Researcher Turned Teacher Establishes Programs Around the World
Anthony George Constantinides, Inspiring digital signal processing educator, to receive 2012 IEEE Leon K. Kirchmayer Graduate Teaching Award
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (3 April 2011) – Anthony George Constantinides, a researcher and influential educator who pioneered the teaching of digital signal processing in the United Kingdom and established programs at other universities around the world, is being honored by IEEE with the 2012 IEEE Leon K. Kirchmayer Graduate Teaching Award. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association.
The award, sponsored by the Leon K. Kirchmayer Memorial Fund, recognizes Constantinides for educating, inspiring and mentoring generations of graduate students in digital signal processing and communications throughout the world. The award will be presented on18 April 2012 at the Wireless Telecommunications Symposium in London, U.K.
A pioneering researcher in his own right, Constantinides has contributed to the development of fundamental principles and applications of digital signal processing. In 1970 he established the Signal Processing and Communications Research Group within the Electrical Engineering Department at Imperial College, London, U.K. The Research Group soon became a major center of research and attracted a large number of researchers from around the world. Hundreds of master’s students and over 130 doctoral students were directly supervised by Constantinides until his retirement in 2008. Many of his students have become leaders in industry and academia and have received accolades and recognition of their own. His contributions and those of his students have impacted many areas of signal processing, including speech and image processing, signal detection and sonar systems.
Students of Constantinides relate how his innovative courses with unique content based on his latest research inspired them to pursue additional education or start careers in digital signal processing. His students learned how to conduct quality research and adopted supervisory skills they employ with their own students or staff today. Constantinides’ dedication to the students under his supervision was always evident, and the mentoring and guidance he continues to provide after graduation is another example of his dedication.
Constantinides’ influence has spread beyond the United Kingdom. He has shared his leadership and vision in helping to establish the Athens Institute of Technology and the Technical University of Cyprus. He has developed new courses and lecture notes for use by universities in Italy, Canada, Australia and the Far East. Constantinides was also the first president of the European Association for Signal Processing, and in this capacity he helped establish a new journal and conference series in Europe focusing on digital signal processing.
An IEEE Life Fellow and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (U.K.), Constantinides’ honors include the National Honors of Chevalier (1985) and Officier (1996) awarded by the French government, the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) Hartree Premium Award (1996), IEE Blumlein-Brown-Willans Award (1997) and Medal for IEE Achievement (2006). Constantinides received his bachelor’s degree in engineering and doctorate from the University of London, U.K. He has received honorary doctorates from around the world and is an Honorary Professor of Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Constantinides is an Emeritus Professor with Imperial College, London, U.K.
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