Charlie Munger Donates $65M for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara(dailynexus.com)
dailynexus.com
Charlie Munger Donates $65M for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara
http://dailynexus.com/2014-10-23/billionaire-donates-over-65-million-to-ucsb/
28 comments
Seems like UCSB is has come out nowhere in the past few years. When I was applying to college in California only about 10 years ago, I didn't even really consider UCSB because of its reputation as a party school and because it was ranked much lower than Irvine and Davis. I'm sure the recent Nobel prize win and this will affect it's reputation significantly.
> Seems like UCSB is has come out nowhere in the past few years
I know they had some top-notch graduate programs 20 years ago (based on someone I know who was in one).
I know they had some top-notch graduate programs 20 years ago (based on someone I know who was in one).
I never realized that UCSB had become a haven for physicists. I once conjectured that I thought UCSB and UCSD would soon become hotbeds for scientific research, in part because of their great physical weather and beauty. And I think it is playing out for both institutions.
An interesting conjecture.
As an academic, it's interesting to observe the relationship between geography and attractiveness to new faculty.
As I heard from a UCSD professor, it is extremely rough to live in San Diego/La Jolla on a grad student salary, and prospective grad students are aware of this and (largely) avoid the place. So, the grad program is weaker than one might think, which the faculty find a little bit demoralizing.
So, in this instance, the attractiveness of the area seems to go against the university.
As an academic, it's interesting to observe the relationship between geography and attractiveness to new faculty.
As I heard from a UCSD professor, it is extremely rough to live in San Diego/La Jolla on a grad student salary, and prospective grad students are aware of this and (largely) avoid the place. So, the grad program is weaker than one might think, which the faculty find a little bit demoralizing.
So, in this instance, the attractiveness of the area seems to go against the university.
As of 2010, the UCSD Bioengineering graduate department was #1.
The strength of UCSD in bioengineering, plus their other strengths (chemistry, theoretical chemistry, biology, physics, math...), is part of what explains San Diego's strength in life sciences industry.
The strength of UCSD in bioengineering, plus their other strengths (chemistry, theoretical chemistry, biology, physics, math...), is part of what explains San Diego's strength in life sciences industry.
I went to UCSD about 10 years ago, and have lived in the area since.
If we're talking about new faculty, who probably want to buy a house and may want to live near campus, I'd agree that UCSD's location is problematic financially. They seem to be able to attract solid faculty at least in engineering (the people I know), so they must be figuring this out somehow. Certainly some professors are living in small condos who would be living in big houses in the midwest…
However, most grad students while I was there managed well enough. If you don't have kids, and are OK with roommates, you can find places near campus or a short drive away (e.g. Pacific Beach) that are plenty affordable.
I don't really believe that any grad students avoid UCSD because of the cost of living - in a place where you'll only spend a few years and then probably leave.
If we're talking about new faculty, who probably want to buy a house and may want to live near campus, I'd agree that UCSD's location is problematic financially. They seem to be able to attract solid faculty at least in engineering (the people I know), so they must be figuring this out somehow. Certainly some professors are living in small condos who would be living in big houses in the midwest…
However, most grad students while I was there managed well enough. If you don't have kids, and are OK with roommates, you can find places near campus or a short drive away (e.g. Pacific Beach) that are plenty affordable.
I don't really believe that any grad students avoid UCSD because of the cost of living - in a place where you'll only spend a few years and then probably leave.
Amazingly enough, UCSB has a strong physics department. Shuji Nakamura there just won the Nobel Prize for inventing the blue LED.
UCSB does look like the Hollywood version of college. It's right on the ocean, there's an on campus surfing beach, and the students are very fit.
UCSB does look like the Hollywood version of college. It's right on the ocean, there's an on campus surfing beach, and the students are very fit.
You forgot its top party school status... UCSB was an all around awesome college experience.
UCSB has 3 Physics Nobel prizes, and 6 total laureates
http://www.ucsb.edu/nobel/
http://www.ucsb.edu/nobel/
The physicists have even better views then Computer Scientist's do, and it is hard to beat a research environment where this is your view: http://imgur.com/nA4gNcP.
More information about the institute and residence:
http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/a-billionaires-65-mil...
http://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/a-billionaires-65-mil...
A bit off topic, but Poor Charlie's Almanac by Munger is a great book.
Also recommend Seeking Wisdom From Darwin to Munger:
https://www.poorcharliesalmanack.com/seeking_wisdom.php
https://www.poorcharliesalmanack.com/seeking_wisdom.php
Came to recommend the same. The great thing is the book isn't built around a 'one neat trick' approach that so much financial literature takes, but instead tries to aid in building up useful mental models -- that just happen to be applicable to financial problems.
I've heard a lot of good things about it. What did you like about it?
I have it and it's great. At first you think it's just some arrogant old man who is full of himself rambling on, then you realize you're dealing with a genius, and you can't put it down. The thing that resonated with me is his multiple mental models approach to life. He basically feels that one just needs a basic college education and the ability to apply the most important concepts from each course in a combinatorial way, and that if you specialize too much, you're likely to make an error (to the man with a hammer, everything is a nail). Lots of other stuff on human error.
The Almanac also pointed me to "Influence" by Robert Cialdini, which is one of Munger's most highly recommended books.
That is the quickest summary I can give from my ipad
The Almanac also pointed me to "Influence" by Robert Cialdini, which is one of Munger's most highly recommended books.
That is the quickest summary I can give from my ipad
Munger and Buffet both have a remarkable set of experiences. My understanding of reading about both of them (and the book) is that they have a deep understanding of human nature, which is really remarkable. If you read stuff from them through their share holder letters and such, you'll find that they've been saying the same things for literally decades. Which means that they've figured out the core of human nature, figured out how to keep themselves sane and figured out how to lead a good life relatively early on. Besides Munger is very witty, and you crack up quite a bit reading the book.
i've probably watched every youtube interview, speech of both of them, and read most of the important articles and books (superinvestors graham doddsville, snowball, shareholders letters, on and on). this is a great summary of what i've gleaned from their wisdom as well. i couldn't say it any better
some of the earlier comments have already touched on the good points of the book. its a collection of essays and talks each on different topics. i liked it because Munger gives usable tools and sensible approaches to both aspects of life - personal and professional.
overall, Munger seems like a wise man who has lived a long fruitful life well beyond the vagaries of chance, so worth listening to.
overall, Munger seems like a wise man who has lived a long fruitful life well beyond the vagaries of chance, so worth listening to.
Doesn't look like either it or the Peter Bevelin book mentioned above are available on e-book :/
You don't want an e-book of this. Buy the physical copy and a highlighter. It's a bible for intelligent thought.
He should have donated it to Scott Sumner to set up the test NGDP futures market.
I guess Charlie sold NGDP short.
I guess Charlie sold NGDP short.
https://old.ycombinator.com/munger.html