Ian Stephenson

Dr. Ian Stephenson is a Principal Academic in Computer Animation at Bournemouth University, Faculty of Media and Communication. He is based at the Talbot Campus and has been actively contributing to computer graphics research and education for decades.

• DPhil in Electronics, University of York (1995)

His research focuses on rendering techniques, visual effects simulation, and shader development. Key areas include motion blur, film grain, diffraction in pinhole cameras, and real-time digital relighting for theatrical and concert applications. He has also explored FPGA-based hardware acceleration and stage lighting simulation using screen-space re-rendering.

In recent years, he has contributed to educational computing through the development of the Sniff programming language, designed to help Scratch users transition to text-based coding for physical computing and robotics. His publications span journals like Imaging Science Journal and Journal of Graphic Tools, and conferences including ACM SIGGRAPH, Eurographics, and TPCG.

His work shows a consistent trajectory from advanced rendering research to practical and educational applications in computer graphics.

• Essential RenderMan (Springer, 2006)
• Production Rendering (Springer, 2005)
• Essential RenderMan Fast (Springer, 2002)

Dr. Stephenson has been involved in public engagement, presenting Sniff at events like Scratch@MIT and HEA STEM conferences. He advises on student projects and promotes physical computing in education. While no formal grants or awards are listed, his software (Sniff, Angel) and outreach demonstrate significant scholarly and educational impact.

He leads or contributes to initiatives integrating IoT data into virtual environments and exploring N-body simulations for graphics. His lab work appears centered on real-time rendering, educational tools, and performance technology.