BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:IEEE vTools.Events//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=2SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:MDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20251102T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=1SU;BYMONTH=11 TZNAME:MST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260422T190910Z UID:8CAEF60A-0F69-4BB8-A422-5D9FE7F86078 DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260305T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260305T200000 DESCRIPTION:A pdf copy of Annika's talk is available [here](https://drive.g oogle.com/file/d/1BnLV_1s8ly0Y4BxdEwouAxu6pQeESude/view?usp=drive_link). T he pdf file size is about 20 MB. It doesn't include any of the videos or a nimations from her talk.\n\nA Powerpoint pptx copy of her talk is availabl e [here.](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CYCHrIYLJrnG1sbJfF6AvfRB EPGgLsga/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116490672762339919474&rtpof=true&sd=true ) This file includes embedded videos and animations. Note the pptx file si ze is about 2 GB.\n\nPlease let me know if you have problems accessing eit her of these files.\n\nBest regards\,\nChris Gunning\ncgunning@ieee.org\n- --------------------------------------------------------------\n\nAnnika T homas is a Ph.D. candidate at MIT whose work lies at the intersection of r obotics\, computer vision\, and spatial intelligence. After beginning her academic path in Idaho at Renaissance High School and The College of Idaho \, she went on to study mathematics\, physics\, and engineering through a dual-degree program at Columbia University\, then to MIT. Over the course of her studies\, she has contributed to astrophysics research\, rocket pro pulsion\, and the design and deployment of satellites currently in orbit\, and she has worked in field robotics labs around the globe.\n\nHer curren t research focuses on developing photorealistic\, semantically rich\, and shareable map representations for autonomous robots using Gaussian Splatti ng and multi-modal sensor fusion. These structured world models enable mul ti-agent mapping\, loop closure\, and planetary-scale localization. Applic ations range from terrestrial robotic perception to lunar surface mapping for upcoming space missions with NASA.\n\nHer journey illustrates how a ST EM career can unfold from small-town beginnings to cutting-edge global res earch. Alongside her technical work\, she is committed to clear and access ible scientific communication\, which has led her to share ideas on collab orative robotics for lunar and Martian exploration through TEDx talks and international presentations across four continents. Annika ultimately aims to launch her own lab centered on intelligent mapping and embodied AI whi le contributing to a more inclusive culture for women in STEM.\n\n[]\n\nTh e talk is co-hosted by the following organizational units in the IEEE Bois e Section:\n\nIEEE Boise Communications Society/Robotics & Automation Soci ety/Signal Processing Joint Chapter\nIEEE Boise Computer Society Chapter\n IEEE Boise Women In Engineering Affinity Group\nIEEE Boise Young Professio nal Affinity Group\nIEEE Boise State University Student Branch\n\nThis tal k is free and open to the public. Registration is optional but helps us pl an the headcount.\n\nRoom: MCMR 106\, Bldg: Micron Center for Materials Re search (MCMR)\, Boise State University\, 1435 W University Dr\, Boise\, Id aho\, United States\, 83706 LOCATION:Room: MCMR 106\, Bldg: Micron Center for Materials Research (MCMR) \, Boise State University\, 1435 W University Dr\, Boise\, Idaho\, United States\, 83706 ORGANIZER:cgunning@ieee.org SEQUENCE:62 SUMMARY:From Idaho to the Moon: Building the Future of Intelligent Robotic Mapping URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/539020 X-ALT-DESC:Description: <br /><p>A pdf copy of Annika's talk is available&n bsp\;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BnLV_1s8ly0Y4BxdEwouAxu6pQe ESude/view?usp=drive_link">here</a>. The pdf file size is about 20 MB. It doesn't include any of the videos or animations from her talk.</p>\n<p>A P owerpoint pptx copy of her talk is available <a href="https://docs.google. com/presentation/d/1CYCHrIYLJrnG1sbJfF6AvfRBEPGgLsga/edit?usp=drive_link&a mp\;ouid=116490672762339919474&amp\;rtpof=true&amp\;sd=true">here.</a>&nbs p\;This file includes embedded videos and animations. Note the pptx file s ize is about 2 GB.</p>\n<p>Please let me know if you have problems accessi ng either of these files.</p>\n<p>Best regards\,<br>Chris Gunning<br><a hr ef="mailto:cgunning@ieee.org">cgunning@ieee.org</a>&nbsp\;</p>\n<hr>\n<p d ir="ltr">&nbsp\;</p>\n<p dir="ltr">Annika Thomas is a Ph.D. candidate at M IT whose work lies at the intersection of robotics\, computer vision\, and spatial intelligence. After beginning her academic path in Idaho at Renai ssance High School and The College of Idaho\, she went on to study mathema tics\, physics\, and engineering through a dual-degree program at Columbia University\, then to MIT. Over the course of her studies\, she has contri buted to astrophysics research\, rocket propulsion\, and the design and de ployment of satellites currently in orbit\, and she has worked in field ro botics labs around the globe.</p>\n<p dir="ltr">Her current research focus es on developing photorealistic\, semantically rich\, and shareable map re presentations for autonomous robots using Gaussian Splatting and multi-mod al sensor fusion. These structured world models enable multi-agent mapping \, loop closure\, and planetary-scale localization. Applications range fro m terrestrial robotic perception to lunar surface mapping for upcoming spa ce missions with NASA.</p>\n<p dir="ltr">Her journey illustrates how a STE M career can unfold from small-town beginnings to cutting-edge global rese arch. Alongside her technical work\, she is committed to clear and accessi ble scientific communication\, which has led her to share ideas on collabo rative robotics for lunar and Martian exploration through TEDx talks and i nternational presentations across four continents. Annika ultimately aims to launch her own lab centered on intelligent mapping and embodied AI whil e contributing to a more inclusive culture for women in STEM.</p>\n<p dir= "ltr"><img src="https://events.vtools.ieee.org/vtools_ui/media/display/33c dd03c-bc7b-44c9-bc82-4bb85bc9bd40" alt="" width="200" height="200"></p>\n< p dir="ltr">The talk is co-hosted by the following organizational units in the IEEE Boise Section:</p>\n<p>IEEE Boise Communications Society/Robotic s &amp\; Automation Society/Signal Processing Joint Chapter<br>IEEE Boise Computer Society Chapter<br>IEEE Boise Women In Engineering Affinity Group <br>IEEE Boise Young Professional Affinity Group<br>IEEE Boise State Unive rsity Student Branch</p>\n<p dir="ltr">This talk is free and open to the p ublic. Registration is optional but helps us plan the headcount.</p> END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR