Bahman Kalantari

I received my Ph.D in Computer Science at  University of Minnesota in 1984 under the advising of Prof. J.B. Rosen. Prior to this I received an M.S. degree in Operations Research and an M.S. degree in Mathematics, also from U. of M.   As  undergraduate, I majored in mathematics and physics at University of Wisconsin.

I joined Rutgers University after I received my Ph.D in 1984.  My main research interests have ranged  in optimization: linear programming, convex programming,  interior-point methods, non-convex optimization,  discrete and combinatorial optimization.    My research interests in computational geometry,  machine learning and game theory are  mainly on the type of problems that have a flavor of optimization.

In the nineties I accidentally became interested in polynomial root-finding and  years later my research led to introducing the term polynomiography, standing algorithmic visualization in solving polynomial equations.  In 2005, through Rutgers University, I received a U.S. patent for a corresponding software  technology. Since its introduction around 2000,  polynomiography and sample images have featured in national and international media (see www.polynomiography.com).

Polynomiography has also connected me with  the fine arts  and I have even been complemented to be considered an artist. However, my goal is to develop and spread it widely as a powerful medium for creativity, discovery, and playful learning. It  is a medium  that  finds numerous applications in education, math, science, art and design.   On the one hand, polynomials are the  most fundamental objects,  present in every  branch of math and sciences.  On the other hand, polynomials are the kind of mathematical abstractions that are taught early on in education.  Ideally,  polynomiography can enter K-12 education and more and  there is good evidence in support of this. Nevertheless,  there are challenges along the way but I have never given up and in collaborations with educators, there are attempts to introduce the demo software and a corresponding lesson to interested high school teachers.