From early 1990 until Andrew left for Caltech, I spent five years as a postdoc working with Andrew Lange on the US-Japanese collaborative satellite called the IRTS (Infrared Telescope in Space). Like many young, eager and aspiring Assistant Professors his ego and inner push was relentless, limitless, and directed against anything that was in his way, including students who did not perform to his standard, and tragically in the end against himself.
I had two to three conversations with Andrew on what he wanted to accomplish in life. One of these conversations I remember clearly, for it became shockingly clear to me that he had no greater plans for the future, except to be on the cutting edge of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) research and instrumentation; and second to “climb up” some kind of “ ladder” at “any” costs, to become a successful well respected academic, which he obviously did successfully to a certain extent.
In 1995, I went on from Berkeley first to JPL (for orbit corrections for the IRTS data), then on to ISAS (Japan) for more data-analysis, instrumentation work on HAWC/SOFIA at NASA/GSFC, then to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensor’s Directorate, as Chair of the AFRL nanotech working group, and most recently as Director of Research at NASA/ARC (which includes nanotech, advanced technologies, space technology, biophysics, solid-state physics, astrophysics, geophysics, earthquake precursor research, etc.). I mention this to contrast it to Andrew’s narrowly focused interests on the CMB.
Paul Richards (Andrew’s PhD thesis advisor and mentor) was quite proud of how Andrew was doing, though they often did have their rather sharp disagreements. As Andrew was leaving Berkeley, I got hold of Paul one day, and told him that he had created a human monster. With his typical smile Paul responded – and I quote Paul: “Andrew may be a jerk & abusive of people, but he is one of those people who’ll make it as a future ‘international star’ ”, which is true.
While it is dangerous to generalize, an interesting characteristic of many academics is (especially if a collaborative environment is not facilitated), how recklessly driven they are. This may include fighting to become the first author on a paper, or secure that grant. Andrew was much more extreme, as he had a fierce & cold underlying nature.
Andrew is the closest to an emotionally empty person I have ever met. Here is a typical example:
On the fourth floor of Le Conte Hall were also located the offices of Dr. Harry Bingham, Professor Emeritus, who mostly worked at Fermilab and Brookhaven National Laboratory. When Harry retired, he gave over 2,000 sqft of his lab-space to Andrew. Harry could have given it to anyone else, and Harry also allowed Andrew to use Harry’ secretary for free. I spent many hours with Harry, who always had a wonderful sense of humor, hiding the pain of his long-term illness, behind both his smile and the many stories that cheerful told, optimistic, even during the last months, weeks and days of his life.
While Andrew was on travel to Japan in late August 1994, I visited Harry one or two days before his peaceful death. I will never forget Harry’s optimism, and I feel still feel blessed and inspired. As Andrew returned a few days later, I was eager to tell him about Harry Bingham’s passing.
So as I met Andrew in his office, I said: “Andrew, I have some really sad news. Harry Bingham just passed away.” I will never forget Andrew Lange’s response: “What else is new?”
I had two to three conversations with Andrew on what he wanted to accomplish in life. One of these conversations I remember clearly, for it became shockingly clear to me that he had no greater plans for the future, except to be on the cutting edge of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) research and instrumentation; and second to “climb up” some kind of “ ladder” at “any” costs, to become a successful well respected academic, which he obviously did successfully to a certain extent.
In 1995, I went on from Berkeley first to JPL (for orbit corrections for the IRTS data), then on to ISAS (Japan) for more data-analysis, instrumentation work on HAWC/SOFIA at NASA/GSFC, then to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensor’s Directorate, as Chair of the AFRL nanotech working group, and most recently as Director of Research at NASA/ARC (which includes nanotech, advanced technologies, space technology, biophysics, solid-state physics, astrophysics, geophysics, earthquake precursor research, etc.). I mention this to contrast it to Andrew’s narrowly focused interests on the CMB.
Paul Richards (Andrew’s PhD thesis advisor and mentor) was quite proud of how Andrew was doing, though they often did have their rather sharp disagreements. As Andrew was leaving Berkeley, I got hold of Paul one day, and told him that he had created a human monster. With his typical smile Paul responded – and I quote Paul: “Andrew may be a jerk & abusive of people, but he is one of those people who’ll make it as a future ‘international star’ ”, which is true.
While it is dangerous to generalize, an interesting characteristic of many academics is (especially if a collaborative environment is not facilitated), how recklessly driven they are. This may include fighting to become the first author on a paper, or secure that grant. Andrew was much more extreme, as he had a fierce & cold underlying nature.
Andrew is the closest to an emotionally empty person I have ever met. Here is a typical example:
On the fourth floor of Le Conte Hall were also located the offices of Dr. Harry Bingham, Professor Emeritus, who mostly worked at Fermilab and Brookhaven National Laboratory. When Harry retired, he gave over 2,000 sqft of his lab-space to Andrew. Harry could have given it to anyone else, and Harry also allowed Andrew to use Harry’ secretary for free. I spent many hours with Harry, who always had a wonderful sense of humor, hiding the pain of his long-term illness, behind both his smile and the many stories that cheerful told, optimistic, even during the last months, weeks and days of his life.
While Andrew was on travel to Japan in late August 1994, I visited Harry one or two days before his peaceful death. I will never forget Harry’s optimism, and I feel still feel blessed and inspired. As Andrew returned a few days later, I was eager to tell him about Harry Bingham’s passing.
So as I met Andrew in his office, I said: “Andrew, I have some really sad news. Harry Bingham just passed away.” I will never forget Andrew Lange’s response: “What else is new?”
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Mino, We learn so much from the people we encounter in life. Funny how academic learning is often the least of it! Glad that you're doing well. Take care, Wendy
ReplyDeleteWhy did he commit suicide, any ideas. Also, he
ReplyDeletedied in 2010, not 2009.
To Anonymous:
ReplyDeletedate of death corrected. Thanks for pointing this out.
"Why did he commit suicide?" I am arguably a sharp observer, but I do not speculate. I reported what I saw... as for the motive you need to get to talk to people realy close to him in the last few months of his life, maybe Jamie Bock.
To Wendy:
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more!!
I have been incredibly touched by so many people along my current journey, and learned more about faith, compassion, humanity, and to shed tears of joy, deep thanks, BUT I have also seen greed along the was, sheer incompetence at Columbia by one of the nurses (which got me almost killed), not to mention fraud (OK – is fraud or being killed more of a problem – I am talking about my LIFE her – thank you very much.) I had the opportunity to compare Jeff Bruce, MD at Columbia Univ., and Andy Parsa, MD at UCSF, respectively, I believe without a doubt that teacher and student are the best neurosurgeons for gliomas in the US.