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A Karnal-born
Kashmiri, who likes playing cricket and golf when he is not
too busy being a scientist, this Indian American started his
journey like many immigrant students that come to US from India.
"First, the graduate school, some industry experience and
then back to school for my PhD," says Anshuman.
For his latest project, Anshuman, 40, director of the Arizona
State University's Partnership for Research in Spatial Modelling
(PRISM) is collaborating with anthropologist Jeffrey Schwartz
to virtually recreate three lifelike, life-size figures of
George Washington.
The reconstruction is part of an $85 million facelift of
Washington's Virginia estate. The statues will capture Washington
as a surveyor at age 19, on horseback as commander-in-chief
of the Continental Army at 45, and being sworn in as president
at 57.
Anshuman is using cutting-edge, 3-D spatial-imaging technology
to scrutinise moulds, sculptures, dentures, hair samples,
clothing, painted portraits, and all available written descriptions
of Washington's physique and personality to create the three
models.
The project, to be completed in 2006, will be the most extensive
addition ever to Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. Anshuman
says he would love to do something similar with Nehru, Lincoln
and Tantya Tope.
Anshuman started as a mechanical engineer and became a computer
scientist and works in projects that range from biological
data to water resource management. His advice to the youth:
"Do not think that if you have started in one discipline,
you are stuck in that for life. In today's world keep your
options open because the opportunities are immense."
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