Computer Vision News - November 2016

ECCV Daily: You are incredibly confident. I always hear from women that they feel inadequate. Do you have this problem? Cheng: There are always days like that. I don’t think that it’s a particular problem for women. Sometimes, things don’t work the first time. That happens, and I might feel stupid, but it happens. We all have those days. ECCV Daily: Doesn’t it consume you inside? Cheng: There are definitely ups and downs. I think in the end, most of the time I overcome it. There are times when I doubt whether it’s the right thing to do or not, but I keep going. ECCV Daily: Have you seen women who are not as confident as you that you would like to advise? Maybe they seem nervous when they do a presentation. How do you feel when you see that? Cheng: First of all, I am nervous as well when I do a presentation, although it’s not as though I start shaking. I did have friends who did not feel comfortable giving presentations. I talked with them. In Sweden, it’s very open to talk with professors and other people, but not everyone that comes from other places and cultures feel comfortable talking. So in the lab, I invite them for lunch or for a coffee to talk. If they ask my opinion, I am honest and say what I feel. ECCV Daily: If you had not become a scientist, what would you have become? Cheng: I have wanted to be a lot of things [ she laughs again ]. When I was 3 years old, I wanted to work in a zoo because I liked animals. ECCV Daily: Which animals? Cheng: Cats, dogs… I also like tigers, lions… [ she laughs ] Then when I got a bit older, I learned painting and drawing. I was thinking to become a fashion designer. Since I grew so tall, I thought to become a model. ECCV Daily: Did you ever model? Cheng: Not professionally, but sometimes friends took photographs. I’ve never modeled in a show, but for friend’s pictures. ECCV Daily : Do you have no regrets of not becoming a painter, a model, or working a zoo? Cheng: All these things are cool. I still draw for fun. I think being a scientist is even cooler. I’m happy with what I do. My hobby and my work are the same thing. How cool is that? As far as the other things I like, I can do them too. No one is stopping me, right? Women in Computer Vision 33 “My hobby and my work are the same thing. How cool is that? ” BEST OF ECCV