John C. Bowers

John C. Bowers is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at James Madison University, teaching courses including Discrete Structures, Algorithms, and Computational Geometry. He serves as a first-year CS advisor and organizes the department's Research Seminar series.

His research centers on discrete and computational geometry with emphasis on circle packings, polyhedral rigidity, and inversive geometry. He develops computational tools for geometric visualization and 3D printing applications, exploring connections between theoretical mathematics and practical algorithms through projects like Koebe.py and the Escher programming language.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward computational methods in rigidity theory, with increasing focus on algorithmic implementations for circle packing problems. His 2024 work demonstrates the convergence of art and mathematics through combinatorial tiling engines, while earlier papers establish foundational rigidity results using geometric flows and hyperbolic geometry.

As co-director of the Ars Geometrica lab, Bowers mentors undergraduate researchers in projects spanning 3D printing infill optimization (with Oak Ridge National Labs), spatial graph representations, and subdivision tiling languages. His lab actively bridges theoretical geometry with tangible computational outputs and manufacturing applications.