Alejandra Quirós Ramírez , PostDoc
Hometown: Cartago, Costa Rica
Affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Perceiving Systems Department
What are you working on?
I am interested in the intersection between computer science and psychology. I am currently studying the relationship between language and the body shape of people. Specific words such as "pear shaped", "round apple", "tall", or "muscular" elicit vivid mental images in our heads. I am working on capturing this knowledge and teach it to the computer in order to translate it into 3D body shape.
What's the most amazing thing you have found out so far?
We found that human language contains a very accurate metrical representation of body shape. We can approximate a person's body shape (including metrics such as his or her height and weight or waist circumference) based only on the words people use to describe this person. Read more on the MPI IS Body Talk site.
What do you like most about being a scientist?
It is great to have the freedom to work on the problems and questions that I am interested in. Constantly one is engaged in very interesting discussions, with people from different fields and cultural backgrounds.
Your favourite thing outside of science?
I love travelling and nature. Every time I have the chance I try to visit different places both in Germany and abroad.