UW–Madison Computer Sciences Professor Michael Gleicher has been inducted into the IEEE Visualization Academy, one of the most prestigious career honors in the field of visualization. Gleicher is founder and leader of the department’s Visual Computing Group, and for more than two decades he has made influential, sustained contributions that have shaped the foundations and practice of modern visualization. His research spans conceptual advances, empirical studies, novel techniques, and practical systems, with landmark work establishing a principled “theory of comparison” and pioneering the integration of ensemble perception—how people perceive patterns in large collections—into visualization design. These long-running research threads have generated a steady stream of innovations across domains such as structural biology, machine learning, genetics, virology, education science, and literary scholarship, and have helped bridge ideas between visualization, computer graphics, robotics, and multimedia processing.
Induction into the Visualization Academy recognizes leaders whose accomplishments have had lasting, field-defining impact, exceeding the criteria of existing IEEE VGTC awards. Gleicher’s selection reflects not only his research achievements but also his deep influence as an educator, mentor, and community leader. He has advised PhD students who have gone on to become prominent visualization scholars, established UW–Madison’s visualization curriculum, and provided quiet but meaningful mentorship to early-career faculty. His service to the community includes leadership roles such as EuroVis Papers Chair and IEEE VIS Area Chair, alongside decades of committee work that has strengthened both the visualization community and its connections to neighboring research areas. His induction into the Academy affirms a career marked by innovation, generosity, and field-wide impact.