From the automata of Sainte-Croix to artificial intelligence, Nadia Magnenat Thalmann’s journey is truly unique. She has carved out a distinctive path in the world of technological research. A pioneer in robotics and virtual reality, she has spent over three decades dedicating her career to creating virtual beings that closely resemble humans. In the early 1980s, together with her husband Daniel Thalmann, she founded MIRALab at the University of Geneva, a cutting-edge laboratory that pushed the boundaries of visual synthesis, notably bringing to life virtual characters such as a digital Marilyn Monroe.

In 1987, she was named “Woman of the Year” in Montreal for her groundbreaking work on the Marilyn project. Since then, she has received numerous prestigious awards, including honorary doctorates from Leibniz University Hannover in 2009 and the University of Ottawa in 2010, as well as the Humboldt Research Award, granted to researchers whose discoveries and theories have significantly impacted their fields and hold promise for future advancements.

Recently, Nadine, the humanoid robot modeled after her likeness, was showcased in the main hall of Uni Mail at the University of Geneva, where it impressed visitors with its ability to hold structured and well-reasoned conversations. The geneveMonde.ch platform had the opportunity to pose some questions to this revolutionary robot, an interaction available through this link.

In this interview, Nadia Thalmann reflects on several defining aspects of her career as a researcher, placing Geneva at the heart of her professional and personal journey.

Interview by David Glaser

Photo (DG): Nadine surrounded by her collaborators at the Battelle site of the University of Geneva, home to the University’s Center for Informatics (CUI).

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