The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards are usually a lighthearted affair, and this year Saturday's ceremony at the BevWilshire was no exception. By tradition, the evening always kicks off with entertainment. Wags wondered beforehand what it might be: A magician? A mime? Awards administration director Rich Miller surprised by choosing Danny Cole, who is a magician and a mime. Cole's slight of hand impressed even this tech-savvy crowd.
Host Jessica Alba, very pregnant but game nonetheless, dove into the technical jargon of fluid simulation software with determination, winning applause from the crowd. Two winners used their time to appreciate their lovely host. Duncan Brinsmead, one of three honored for the Maya Fluid Effects system, said "For a computer geek like me it's really sexy to hear Jessica talk about semi-Lagrangian fluid dynamics." While Stanford professor Ron Fedkiw, who moonlights at Industrial Light & Magic working on their fluid simulation system, finished his thank-you's in less than the allotted minute, so he added "I'm going to spend the last 15 seconds noting that I'm ten feet away from the most beautiful woman on the planet. And no restraining order this time!" (D. Cohen)
Comments