John David Barrow

John David Barrow was a distinguished cosmologist, an original and creative thinker, brilliant communicator. His work addressed fundamental questions about why our universe is the way it whether could have been otherwise. Always smartly turned out brimming with energy, he eloquent speaker prolific scientist who published several hundred papers wrote or cowrote 20 books. MAX ALEXANDERPPT|High-resolutionBorn in north London suburb of Wembley on 29 November 1952, went to Ealing Grammar School for Boys, where accomplished sportsman as well scholar. He had trial Chelsea youth footballer, junior middle-distance race beat Steve Ovett, become Olympic champion.John earned degree mathematics physics from University Durham 1974. For his doctorate, Oxford worked under supervision legendary Dennis Sciama. In 1977 completed DPhil thesis nonuniform cosmological models, one many investigations made into anisotropic inhomogeneous spacetimes that lie beyond more restricted class cosmologies usually considered describe universe. pioneered use dynamical systems techniques classify rich sometimes chaotic behavior generalized models.John won research lectureship at Christ Church, University, postdoctoral scholarships study California, Berkeley. There collaborated Joseph Silk; 1983 they what would John’s first popular science book, The Left Hand Creation: Origin Evolution Expanding Universe. At Sussex, joined Astronomy Centre 1981 lecturer; became professor 1989 its director 1995. I student John’s, my abiding memory time sitting table coffee room listening him, then young professor, swapping tales astronomy astronomers William McCrea, Roger Tayler, Leon Mestel, great old men department. loved tell story. remarkable able recall recount facts humorous anecdotes any occasion.In 1999 moved Cambridge mathematical sciences Millennium Mathematics Project, outreach program students general public. interest sport led project’s partnership 2012 Paralympic Games education program.John fascinated by initial conditions very early studied dynamics cosmic inflation, accelerated expansion ultrahigh energies smooth inhomogeneities anisotropies. classified extended studies inflationary dynamics. championed inflation generalizations Einstein’s theory gravity, which lead time-dependent effective gravitational “constant.” intrigued apparently constants change time. argued “although we can measure nature accuracy experiments, no idea take values do.” Anthropic Cosmological Principle, written Frank Tipler 1986, explored aspects are intimately connected existence intelligent life.John’s writing reached huge audience, frequent guest radio programs. valued privacy, however, declined invitations appear TV. also inspirational lecturer. Gresham College London, appointed both geometry; only person since 17th century be two subjects. spoke prime ministers popes, liked say dared lecture Margaret Thatcher inflation—cosmic course. Such versatility even award-winning play, Infinities, premiered Milan 2002.Among numerous prizes were 2016 Gold Medal Royal Astronomical Society 2015 Paul Dirac Prize Institute Physics. 2006 awarded Templeton “writings relationship between life universe.”Like mentor, Sciama, attracted nurtured bright, curious minds PhD adviser. supervised 30 doctoral students, whom gone faculty UK around world.John kept working right up end, completing scientific book final months life. died cancer 26 September 2020, age 67, Cambridge, UK.© 2021 American