppy Project pg. 64-64 and Mirror Worlds pg. 72-73
2016 Publication on Introducing Digital Humanities Projects and ARCHIE to Social Studies Preservice Teachers: Notes from the Field, SITE 2016 (Accepted) PI: David Hicks, Co-PI, Todd Ogle, Aaron Johnson, Lisa Pennington, Stephanie Van Hover and Thomas Tucker.
2015 Publication on “CI-Spy: Designing A Mobile Augmented Reality System for Scaf-folding Historical Inquiry Learning” ,ISMAR, 2015 (Accepted) PI: Gurjot Singh, Co-PI Doug A. Bowman, David Hicks, David Cline, J. Todd Ogle, Aaron Johnson, Rose-mary Zlokas, Eric Ragan and Thomas Tucker).
2015 Presented our paper Visualization of Historic Sites from Memory, Memorialization and Historical Inquiry at the 21st Annual Online Learning Consortium International Conference, October 14-16 in Orlando, Florida with Todd Ogle Virginia Tech (TILOS).
2015 Presented at the Forum 8 Design Festival 2015 on November 20 on implementing point cloud data and projection mapping utilizing UC win/Road software and Virtual Reality project using the OculusRift.
2015 Center for Instructional Development and Education Research (CIDER), CIDER Presentation in The Pedagogy in Practice Panel and Reception in August 2015 with Todd Ogle, David Hick and Thomas Tucker.
2015 Exploratory Work to Understand the Potentials and Limits of LiDAR Points in Cloud Data, Ji-Sun Kim (CGIT), Ayat Mohammed (CS, ARC), Peter Sforza (CGIT), Joe Newman (CGIT), Thomas Tucker (ICAT), High Performance Computing Day poster presentation at Virginia Tech.
2015 Hicks, D., Ogle, T., & Tucker, T.(2015, March). Visualization as a Tool to Support the Inquiry Arc in Social Studies Education: Notes from the Field. Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.
2015 American Battle Monuments Commission, Volume 4, pg. 11 iBook, Transatlantic Teacher Scholar’s Project
2015 Meuse Argonne Battlefield 3D Visualizations, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NCbx2lszNw, Published on Oct 22, 2014, UNC/VT Transatlantic Teacher Scholar’s Project
2015 ESM/BEAM newsletter article, September 5, 2014, pg. 12-13 Sound Leadership, Capturing Information on the Dynamics of How Bats Fly Together in a Swarm.
2014 College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Faculty Research Symposium, Celebrating 50 Years of Research. 1964 – 2014, pg. 166-67, Odd Fellow Hall Project
2014 Virginia Tech Magazine, Fall 2014, pg.36-39, Exploring the Human-Animal Bond at Virginia Tech, Puppies in 3-D
2014 Channel WDBJ 7, July 8, 2013, Blacksburg is Looking to Preserve African American History, Produced by Orlando Salinas.
2014 Collegiate Times, Tuesday, January 28, 2014, School of Visual Arts studies puppies for science, Page 1-2 (writer Emily Hughes)
2013 Improving Understanding of Early Behavioral Indicators of Lumbosacral Disease in Working Dogs using 3D Visualization of Skeletal Movements during Working Tasks: Feasibility Study, Jeryl C. Jones, Thomas J. Tucker, Joshua C. Tan, Bess J. Pierce, Judy L. Foxworth, Benjamin Long, Tisha A.M. Harper, Daniel Moreno, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2013) 1-7
2013 Virginia Tech News, December 6, 2013, Faculty Members Preserve Local History through Art and Technology, article and video produced by Scott Parker and Katie Gehrt (online article and video of the week on VT website and Virginia Tech Daily news and information for Virginia Tech Employees
2013 Collegiate Times, Thursday, October 31, 2013 ICAT innovates at the nexus, article on ICAT Tech or Treat with photo of the projection mapping project.
2011 Exploring New Trends: Information-oriented Strategy and Technologies in Civil Engineering, Construction, Transportation and Environment, Tokyo, Japan pg 1-3
2010 Forum 8 Design Festival 2010-3 Day Conference, Tokyo, Japan, November 18-20, 2010, pg. Day2_III-1-1
2010 5th Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design ASCAAD Conference 2010 “Not Just Another Pretty Face” pg. 249-259
2010 Kyoryo & Toshi Project (The Bridge & Urban Project Monthly), Volume 46. No. 5, 2010, pg. 37-39 Tokyo, Japan publication
2009 Forum 8 Design Festival 2009-3 Day Conference, Tokyo, Japan, November 18-20, 2009, pg. 80-87
2009 3D Realtime Virtual Reality, 10th UC-win/Road Conference, Tokyo, Japan, May 20, 2009, pg. 37-45
2009 The Birmingham News, in the section “Play”, p. 8G, January 25, 2009, written by James R. Nelson under title ‘On the Cusp’.
2008 Digital Media and its applications in Cultural Heritage 2008 “Maya Simulations of Place, Space and Climate: Digital Media and Its use in Understanding Vernacular Architecture in the United Arab Emirates” pg. 545-560
2007 Time Out magazine Dubai, Volume 7, Issue 20, p.49, May 2007, Meem Gallery exhibition
2005 Created a Catalogue/DVD of the gallery exhibition of the Portable Gallery Project 2005
2005 Gulf Coast Community College, “The Gull’s Cry”, Fall, 2005, Volume 48, Issue 2, “Thomas Tucker”, Art Show in Panama City, Florida
2005 The News Herald Panama City, Florida, “The Entertainer”, Friday-Saturday, September 30-October 6, Focus 3, “Art, Animation”
2005 The News Herald Panama City, Florida, Wednesday, October 5, 2005, Sec.7B, “Thomas Tucker Reinventing the Present: New Drawings and Animations”
2005 Cue Gallery, New York City, NY catalog for the Joan Mitchell Foundation recipient show
2005 Art in America, Artist Index Listing and Gallery & Museum Representation by Meramec Art Gallery in St. Louis, Missouri
2005 Art & Design Auction 2005 catalog, Kansas City Art Institute, p. 48
2004 Khaleej Times, Tuesday, May 11, 2004, Volume 3, Issue 23
2004 “Arty Dozen Get Total Attention” – Faculty members of the Zayed University showcase paintings at the Courtyard Gallery
INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
2017-18 Volvo Trucking project, working with Volvo Group Trucking based out of Dublin, VA in developing AR and VR solutions to design and implantation of their trucking line. We are currently working with a team of Virginia Tech faculty and students in developing new pipelines and interactive VR solutions for the future. Working in conjunction with Todd Ogle from VT and Steven Horton, Max Sikorski, and Jeffrey Pasciak from Volvo Manufacturing.
2017/18 Gilbane VR project, working with Gilbane Construction Company based out of Arlington, VA in developing AR and VR solutions to design and implantation of their building construction research development. We are currently working with a team of Virginia Tech faculty and students in developing new pipelines and interactive VR solutions for the future. Working in conjunction with Todd Ogle and DongSoo Choi from VT and David Childress Director of Interiors and Tim Welch Construction Executuve from Gilbane.
2016-17 Worked with ICAT and Diavolo Dance Company based out of Las Angeles. We are working with the company to use motion capture systems, projection mapping, programmable LED lights for audience members and 3D modeling and fabrication of set design. I have also been working with Matthew Swarts from Georgia Tech in the development of programmable LED light in which a large audience can participate in the performance with hand held devices.
2014-17 Robot Projection Mapping Project, an interdisciplinary team comprised of designers and engineers meet weekly in an effort to expand the range of engaging participatory visual environments through projection mapping with robotic manipulators. This group has sought out, developed, or repurposed new tools and workflows that can exploit volumetric space and time when coupled to existing audio/visual resources. Source and destination space no longer need to be flat and static; participant experience no longer stationary and controlled. Digital visualization design tools have long blurred the boundaries of reality with precision and control exceeding the thresholds for human validation, without much consideration for an experiential environment beyond two-dimensional static visual surfaces. This research is demonstrating how advanced numeric control tools can be simultaneously considered and designed for use in real time-rendered audio/visual environmental experiences. Industrial manipulators tooled with complex volumetric surfaces can become integrated within a larger spatial environment, executing digitally defined movements synced with projected imagery and discretely sourced audio that permits dynamic audience participation and experience. The tools and workflows being developed are simultaneously leveraged towards expanding the scope of human-robot environments. Computational feedback systems are permitting real-time open-loop tool communication, diminishing the need for discrete path planning and strict environmental control by introducing object-relation coding structures that adapt to conditional changes. Participants: Thomas Tucker (College of Architecture & Urban Studies); Nathan King (College of Architecture & Urban Studies); Matthew Bender (Engineering); Dr. Kurdila (Engineering) and Walter (Engineering)
2015 Traveled to Shangdong University, in Jinan, China on June 1, 2015 through July 1, 2015, Collaborated with Rolf Mueller, Dr. Abaid, Dr. Kurdilla and Matthew Bender.
2014 Alberta College of Art and Design and Emerging Media, on October 3rd -8th 2014, Alberta, Canada invited as guest lecturer, projection mapping workshop and visiting artist. I presented my work with the ACAD students on projection mapping and other digital video presentation innovations, and 3D FARO scanning demonstration and 3D modeling of architecture and landscapes. ACAD also sponsored DongSoo Choi (SOVA Grad student) to help with scanning and projection mapping workshop.
2014 Jack Singer Auditorium, On October 6th -8th 2014, Alberta, Canada Scanned and processed the Jack Singer Theatre for the projection mapping performance. Data was used to determine proper projectors to use for the performance and figuring out complex surfaces to project on and animate. Collaborated with Alberta College of Art and Design students to animate for the performance with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchaestra’s performance of Turangalila at Jack Singer Concert Hall. DongSoo Choi (SOVA Grad student/staff) helped with scanning and compiling all the scans into one point cloud
2014 As part of the TransAtlantic Teacher Scholars Project, I was part of a team from Virginia Tech to help create a 3D representation of a selection of sites important to the American story at the Meuse-Argonne. LIDAR, which illuminates an object with a laser, then analyzes the light that is reflected, was used to create 3D images of five sites at four locations. The resulting visualizations were intended to help viewers gain a spatial understanding of the sites and spark an interest in the greater narrative that the sites are a part of. This tour traces the generally northward movement of the American Expeditionary Force during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of September 26th to November 11th, 1918. The sites scanned include the jump off point for the American 35th Division at Vauqous Hill, the ruined village of Montfaucon, the Côte Dame Marie, and the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne where more than 14,200 Americans who lost their lives in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive rest to this day.
2014 Traveled to Shangdong University, in Jinan, China on June 1, 2014 through July 1, 2014, Collaborated with Rolf Mueller, Dr. Abaid, Dr. Kurdilla and Matthew Bender. During my thirty-day summer research visit to Shandong University in Jinan, China, I helped gather and process 3D scan data at two cave sites. I also created over 12 bat marker schematics and conducted preliminary motion capture analysis. I assisted in CT scanning and retopologizing CT bat skeleton data and helped develop and set up a depth map capturing system. I assisted in the arrangement of the face motion capture slow motion system, created a 3D bat rig and animated preliminary data in Maya.
2013 Traveled to Calgary, Canada on May 27, 2013 Collaborated with Ron Hawker to scan several K’omoks villiages from the turn of the century in its original terrain and to analysis of its climactic performance and spatial syntax in relation to the social organization of the K’omoks people.
2013 Traveled to London and Paris, July 29 – August 1st, 2013 Collaborated with Ron Hawker and Dominic Marner to scan and digitally recreate the Cathedral St. Denis in Paris, France and Rippon Cathedral in Rippon, U.K. using the FARO Scanner.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
2017 Presented a quick overview of the MFA CT program to Dean Blythe. It was a 30 minute presentation in which I covered a brief overview of your area: size, focus and highlights, basic DNA of my area, who are your key competitors, presented what are primary change-horizons in your disciplinary area and what our area would you like to be doing that we currently cannot do on November 6, 2017.
2017 Worked with Yanshen Sun (PhD student) and Dr. Hession from department of Geography at Virginia Tech scanning and creating a accurate point cloud for the Stream Lab Bridge number 1 on October 19, 2017
2017 Presented to Virginia Tech IDEAS group within Interior Design in School of Architecture + Design my recent research in VR and AR on April 4, 2017 at Burruss Hall
2017 Feature ACCelerate Projection Mapping Video presented and shown looping to Alumni Relations during the networking reception of 275 alumni members at the Westin Hotel in Washington D.C. on Friday, October 6, 2017
2017 Participated in Come Run with the Dean! on Wednesday, November 29, 2017
2017 Participated and featured in Virginia Tech’s new campaign ad Get Ready: Lunch Pail that premiered at the homecoming game this year. Two of my students Xindi Liu and Bredan Casey and two research colleagues Todd Ogle and David Hicks were showcased in the final commercial video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=29&v=Di71JqE5TgE
2017 Participated in ICAT Playdate presentation on Visualizing World War I though Mixed Reality on October 20, 2017
2017 Worked with MFA CT grad student in rebranding the MFA CT web site with video testimonials and new descriptions of our program. We also worked on print promotional material such as a 2-fold poster and 8-page brochure to use as hand out material to potential graduate students.
2017 Curated a show with Fall 2017 Character and Advanced Character modeling classes and created a 3D Character Modeling Printing Exhibit on December 11 at the Virginia Tech, Library Multipurpose Room.
2017 Feature article on the ACCelerate Projection Mapping Show at the “ACCelerate Creativity and Innovation Festival 2017” published in the Virginia Tech News, October 20, 2017
2017 Feature photo and video on the ACCelerate Projection Mapping Show at the “ACCelerate Creativity and Innovation Festival 2017” published in the Virginia Tech Daily News, October 23, 2017
2017 Organized visiting artist lecture and workshop by CGI/VFX artist Matthew Yourshaw on December 7, 2017 in Torgersen 1100
2017 Worked on finding two additional Gradaute Assistantship funding from Honors College for Hannah Comstock and CAUS for David Franusich
2017 ACCelerate logo animation used by the Nomad (company who filmed the event) to showcase the ACCelerate Festival.
2017 Smithsonian Museum Projection Mapping Project was featured in the ICAT Cube on Science Festival on November 4, 2017.
2017 Invited guest speaker for Principle’s Tea for Honor College by Pablo Tarazaga showcasing my recent collaborative research on Friday, November 10, 2017.
2017 Feature work “Space Echoes and 3D Working Dog Skeleton” shown for the CAUS In The Cube for a meet the Dean CAUS Alumni Event at the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech, Wednesday, November 8, 2017
2017 Participated and completed training in the Unconscious Bias in Academic Hiring and Advancement by Diversity Education.
2017 Participated and completed training in the Conflict of Interest and Commitment for Faculty, Staff and Students presented by CITI Program.
2017 Participated and complete training in the Academic Leaders Program yearlong workshop
2017 Worked with Montgomery County Public Schools Internship Program. Nick Myers from Blacksburg High School had been part of my current research in WWI scan data and Blacksburg 16 Squares project 3D printing and building houses.
2017 Presented with Todd Ogle to Professor Trudy Becker’s History Survey class on our WWI VR research in room GYM 124 on December 5, 2017
2017 Presented to Professor Ann-Marie Art History Class (200 students) on 3D scanning research of St.Denis, Rippon, and Australia aboriginal cave painting sites.
2016 Worked with Todd Ogle, David Hicks, and David Cline and co-taught a 3D Heritage class with the partnership of Smithfield Plantation and assistance with Provost Thanassis Rikakis. The course explored different technologies and approaches to preserving cultural heritage sites. The students engaged in an interdisciplinary approach to the uses of photogrammetry, 3D laser scanning, UAV, retopoligizing 3D surfaces, and creating Augmented and Virtual Reality learning environments. The class was a combination of students and teachers from the disciplines of Education, History and SOVA that teamed up to create complex projects utilizing the latest in technology to preserve several historical sites in the area. Teams were created to tackle the sites and create VR and AR outcomes. Students used an array of hardware and software, including the FARO Scanner, UAV, Oculus Rift, GeoMagic and Agisoft Photoscan software. The final project was exhibited in the ICAT CUBE space.
2016 Exhibited at Exploring Local History at the Virginia Tech Library “The Christiansburg Institute and the CI-Spy Application”. The exhibit offed an opportunity to explore and celebrate the often-overlooked history of the Christiansburg Institute and our rich local African American heritage. The exhibit featured work from Virginia Tech’s Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies unit and the computer science, education, arts, and public history programs and an app developed around the history of the CI called CI-Spy.
2016 Todd Ogle, David Cline, David Hicks and I presented to Dr. Laura Sands, Dr. Rikakis, Moss Buckley, Bill Foster, Ben Knapp, Ruth Waalkes, at a meeting at Smithfield to discuss our 3D Heritage Class preserving the Smithfield Plantation house.
2016 My projection mapping class demoed and showcased their projects in the Experience Studio to Dr. Sands and Dr. Rikakis during their visit to the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology.
2016 Participated in the Graduate Arts Council Mixer at the ICAT Cube in the Moss Arts Center. My recent research project Space Echoes was shown on the Cyclorama during the duration of the mixer event.
2016 Participated in ICAT Day with Moss Arts Center Projection Mapping on the grand staircase. By utilizing project light and imagery, and complemented by sound, guests who visited the Moss Arts Center experienced a study in aesthetic design that showcased the unique architecture of the building.
2016 Worked with MFA CT grad student in rebranding the MFA CT web site with video testimonials and new descriptions of our program. We also worked on print promotional material such as a 2-fold poster and 8-page brochure to use as hand out material to potential graduate students.
2015 Artwork was selected to be the cover of the CAUS + effect postcard for the 2016 Annual Report for College of Architecture and Urban Studies
2016 Feature Article on our ICAT Day projection mapping project “Art and innovation converge at ICAT” published in the Roanoke Times, May 6, 2016
2016 Feature Article on our ICAT Playdate presentation on “A Virtual Reality Experience” published in the Collegiate Times, Sunday, October 23, 2016
2016 Featured News on ICAT web site on Research Spotlight for Moss Center Projection Mapping Project, February 2016 ICAT News and Announcements
2016 Received a “Thank a Teacher” note from one of my students, highlighting the positive impact I have had on the student’s achievement and development. “Thank you, Thomas! Thanks a lot for your help to me during this semester! (Anonymous)”
2016 Received a “Thank a Teacher” note from one of my students, highlighting the positive impact I have had on the students’ achievements and development. “Thank you Thomas! For all your help about my studies in the VT:) I really enjoy my studying time with you! (Anonymous)”
2016 Feature Article on our ICAT Playdate presentation on “A Virtual Reality Experience” published in the Collegiate Times, Sunday, October 23, 2016
2016 Participated and completed training in the Networked Learning Initiative (NLI) Canvas: Basic Course Development
2016 Worked with Montgomery County Public Schools Internship Program. Nick Myers from Blacksburg High School had been part of my current research in WWI scan data and Blacksburg 16 Squares project 3D printing and building houses.
2016 Presented at the DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion, ICAT DAY Keynote presentation with Jacques Heim, Daniel Wheeler, Chisa Yamaguchi and the Technical Team at Virginia Tech. Carol and I presented on stage our projection mapping research, animation and shadow studies
2016 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – A Virtual Reality Experience by Thomas Tucker and Eric Lyon and two other SOVA students.
2016 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – Stepping into the past through visualization by David Hicks, David Cline, Todd Ogle, Thomas Tucker and two other SOVA students.
2016 2016 College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Research Symposium – Robotic Projection Mapping, Project by Thomas Tucker, David Clark and Matthew Bender
2016 Innovation Space, Storytelling: Presented our VR and AR research by Thomas Tucker David Hicks, David Cline, and Todd Ogle.
2016 Meet the Makers, Newman Library Multipurpose Room, presented my research from the last four years at Virginia Tech, on Tuesday, April 26th 2016 at 7:00 pm.
2016 Presented to The Elumenati and The Newseum our Cyclorama Demo in the ICAT Cube.
2016 Presented to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Doug Wagoner, President and James Jackson, Senior Vice President. Todd Ogle and I presented our World War I Virtual Reality project in the Cube.
2016 Presented to Professor Bailey’s MA class on the New Town/Odd Fellow’s Project at the Odd Fellow Hall, Blacksburg, VA
2016 Presented to Professor Ann-Marie Art History Class (200 students) on 3D scanning research of St.Denis, Rippon, and Australia aboriginal cave painting sites.
2015 Lecture on Odd Fellows Hall and 16 Squares Project for MA in Material Culture and Public Humanities class presentation. Presenters: Thomas Tucker (School of Visual Arts) and Todd Ogle (Senior Director, Networked Knowledge Environments Technology-Enhanced Learning & Online Strategies).
2015 Blacksburg High School Presentation, invited by Mike Kaylor and Colin Baker. History and Technology event: History in 3D. Presented by: Thomas Tucker, BFA, MFA, Creative Technology, School of Visual Arts, Virginia Tech; and Todd Ogle, Ph.D., Senior Associate Director, Applied Research and Planning, Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies, Virginia Tech, Phat Ngyen (graduate student)
2015 Projection Mapping Robot Project Recruitment Presentation to Dr. Kurdila’s robotics classes for fall independent project workers. Also presenting: Chip Clark, Matthew Yourshaw (MFA grad student)
2014 TedX Projection Mapping Stage Design, projection mapping on auditorium balconies and on stage for opening intro with names of each speaker. Worked with TEDxVirginia Tech Steering Committee (30 committee members), worked directly with ICAT Adam Soccolich.
2014 ICAT Tech or Treat, Scary Faces: An interactive exhibit where users can manipulate scary face animations using 3D projection mapping
2014 First Annual SOVA Shindig, Nano Pod: The Nano Pod Project exhibition in the VIP room consisted of video projection that maps complex animations onto 3D forms.
2014 Blacksburg Museum Cultural Foundation, Historic lecture Series presenting The Price House & Gardens and the 16 Squares presentation on Virtual Re-Creation. Presented by Thomas Tucker (School of Visual Arts) and Tom Sherman (Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation).
2014 Odd Fellows Hall project at Odd Fellows Hall site. MA in Material Culture and Public Humanities class presentation, Presented by Thomas Tucker (School of Visual Arts) and Tom Sherman (Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation).
2014 ICAT Learning Studio (Sandbox), Community Meeting Lecture – 16 Squares AR and VR Project by Thomas Tucker, Todd Ogle, Tom Sherman, Phat Nguyen and Daniel Monzel.
2014 ICAT CUBE Launch at Virginia Tech. Over 17 companies with 28 representatives came from all over the US to attend the launch. Companies included Apple, ARUP, Boeing, Deliotte, Department of State, Eyebeam, Harman, Jaunt VR, MacAulay-Brown, Modea, NASA Langley Research, Naval Surface Warfare, Qualisys, Theatre Projects, Universal Creative, and WSI. Presented ICAT sponsored research at Dinner reception.
2014 Odd Fellow Hall Open House, A Grand Presentation of New Town Remembered, A Virtual Re-Creation. Attendees could walk the streets, experience the sounds and sights, and meet residents in a virtual environment. The program was created by Thomas Tucker (School of Visual Arts), Todd Ogle (VT Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies), David Hicks (School of Education), and Tom Sherman (Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation).
2013 TedX Chevron Stage Design, Projection mapping on Chevron shapes on stage for opening intro with names of each speaker. Worked with TEDxVirginia Tech Steering Committee (30 committee members), directly with ICAT Adam Soccolich and industrial designer, Mitzi Vernon.
2013 ICAT Tech or Treat. Scary Faces: An interactive exhibit where users can manipulate scary face animations using 3D projection mapping (Developed by Thomas Tucker – School of Visual Arts & Reza Tasooji – Creative Technologies)
TECHNICAL ABILITIES
Animation Programs
Maya, MotionBuilder, Z-brush, Blender, Mud box, Rhino, Lightwave, Softimage, 3/D StudioMax, RenderMan, Swift 3/D, Toonboom and Traditional 2/D animation skills
Adobe
Substance Painter and Designer, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Flash-MX, Director MX, Adobe Go Live, Premiere, After Effects
Post Production Tools
Final Cut Pro HD, DVD Studio Pro, Compressor, Color, Soundtrack Pro, Motion, After Effects, Commotion, Combustion, Shake, and Media Cleaner Pro
Scipt Languages
Action Script, Mel, Lingo, Perl, Java, C++, C# Blue Prints and Access Certified programmer
Robotics and Hardware
Animatronics with Pololu Card/Maya Pipeline with Python, Arduino, Adafruit, Stamp Technology (with Basic coding), and EZIO board (with Lingo script/Director)
Artificial Intelligence Programs
Massive
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Applications
Oculus Rift, HTC VIVE, Microsoft HoloLens, UC-Win/Road, F8VPS, and Metaio
Game Engines
Unity, Unreal, Torque game engine, Equiliveint
CT/MRI Applications
TeraRecon 3D, Mimics software
Laser Scanner Applications
Faro Laser Scanner and 3D software
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
With the sensory overload of information and ideas in today’s world, students are facing a challenging time in art and design. Many digital artists can become lost when it comes to encompassing their conceptual ideas and bringing them to the forefront. Challenged by technological hurdles, artists and students can quickly lose track of their true vision. As both a fine artist and a teacher of animation, it is my role to help students discover their vision and give them the tools to expound their ideas to the fullest.
I believe a multimedia professor needs an in-depth knowledge of motion graphics, gaming and 3D animation software and should have experience in both the commercial field and in the world of Fine Art in order to offer students an array of resources to help them find their artistic voice. As a practicing Fine Artist, I try to infuse my courses with a creative passion that I hope sparks imaginative and innovative notions in my students. At the same time, I also try to regularly share my experiences as a professional artist in the world of digital media and require of my students the same professionalism that is required of me in the field. In an environment of friendly competition, students learn to work both efficiently and to meet deadlines. Technical skills are built through hands-on projects involving creative inquiry, research, planning, problem identification and problem solving. Group critiques are also an integral part of the process because I feel it is important for students to look to one another for inspiration and to value each other’s opinions.
To keep up with the ever changing world of technology, I also feel it is also important for students to become self-directed, life long learners. My students are taught to access online resources where they can find answers to their questions, be exposed to new ideas and can keep abreast of new developments.
Another major role as an instructor is to prepare my students for the world of employment. Resume writing, field trips to professional animation studios, preparation and assessment of internships, creating electronic portfolios and working on professional projects outside the classroom are an integral part of my Internship coursework.
Today’s digital media artists face many challenges, but they also have numerous opportunities to practice their craft in a variety of settings. My role is not only to guide students, but to lead by example. My enthusiasm for this field requires that I myself keep pace with the technological evolution. Through my own research and practice in the field, I can encourage students to follow my lead, pursue their passion and find their place in the vast array of possibilities.CURRICULUM VITAE OF THOMAS J. TUCKER 27
CREATIVE PRACTICES
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH + ARTIST STATEMENT
As a visual artist, I use new technologies to make invisible or immaterial subjects visible. I represent unseeable forces, structures, geometries, and histories. My applied research consists of projects ranging from virtual spatial environments, to groundbreaking scientific and historic visualizations, and dynamic interactive artworks. Transdisciplinary, cutting-edge collaborations across art, technology, the humanities, and the sciences drive my practice, and my research contributions reflect this critical centering. My creative achievements also shape and are shaped by my teaching and outreach.
My work as Creative Director for projects pioneering transdisciplinary collaboration provide successful models for integration of art, creative technology, and visualization across numerous research methodologies. In today’s post-disciplinary context, researchers increasingly need creative methodologies and technologies to visualize what they can’t create or represent in a typical university lab or other academic setting. Simultaneously, artists have an unprecedented opportunity to use emerging technologies to intersect in new, meaningful ways with countless research subjects. The consequential partnerships that fuel my practice directly inform my teaching and service. My students grow professionally as part of these research collaborations, and gain new creative research methodologies with each project they are involved in.
In my personal artwork, I visually describe and analyze how unique and impossible structures move in relation to each other and within their environment, and I create aesthetic rules that reject accepted understanding of physics and dimensionality. Audiences encounter these forms in motion through a combination of virtual animated media and physical installation. For example, the Sound Arcade, exhibited at the Smithsonian, consisted of projections onto large-scale objects covered in fabric. Audience members actively participated using electronic wands to manipulate the audio and video being displayed in real time. Another such project was Space Echoes, a fully immersive experience using 3D animations and 3D sound compositions presented in unison to create an other-worldly experience. The visual animations were projected onto a 16-foot tall, 40-foot wide Cyclorama screen. Audience members wore 3D goggles while listening to 3D musical compositions relayed from an array of 139 speakers, collectively creating a new kind of visual and auditory encounter.
My collaborative projects often integrate both research and education. For example, the VR Dog Project was a VR and AR project designed for clinical education by adding technology to the teaching of veterinary clinical skills to enhance student learning. In the WWI Cave VR Project, we combined ground-penetrating radar, photogrammetry, and laser scanning to create a digital recreation of the above and below ground features of craters, trenches, tunnels and galleries allowing participants to see Vauquois, a small village that was fiercely contested for four years during WWI by the French and Germans, as it has never been seen before. Animation, 360-degree video, and virtual reality tell the story in an immersive educational experience.
In the future I will continue to explore questions at the heart of my research, developing new processes and systems for visualization and sensorial experience, while also grappling with invisible and unseeable histories, subjects, and phenomena. I am also continuing my ambitious research contributions, leading endeavors within major collaborative transdisciplinary projects, and spearheading new kinds of artistic contribution within substantive applied research. I am pushing the limits of technological explorations, and I look forward to furthering these in ways that are meaningful for my community.
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING PORTFOLIO 2012-PRESENT
COURSES TAUGHT
ART 3704-10827 Character Animation
ART 3704-10828 Video Game Design
ART 4544-10839 Video Game Design (Advanced)
ART 5704-10667 Character Animation (Graduate level)
ART 5704-19832 Video Game Design (Graduate level)
ART 3704-80780 Character Model & Sculpt
ART 4544-80792 Character Model & Sculpt (Advanced)
ART 5704-80811 Character Model & Sculpt (Graduate level)
ART 4544-80793 Lighting and Projection Map
ART 5724-80817 Lighting and Projection Map (Graduate level)
ART 5704-80812 Topics in Computer Animation (Graduate level)
ART 4544-90788 Compositing and Lighting
ART 5724-98905 Adv 3D Animation & Compositing
ART 5704 Character Animation (Graduate level)
ART 4544 Modeling Tools for Visualization
ART 5604 Grad Seminar
ART 2704 Intro to 3D Animation
ART 3704 Topics in Computer Animation
ART 5604 Creat Digi Tech in Arts & Des
ART 5964 Field Work/Practicum
ART 4544 Computer Animation Studio
ART 5704 3D Heritage class
ART 5984 Special Study
VIRGINIA TECH, UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OR DEPARTMENT COMMITTEES 2012-PRESENT
NASAD Committee
NASAD, October 24, 2014 helped create a curricular table for undergraduate classes.
Portfolio Review Committee
Participated in undergraduate portforlio review.
MFA Review Committee
Participated in reviewing and choosing the MFA applicants.
Scholarship Committee
Assisted in reviewing and choosing awaredess of the annual undergraduate scholarships.
Performance Review Committee
College review for Robert Schubert, Associate Dean Research in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, conducted a performance review with Dean Davis as chair of the review committee.
Undergraduate Research Advisory Board
Served on the advisory board for the Office of Undergraduate Research, part of the review and selection of ACC Meeting of the Minds student representatives. Advisory board included both President Sands and Provost McNamee.
ADVISING
Undergraduate Advising
2018 Pei Qiu. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Brendan Casey. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
David Byrd. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, gaming and HTV VIVE VR.
Derrick Wang PI. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, gaming and HTV VIVE VR.
Alex Forlini. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling, 3D printing.
2017 Blair Retnauer. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, gaming and Oculus VR.
Maggie Mitchell. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Meaghan Curtis. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
~Awarded Tenure in spring, 2016
2016 Petey Mainardi. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation, and gaming.
Xindi Li. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Huy Ngo. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: drawing and 3D modeling and animation.
Michelle Vernon. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Caitlin Werle. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
2015 Stuart Hill. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: projection mapping, drawing, 3D modeling and animation.
Carson Bendel. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation, sculpture and illustration.
Kevin Dickel. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: drawing and 2D animation, sound design and script.
Nichole Hartman. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, construction and drawing.
Erica Kowalski. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation and laser cutting.
2014 Phat Ngyugen. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: augmented reality, 3D modeling and animation.
Justin-Sotile Jackson. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Jeff Dera. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: projection mapping, particles animation, 3D modeling and animation.
2013 Phil Cho. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Steve Ramberg. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: projection mapping, construction, 3D modeling and animation.
Co-chaired Undergraduate Theses and Exhibitions, Creative Technologies
2018 Cassidy McFarlane. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and jewelry making. (Changed mentors and senior project direction in Fall 2018).
2017 Tyler William Niskanen. Exhibition at Armory Gallery, Virginia Tech. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Graduate Advising
2019 Mahshid Gorjian. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation and rendering.
Xindi Liu. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, rendering, VIVE VR and animation.
Huy Ngo. Research focus: 3D scanning, 3D modeling, 3D printing, installation, VIVE VR and animation.
2018 Michelle Farber. Thesis title: Octavia. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
2017 Dongsoo Choi. Thesis title: Susannah. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, projection mapping and programming for the Opera Roanoke, Susannah Opera.
Gwendolyn Sewell. Thesis title: Plumage. Research focus: 3D laser scanning, 3D modeling, animation, Unity Game programming in the ICAT Cube.
Fang Liu. Thesis title: Forbidden City: An Immersive Virtual Reality World Using the HTC VIVE to Explore the Real Imperial Palace of China. Research focus: 3D laser scanning, 3D modeling, animation, Unity Game programming in the ICAT Cube.
~Awarded Tenure in spring, 2016.
2016 Matthew Yourshaw. Thesis title: Orbital. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, Unity Game programming in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Library.
Phat Nguyen. Thesis title: Imperceivable World. Research focus: 3D modeling and animation.
Zachary Bush. Thesis title: Calvary. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation, Unity Game programming in the ICAT Cube.
2015 Justin Fine. Thesis title: Artifacts of Kree. Research focus: gaming, coding, 3D modeling and animation.
Emilia Munoz. Thesis title: 3D Digitized Romanesue Ermita Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Anunciada in Virtual Reality. Research focus: 3D laser scanning, 3D modeling, animation, Unity Game programming in the ICAT Cube and summer internship working at the Smithsonian 3D scanning and retopologizing complex artifacts.
Tamar Peterson. Thesis title: The Beat’s Interior. Research focus: projection mapping, 3D modeling, animation, construction and interactivity with MAX/Jitter/MSP.
2014 Hadeel Ramandan. Thesis title: The Story of a Girl. Research focus: 3D laser scanning, 3D modeling, animation and summer internship working on the Odd Fellows Hall Project.
Co-chaired MFA Thesis Committees, Creative Technologies
2018 Lucas Freeman. Thesis title: Alchemically: An Educational Role-Playing Game. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation and gaming.
Maureen Suess. Thesis title: Small Tales. Research focus: watercolor painting, 2D animation, Unity Game programming.
2017 Ellie Nikoo. Thesis title: Come with Me. Research focus: 3D animation, modeling, rigging and rendering.
Anirudh Mittra. Thesis title: Libero. Research focus: 2D animation, Unity Game programming.
Jingyi Liang. Thesis title: ‘ParkinVT: A Concept Mobile Application for Improved Parking at Virginia Tech. Research focus: projection mapping, 3D modeling, animation and app development.
Yang Liu. Thesis title: Renaissance of the Mogao Grotto. Research focus: projection mapping, 3D modeling and animation.
2015 Reza Tasooji. Thesis title: Desire and Hope. Research focus: 3D modeling, animation.
2014 Alison Kim. Thesis title: Writing Images: Blending Drawings and Code. Research focus: research with processing software, 3D modeling, and animation.
iPhD Advising
2020 Michael Rhodes. Research focus: 3D animation and 3D sound technologies. (Graduating Spring 2021)
2015-19 Lei Zhang, (Co-Chair) Co-Mentor for his iPhD degree, helping him with his research using
technologies to enhance e-learning. (Graduating, Spring 2019)
2016-19 Jessie Mann (Co-Chair) Co-Mentor for her PhD degree in Philosophy, helping her with her research
using technologies to enhance learning for people with disabilities. (Graduating, Spring 2019)
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING PORTFOLIO 2007-2012
COURSES TAUGHT
ART 1315 Electronic Imaging
ART 2311 3-D Computer Modeling
ART 2336 Immersive Virtual Reality
ART 3312 Desktop Publishing I
ART 2335 Desktop Virtual Reality
ART 3333 Computer Animation I
ART 4311 Interactive Media Design
ART 3314 Desktop Publishing II
ART 3334 Computer Animation II
ART 3157 Portfolio Design
ART 4310 Multimedia Editing
ART 4316 Designing for the Web
ART 4391 Studio Problems I (Ind. Study)
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OR DEPARTMENT COMMITTEES 2003-2012
Strategic Planning Council
Participated in developling the new WSSU strategic plan with the Robinson Group Consulting Inc.
Hiring Committee Chair
Chaired the graphic design search committee.
E-portfolio Committee
Developed an E-portfolio system through Blackboard and wrote steps involved in evaluation through a MALO review.
B.F.A committee
Wrote all the proposals, course descriptions and paradigms for the new BFA in graphic design and the new BFA in animation. Filled out all the Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee forms for new courses or combined courses.
Student Recruitment Committee:
Developed publicity material for the Visual Arts program by creating a poster campaign. Six posters have been developed, printed and framed for the Visual Arts hallway. Produced a DVD to showcase our students’ animations and experimental movies.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES 2007-2012
Mac Lab Coordinator
Coordinated writing all proposals for obtaining and acquiring all software and hardware for the Mac Lab. (Obtained quotes, created purchase forms, order forms and loaded and installed all software and hardware).
CDI
Assisted in developing the Center for Design Innovation’s strategic plan and aided in architectural ideas. Conducted workshops to its members to promote 3D technologies using Maya.
2/2 Program
Created and built a 2/2 outreach program along with Joseph Lopina coordinator of animation at North Carolina School of the Arts and Herb Burns from Forsyth Technical Community College.
Visual Arts Publicity
Developed publicity material for the Visual Arts Program.
ZAYED UNIVERSITY TEACHING PORTFOLIO 2003-2007
COURSES TAUGHT
ART 125 World Cultures in Art and Design
ART 251 Basic Graphic Design
ART 351 Graphic Design 1
ART 352 Graphic Design 2
ART 376 3D Modeling
ART 375 Virtual Environments/Game Design
ART 377 3D Animation 1
ART 378 3D Animation 2
ART 451 Graphic Design 3
ART-497A Advanced modeling with ZBrush
ART-497B Robotic Interactive Installation
ART 499 Capstone
ART 490 Internship
ZAYED UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OR DEPARTMENT COMMITTEES 2003-2007
Department Criteria for Promotion and Tenure Committee
Worked extensively on setting up the criteria and the structure for promotion and tenure.
AAITAA/IT committee
Worked with IT staff to create rendering farm with new server system and to create the new Motion Graphics Lab at the new Zayed University campus.
Graduate committee
Assisted in creating a Zayed University MA degree in graphic design, animation, interior design, and gaming.
Student Recruitment Committee:
Produced and developed posters (D-0) and 2,000 three fold brochures for the Art & Design Department and promoted the Art & Design Department through series of lectures.
Exhibition Committee
Worked to arrange and hang shows around the Abu Dhabi campus for the students of ZU, Student Shows: “Font Project” and “Character Design 3D Show”
Exhibition committee
Miniature Chair Design Exhibition at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus. Worked with local curators to set up for the show, oversaw the printing of invitations to VIPs, organized insurance, delivery, transport, press release, pre and post debate with students, and participated in a full press coverage of the show.
Introduced German artist Rolf to faculty, students, the German Ambassador and to ADMF sponsors and Huda Kanoo for a lecture series.
Strategic Planning Committee
Helped with planning for 2003-2009 improvements for Graphic Design I, II, III courses, 3/D Animation, Web Design, Package Design and implementation for a robotics lab. Planned upgrading of the computer software and hardware in the Mac Labs.
International Exhibition planning Committee
Served on a committee to plan international exhibitions as a department.
Summer School Committee
Helped implement the 2004 ZU summer school program.
Task Force committee
The Task Force was composed of four faculty members from the College of Communication and Media Sciences and four faculty from the Department of Art & Design. In our discussions we examined areas of course overlap and determined that certain recommendations be made concerning some courses in the two programs.
Hiring committee
Assisted in hiring new faculty (Motion Graphics, and Graphic Design) for the Art & Design Department for 2004- 2006. This included video conferences and written evaluations of all the candidates.
Student Recruitment Committee
Lectured to various classes to provide additional information about Art & Design majors.
Lectured for the Art & Design Department on Major’s Day 2004-2006. Provided examples of student work from Interior Design, Graphic Design, 3D, and Photography.
Dart Program Committee
Organized scheduling of courses, dates, and recruitment of faculty to teach in the Dart Program.
IT committee
Helped write grant proposal for IT development within the Art & Design Department Curriculum Committees 2003-Present.
Curriculum Committee
Assisted in restructuring the Graphic Design, Video and 3D animation programs.
Program Revision Committee
Assisted with revising the 8 semester planner for Graphic Design and Video.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES 2003-2007
Faculty Development
Taught ZU Art & Design faculty Maya in a two week seminar. This included basics in polygonal modeling, IK chain system, UV mapping, dynamics, shape animation, and sub-divisional polygon modeling.
Internship
Set up internship sites for our Art & Design students. Assisted students in their end of the Internship presentations to administration and faculty demonstrating skills they achieved during the Internship.
R.A.K. Project
Completed a GPS survey of a terraced mountain village located in Ras al-Khaimah called Barama. The data from the survey was used as the basis for this animated reconstruction of the village. Students constructed three dimensional simulations of some sixty houses and the accompanying terraces and farm fields, rendered the external facades and added details, such as water pots and tools. Figures were then created to inhabit this virtual village based on historic photographs of the local tribes people.
Capstone Project
Developed course work for students to follow for their Capstone projects. Students varied from different departments within the Art & Design Department ranging from Interior Design, Graphic Design, Photography, Painting and 3D Animation.
Readiness Program
Developed a DVD cover and jacket for the Readiness Program. This was done in conjunction with my Graphic Design students. Over 5,000 were printed.
MALO’s
Worked on writing the MALO’s (learning outcomes) for motion graphic and graphic design concentration.
Documentation of Student Artwork and Projects by Faculty
Helped in documenting art work of faculty and students.
SAFE project (Literary Magazine)
Involved with the Safe design layout with my basic graphic design class. Coordinated all work from both campuses and archiving it electronically for print. Documented all work on the Abu Dhabi campus for the Safe project.
Continuing Education Courses – Outreach Program
Set up the DART program, which is brought forward through the community outreach program to teach 3/D (Maya) to UAE residents.
International Institution Links
Set up international dialogue with Frank Debose (Head Dean of the Graphic Design Department of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago) to create relationship with SAIC for the future masters program at ZU.
ADMF Foundations
Created a 3D animation to accompany a proposal to transform the National Theater into a gallery space.
Huda Kanoo Award
Helped with organizing and setting up the show and involved with the judging for the Huda Kanoo Award, to be awarded to a student for superior work.
ZU Magazine
Helped with the preliminary layout design for the entire magazine along with the head of Communications and the head of the Police Unit of Abu Dhabi (responsible for funding the project). Included several students in the initial process of creating layout designs for the magazine.
IT Help within the department
Served as a resource to faculty to assist them in learning software programs such as After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash.
Taught and developed teaching strategies for interior design class using Maya.
Developed a packet of DVD’s for learning tutorials recorded using Snap Z Pro.
Assisted Interior Design faculty with teaching the fundamentals of Maya and implementing modeling techniques for interior design. Provided and created tutorials using Snap Z pro, interactive movies to help learn Maya features and projects related to her curriculum.
Departmental Events
Served as host for international visitors to represent how technology was being used at Zayed University. Visitors included: Dr. Abul Kalam, President of India; German Chancellor, Ambassador of Switzerland, Canadian Minister of Education, and International School of Wales delegate, David Smith.
Class Exhibition
Exhibition of Graphic Design I class in Garden Gallery which included the construction of wood display panels and production of promotional posters.
Edu-tech Exhibition
International Exhibition Center, Abu Dhabi – provided seven 3D animations for Plasma screen viewing with titles of the names of the participating students.
Parent’s Night (2003- 2006)
Served as a representative for the Art & Design department. Students’ animations are displayed from both campuses. Posters and examples of student work from graphic design are also displayed. Handed out 250 pamphlets and spoke to well over 200 prospective students along with their parents.
Online magazine
Worked with the ELC and Library in setting up an online magazine for the Readiness students. Helped promote a competition with Art & Design students to create a template for the online magazine and posters to advertise and attract students to participate.
ASSOCIATIONS
MEADA, Middle East Art And Design Association
CAA, College Art Association
ISEA, Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts
SITE, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
ASCAD, Universities Art Association of Canada CURRICULUM VITAE OF THOMAS J. TUCKER 35
REFERENCES
TODD OGLE, PH.D.
Executive Director, Applied Research in Immersive Environments and Simulations
University Libraries
560 Drillfield Drive
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Tel: (540) 231-1188
e-mail: jogle@vt.edu
DAVID HICKS
Professor of History and Social Science Education
225C War Memorial Hall, School of Education
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Tel (540) 231-8332
e-mail: hicks@vt.edu
DANE WEBSTER
Professor
Director, School of Art
Texas Tech University
2500 Broadway Lubbock
Texas 79409
Tel (806) 742-3826
danewebs@ttu.edu