Not only does CRC graduate student researcher Athena Buckthought clearly enjoy her work, she has also received national recognition for it.

Athena recently won a Donald O. Hebb Award for the best research project by a student at a Canadian university or research institute from the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science (CSBBCS).

The Awards are given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the study of brain, behaviour and cognitive science. They were presented at the society's annual meeting which took place in Vancouver, B.C., in June.

Athena's winning poster presentation, "Towards a Theory and Model of Human Stereoscopic Depth Perception," suggests a much-needed updated model of visual stereoscopic depth perception. Her new vision model has sweeping implications for basic research as well as applied projects.

One such applied project is being done at CRC - multi-view 3-D television trials that examine the effect of eight pairs of cameras on viewers' perception. These trials work toward technology that would allow you to view 3-D TV without glasses.

"I enjoyed presenting my work at the conference," says Athena. "This is only the second conference I have attended in vision research after switching from hearing research, and I was thrilled to be recognized for my work."

Athena switched from audio to visual perception studies to work for Dr. Lew Stelmach at CRC, her Ph.D. supervisor at Carleton University, in Advanced Video Systems. She is impressed by the fact that Dr. Stelmach works on both applied and basic science funded by NSERC, and pleased to have the opportunity to work at this unique research facility.

Congratulations, Athena!