RIP Sir David Mackay: Physicist, Mathematician, Author

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In summary, Sir David Mackay, a renowned physicist and mathematician known for his work in information theory and machine learning, as well as his role as Chief Scientific Advisor of the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the UK, passed away last week after battling stomach cancer. He was also the author of the book "Without Hot Air" which discussed energy consumption and production without fossil fuels. He leaves behind a legacy in the scientific community and will be greatly missed.
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StatGuy2000
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Hi everyone. I'm not sure if anyone from here on PF is familiar with Sir David Mackay, but he was a physicist and mathematician known for his contributions in information theory and machine learning, as well as serving as Chief Scientific Advisor of the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the UK. He had also penned a book "Without Hot Air" about energy consumption and energy production without fossil fuels.

Unfortunately, he has succumbed to stomach cancer and passed away last week.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_J._C._MacKay

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article4736379.ece

Here is a link to his (former) webpage.

http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay/

Here is also his blog outlining his struggle with stomach cancer, with a last post from him 2 days before his passing.

http://itila.blogspot.com/

RIP, Sir David.
 
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I attended a lecture course by him and had several conversations with him. He was a good lecturer and a nice guy. :frown:
 

1. Who was Sir David Mackay and what were his notable contributions to science?

Sir David Mackay was a British physicist and mathematician known for his work in the fields of information theory, machine learning, and sustainable energy. He is best known for his book "Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms" and his research in renewable energy and climate change.

2. When did Sir David Mackay pass away and what was the cause of his death?

Sir David Mackay passed away on April 14, 2016 at the age of 48 due to stomach cancer. His death was a great loss to the scientific community and his contributions continue to be remembered and celebrated.

3. How did Sir David Mackay's work impact the field of sustainable energy?

Sir David Mackay was a strong advocate for sustainable energy and his research focused on finding practical solutions to reduce carbon emissions. He developed a tool called the "Mackay Energy Calculator" which helps individuals and policymakers understand the amount of energy required to power our modern lifestyle and how it can be sustainably generated.

4. In addition to his scientific work, what other accomplishments did Sir David Mackay have?

Sir David Mackay was also an accomplished author, having written several books on topics ranging from physics and mathematics to sustainable energy and climate change. He was also a professor at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

5. How is Sir David Mackay's legacy being honored and continued?

Sir David Mackay's legacy continues to live on through his influential work, his books, and his impact on the scientific community. The University of Cambridge established the "David J.C. MacKay Energy Research Fellowship" in his honor to support research in sustainable energy. His work also continues to inspire and inform future generations of scientists and researchers.

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