| November 28, 2005 Vol.
77, no. 13F
 |
| CS professor Richard Fateman received a B.S. in physics
and mathematics from Union
College in 1966, and a Ph.D.
in applied mathematics from
Harvard University in 1971.
He taught mathematics at
MIT from 1971 to 1974, and
then joined Berkeley's computer science faculty. His
interests include scientific
computing, programming
environments, systems, languages and compilers.
(Photo Credit: Peg Skorpinski)
|
Professor
Minute with EECS professor Richard Fateman
What first inspired
you to go into engineering?
I was fascinated by the possibilities of what could be done with computers and programming languages since taking a course (in high school) in 1963. In college, I studied physics and thought that engineers drove trains. I learned (in grad school) that wasn't usually the case, and that engineers also did computer stuff.
Whom do you most admire?
Richard Feynman. Not only does his name resemble mine, but he was quite clever and got away with a lot of neat tricks during his life. He also received a Nobel prize and apparently was an expert on the bongo drums.
If you had a few extra hours, what would you do?
I have always had a hobby or two; I spend some time taking photographs, especially when traveling (on film but recently with digital cameras), I have a greenhouse filled primarily with Bromeliads and some orchids. I also read and fiddle with computers for fun.
What should engineering students make sure they do at Berkeley before they graduate?
Try to talk with some professors one-on-one. Overcome shyness. Learn to write well. Absorb some of the wealth of knowledge at UCB outside engineering.
What is one thing you would like to learn how to do?
Ice skate. Speak Chinese. Oops, that's two. Play the violin? That's three. How about, the one thing I would like to learn how to do is to learn how to do three things. Or does that make four? Who makes up these questions, anyway? Could I ask to grow wings and learn how to fly? That would be really neat.
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to feature your favorite professor, please e-mail his or her name to
engnews@coe.berkeley.edu.
|
