David J.C. MacKay, Machine Learning pioneer, dies

My first programming job was working in David's research group, helping transition Dasher (http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/) from a research project into one more generally useful for accessibility purposes. I still feel that that job was perhaps the most useful work I've ever done - I had the opportunity to write code that in some cases literally made it practical for people to communicate, and that (along with David's strong views on social responsibility) ended up strongly shaping my perspective on what technology's role in society should be.

I saw David only rarely after leaving the group to do my PhD, and hadn't in years before I saw him at a group reunion last month. I'm saddened that I passed on so many opportunities to learn more from him.

A British scientist and mathematician known for two fine books, both of which are available to read online.

"Sustainable Energy - without the hot air" (http://www.withouthotair.com/) does the sums on sources of sustainable energy, to try to establish whether they present a realistic alternative to fossil fuels. It might make sense to read this as a companion to Bret Victor's "What can a technologist do about climate change?" (http://worrydream.com/ClimateChange/), though MacKay's book mostly doesn't talk about climate change but about fuel exhaustion.

"Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms" (http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay/itila/) is a readable and charming (but mathematical) book that touches on a lot of topics in information theory. A lot of it is over my head, but I most recently referred to it just a couple of weeks ago for its chapters about the mathematics of neural nets, including a chapter given to estimating the information capacity of a single neuron.

He was only 48 and had stomach cancer, which he wrote about on his blog (http://itila.blogspot.co.uk/).

His book 'Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms', often posted here on HN: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/itila/p0.html

His donation page: https://www.justgiving.com/davidjcmackay?utm_source=email&ut...

How he dealt with his illness: http://itila.blogspot.gr/2016/01/bye-bye-chemotherapy-hello-...

I know him from his pioneering work on sustainable energy. Actually working out from physics principles what is possible that can balance supply and demand in an ongoing way.

You can read it free online - I like the print copy though! (It's for the UK, but has lots of useful referenced data for anywhere)

http://www.withouthotair.com/

I met him a few times in Cambridge trying to organise a campaign about Climate Change. He was passionate and fun. Sad that I never really delivered for him.

Rest well David, combining a scientist's accuracy and detail with a human's care for the world.

This is deeply saddening, and a huge loss for rational thought at the highest level. With his book on information theory and learning algorithms, David leaves the wonderful legacy of demystifying the central concepts that have brought about the ongoing information revolution, and it remains an absolute tour-de-force, even after years of further developments. I want to say "thank you" for all the wonderful insights; presented with clarity, wit and humanity.

This post on David working out what to tell his children (age 1 and 4) about his cancer is moving http://itila.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/what-do-you-tell-childre...

David J. C. MacKay (born 1967-2016), British academic researcher in information theory and environmentalism, inventor, government advisor and educator:

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

His lectures on inference were the best and most worthwhile course I took as an undergraduate, and his text book is good enough that I have two copies at home and one at work. He had a big effect on how I look at the universe. He later became one of the only voices on energy policy that I trusted, and enjoyed hearing his clear thinking on the national news. Thank you, djcm. The world owes you quite a lot and probably has yet to realise it.

A professor of mine instructed me to "devour" MacKay's "Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms". To this day it is one of the only textbooks I have purchased on my own initiative (not for a class), and this is after I read many chapters online. I also thoroughly enjoyed his video lectures [1] for a course he taught based on the book.

News of his passing deeply saddens me.

[1] http://videolectures.net/david_mackay/

His book, renewable energy without the hot air, is something that I frequently use as a reference and my last comment on Hacker news was a reference it. I had no idea he had cancer, as I read his other blog.

It's deeply saddening that someone who has had a significant positive impact on the UK - as an advisor to the government - and world, won't be able to continue to make more positive impacts. I imagine it would be hard for someone to fill the gap that has been left by him.

One hell of a great communicator. Large swaths of my life are still affected by his Sustainable Energy book. I never had a chance to meet him, but I'll carry his words with me forever.

His lectures as part of the Physics tripos were certainly the best (in terms of engaging, exciting, interesting and actually educating) I remember as an undergrad - at the time the smartness, enthusiasm and slightly unorthodox approach reminded me a bit of what I'd imagine Feynman's teaching to have been like.

It's a huge testament that right now now I can see 3 different copies of Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms sitting on 3 different desks in our office. He will be missed :(