Atanas Gotchev, Professor of Signal Processing, Tampere University
Tell us briefly about your research topics and international work
My research interests are in the fields of 3D and light field imaging. This includes methods for sensing 3D visual scenes, their formal representation and processing and then recreation through immersive displays. I coordinate two European programmes: ImmerSAFE and Plenoptima dedicated to training doctoral students in Immersive and Plenoptic Imaging. I am also Senior Associated Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing (one of the top scientific journals on Imaging) and of the Journal of Electronic Imaging. I am member of the IEEE Signal Processing Society Technical Committee on Multimedia Signal Processing and I am the General Chair of the corresponding international workshop (the 23rd IEEE Int. Workshop on Multimedia Signal Processing (IEEE MMSP 2021). I am also in the organizing committee of the IS&T's Electronic Imaging Symposium, chairing one of its conferences: Image Processing Algorithms and Systems.
Based on your vast experience, what makes Tampere an especially good location for international conferences?
Excellent and versatile congress facilities, e.g. in Tampere Hall. Wide selection of accommodation options: from top hotels to cosy AirBnB apartments. Hospitality of local people (honest and genuine). Wide spectrum of social activities: from high-class restaurants to lakes, saunas and year-around sport possibilities.
How would you describe Tampere as a city? What makes it special?
Proper scale. Everything is easily reachable, usually at walking distance. Close to nature. One can experience the urban life with cosy cafeterias and cultural events, then easily walk and find lakes, hiking and skiing tracks, berries, etc. Efficient: public transportation, health and other services simply work. I've already mentioned the hospitality of local people, it is this kind of Finnish attitude to not (artificially) exaggerating closeness but be open, friendly and polite.
