Engineering Science - The Importance of Communication Skills in Science Comments

Comment on 'The Importance of Communication Skills in Science' by Geoff Davis

2007-08-07T00:04:31Z

I'm sure the Russian language press has more info, but alas, my Russian is pretty rusty (ya izuchil mnogo l'et nazad i ya zab'il vc'o). From the New Yorker interview, though, it sounds like he is pretty upset with the mathematics community.

I think he could get a job because he is so brilliant - apparently he's had a few offers - but if he were just a little bit less smart, I think you're right that he'd be on the streets. In contrast, if Strang or Freedman were slightly less brilliant, they'd just be professors somewhere a little less prestigious. Being able to interact with other humans makes a huge difference.

Comment on 'The Importance of Communication Skills in Science' by Vadim

2007-08-06T22:51:29Z

From reading Russian language on-line press, I gathered that Perelman does not care about recognition by the world community. He's been a hermit for many years, only formally employed at some math research institute by people who helped him to sustain himself. Yet you made it sound as if he has gone sour on "mathematics" (meaning the science establishment). in my opinion, he is just enough crazy to not care about that. You are right about one thing, though: had he lived in the U.S., he'd be a bum on the streets of S.F. since no U.S. university would have put him on payroll.