Bridget B. Baird

Bridget Baird retired from Connecticut College in 2013. 

Professor Baird's current research has focused on community participation and digital poetics. These works employ generative art and the ways it can be used to produce artistic works that deal with climate change. These computer works have involved poetry, visuals and audio and have been realized both as interactive installations and as performances. Interests also include using multiple modalities to connect technology with the arts, and exploring topics in digital humanities. 

Baird took her research into the classroom, teaching classes in both computer science and mathematics. She also supervised numerous student research projects, both during the academic year and during the summer.

A strong interest was in modifying the introductory computer science class to include a wider array of hands-on projects; and to show the applications of computer science in many different disciplines. For 11 years Baird served as the Director of the Ammerman Center for Arts & Technology.

Baird is also interested in issues about gender equity and ways to increase the participation of women in computer science and mathematics.

Baird has participated in many collaborative installations and presentations. Some of the more recent are a 2022 installation at the Anchorage Museum in Alaska (with local poets), a 2021 installation at Avery Point in Connecticut, a 2019-20 exhibition at the Burchfield Penny Art Center in Buffalo, a 2018 exhibition and presentation at Brown University, the 2016 Arts & Technology Symposium at Connecticut College and the 2015 Generative Art Conference in Venice.

Baird received many grants, including a Fulbright grant to teach and study in Ecuador (2009), a Mellon Foundation (2005-2007) grant to foster cooperation in computer science among Wesleyan, Trinity and Connecticut College; a Sherman-Fairchild Foundation (2006-2008) grant to encourage cooperative teaching in the arts; a Citizens Bank and AT&T grant to support the arts and technology symposium and outreach to local teachers (2006-2007); a National Science Foundation (2002-2006) grant to increase enrollments (particularly of women and minorities) in math and computer science; a Center for Teaching & Learning grant at Connecticut College (2003-2005) to develop curricula in ethnomathematics; an AT&T grant for professional development of local arts teachers (2001-2003); a National Science Foundation grant for visualization and immersion modules of scientific principles (1998-2000); and a Fulbright grant to teach in Mexico (1996).

Baird was the 2008 recipient of the Helen B. Regan Faculty Leadership Award, which recognizes faculty members who exemplify the College's commitment to shared governance, democratic process and campus community development.

She delivered the Convocation address, "Liberal Arts 2.0" in August, 2008. Baird was the recipient of the Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Award for 1994.

Download Baird CV

Visit the computer sciences website, mathematics and statistics website, and the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology website.