A legacy of innovation and collaboration.
Cornell has been a pioneer in computer graphics since the early 1970s, when Professor Donald Greenberg ’55, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Computer Graphics founded the Program of Computer Graphics (PCG) in 1974. With support from the National Science Foundation, the program quickly became a leader in the field, producing foundational work in light reflection models, physics-based rendering, and visual perception for graphics.
Over the decades, Cornell’s graphics research has expanded across disciplines and fueled breakthroughs in realistic image generation, interactive rendering, and human-computer interaction.
Visionary Leaders
Since the 1970s, Cornell has been at the forefront of computer graphics, with Professor Donald Greenberg founding the program in 1974. In his five decades of teaching and research, Greenberg has won many prestigious computer graphics awards.
Pioneering Research
Cornell’s contributions through the Program of Computer Graphics have directly helped to revolutionize visualization across fields that include design, architecture, engineering, medicine, entertainment, gaming, and more.
Faculty
The Cornell Box - a benchmark for accurate rendering
The Cornell Box is a benchmark environment created by the Cornell University Program of Computer Graphics to test and validate computer graphics rendering algorithms. Since its inception in 1984, it has become a symbol of Cornell's research approach, which prioritizes accurate modeling of light transport to create realistic images.
Cornell University: True Big Red: Professor Don Greenberg '55
Produced by Phil ('62, B.Arch. '64) and Maddy ('65) Handler, Fly on the Wall Productions.