Joseph Polchinski, R.I.P.
Jan. 5th, 2022 02:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ndrosenI happened to come across an article analyzing the work of theoretical physicists, in the sense of whose papers were cited most, how physicists were linked by citations, etc., and one prominent name (not at the very top, but prominent) was Joseph Polchinski. I remember him; I took a course in mathematical methods for physics from him back in the mid-80s, when I was a graduate student in physics at UT Austin. I remember him as a pleasant man, as well as someone with a scientific brain, so I thought I’d look him up, and see whether he was still at Austin, and just what he has accomplished in physics.
It turns out that he died of cancer a few years ago, after writing some notable papers. It’s a sad loss, and I’m glad to have known him, and disappointed that he died too young. Rest in peace.
It turns out that he died of cancer a few years ago, after writing some notable papers. It’s a sad loss, and I’m glad to have known him, and disappointed that he died too young. Rest in peace.
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Date: 2022-01-05 01:46 pm (UTC)Sad. RIP. I once google my name, and came up with someone with the same name as me (my name isn't that common). Ironically, considering that I'm a Dermatologist, he had died of Melanoma. He actually seemed like an interesting guy, and aerospace engineer with a lot of different hobbies.