David MacKay was a true polymath who achieved greatness in the fields of physics, computer science and energy policy. He died of cancer this week aged 48.
He also co-founded Transversal, a software company that specialises in search based on natural speech and wrote the textbook “Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms”, available online for free.
In the wider world MacKay is best known for his 2008 book
“Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air,, which had a major impact on thinking about energy. Within nine months, MacKay was appointed Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, a role he occupied until 2014.
Sustainable Energy — without the hot air is here in a 383 page pdf
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.