I am writing with rather mixed feelings to all of you. I have been on the
faculty of Harvard’s Mathematics Department since 1987. I have witnessed
great accomplishments by our colleagues and our outstanding students.
Together, we have created new theorems and forged new directions in our
beloved subject. The whole world was watching what we accomplished. And, at
the same time, we were also proud to watch and learn from other parts of the
world through our annual event, Current Developments in Mathematics, where
great mathematicians are invited to present the latest and most exciting
ideas in our field.
The number of our faculty members in the Mathematics Department is not big
enough to lead all fields in mathematical science. And because that field
has been growing so rapidly, while interacting with many other disciplines
in science, technology, and the humanities, we felt an urgent need to create
a new center within Harvard to promote interdisciplinary ideas.
Eight years ago, with the blessing of the administration at Harvard, we
formed the Center of Mathematics Sciences and Applications (CMSA).Dean
Michael Smith, Dean Jeremy Bloxham, and Dean Nina Zipser have been our major
supporters in developing this interdisciplinary center from scratch, both
in terms of fundraising and finding an appropriate building space to house
the center. The board of CMSA has been extremely helpful. Irene Minder of
the Mathematics Department has provided tremendous and essential help. I am
grateful to all of them and many others I was unable to name here.
Colleagues from the Mathematics Department, Physics Department, Economics
Department, SEAS, and the Medical School have offered extremely strong and
generous supports to our scientific programs. Based on their help, we were
able to establish our brand name in a very short time—as well as
establishing an excellent and convivial atmosphere for research. I am proud
to say that our high-quality seminars have drawn attention from scholars all
over the world. Many of these international colleagues participate in our
programs, and important work in mathematics has stemmed from the ensuing
exchanges of ideas.
I am proud to have served as director for the past eight years, during which
time this center has really matured. I now believe it is time for me to
leave the responsibility of running the center to my successor. I am also
retiring from Harvard after 35 years of service. I am filled with memories
of the wonderful things that have happened in the department and in CMSA,
where I have spent practically every day, talking, and working with you and
other colleagues who are no longer at Harvard. I already miss all of you!
But my heart will always be with you. And I shall be ready to help CMSA and
the math department whenever l can be of assistance.
With my warmest regards and best wishes for the future.
After much struggles in my heart, I have finally concluded that it is best
for me to retire early. I have talked with the deans and I shall take the
retirement starting at the end of this month.
It was a good fortunate for me to be one of the PI of BHI starting at the
very beginning.Frankly speaking, when Andy recruited me to BHI, I was not
too optimistic about BHI. But I was clearly wrong! With the strong
leadership by all of you, it has become a great center in black hole physics
. I have been much more involved in CMSA and contributed very little to BHI.
I apologize for not putting more energy than I should, but the activities
in BHI and CMSA has many common interests as is witnessed by the vigorous
activities in the special program on mathematics of GR that is happening now.
While I feel guilty about it, I am also proud to be a member of BHI
management team. As I'm retiring from Harvard, I should not be in the
management team of BHI anymore, But I should still help BHI in the future if
asked.
It has been a great experience and it has helped my understanding of black
hole tremendously. I am grateful to all of you to give me this opportunity!
As was just announced, I decided to retire by the end of April. I shall miss
all of my colleagues in Harvard and especially you , after 35 years in
Harvard and working together closely ! I have watched the great
accomplishments by you, Peter, Mike, Horng-Tzer and other colleagues. It was
exciting when a new result was found in our department and the whole world
was watching. Our students have been great and have been able to create the
most original works. Irene Minder and Anna Kreslavs have been great to work
with. I am grateful to all of you. Barry Mazur was the chairman to hire me.
I am grateful to that.
It was a great honor to be colleague with so many great mathematicians and
physicists in Harvard. Unfortunately, Raoul Bott, George Mackey and John
Tate passed away. Wilfried Schmid retired, but remained to be close friend.
Equally important are my colleagues Cumrun Vafa and Andy Strominger in the
physics Dept. I have gotten so much inspiration by talking and working with
them. They have changed the directions of my thinking in many directions.
If the Department of mathematics and physics and CMSA needs me, I shall
always be there to help.
能和如此多的出色数学家和物理学家在哈佛共事,是本人的光荣。可惜 Raoul Bott、
George Mackey、和 John Tate 都去世了。Wilfried Schmid 也退休了,不过我们还是
很亲近。同样重要的是物理系的同事 Cumrun Vafa 和 Andy Strominger,和他们的讨
论和合作,给我启发良多,使我在多方面改变了想法。
数学系、物理系、CMSA 需要我帮忙时,我一定会伸出援手。谨致敬礼!
丘上
)
(克利福德·陶布斯,哈佛大学威廉姆·佩切克数学教授)
2022 年 3 月 23 日
哈佛大学文理学院院长 Claudine Gay 的来信
Dear Yau,
On behalf of the FAS, I want to extend my deep gratitude for your many years
of tremendous service. Your constant pursuit of boundary-pushing research
and your dedication to our students and their learning have had a
significant impact on our institution and on the field of Mathematics. You’
re leaving a wonderful legacy of scholarly achievement and academic
excellence at CMSA. You deserve to be very proud of all you’ve accomplished
there. The Center’s leadership transition plans are in progress. Dean
Stubbs and I understand how important a smooth transition will be and rest
assured that we are working hard toward that goal.
For now, you’ve certainly more than earned some time to rest! We are
fortunate to have called you a colleague for so many years. Thank you for
your many contributions to the vibrant intellectual life of the FAS. Wishing
you all the best for a joyful and restorative retirement!
克劳汀 上
(克劳汀·盖伊,政府和非裔美国人研究学者,也是大学行政人员。她担任哈佛大学的
威尔伯·A·考威特(Wilbur A. Cowett)政府非洲和非裔美国人研究教授,以及哈佛
大学文理学院埃格利家族院长。她是中西部政治科学协会的副主席。哈佛大学文理学院
(Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, FAS)是哈佛大学最核心的学院,全面负
责哈佛大学本科生和研究生培养工作。)
另一位Raoul H. Bott拿到Wolf是在他的
大牛徒子学生Stephen Smale(他与哈佛没关系)拿菲尔兹34年之后,
大牛天才徒重孙William Thurston(他与哈佛没关系,是Smale在伯克利的徒孙)拿菲尔兹18年之后,而且Raoul H. Bott的方向与丘没关系,也比丘的方向更核心一点。