Robert May, 1936–2020: A man for all disciplines

Abstract

Robert (Bob) May, Baron May of Oxford, a long-time International Member of the National Academy of Sciences, passed away on April 28, 2020, in Oxford, United Kingdom, from “frailties of old age, Alzheimer's disease, and pneumonia,” at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife Judith, his daughter Nome, and legions of students and colleagues. Across six decades, Bob had a transformative impact on myriad fields: mathematical biology, ecology, epidemiology, public policy, and finance. His intellect, sense of loyalty to colleagues and students, and commitment to humanity made him a towering giant in science and science policy. Robert M. May, c. 2004. Image credit: Royal Society/Laurence Bulaitis. Bob May was born in Sydney, Australia, where his talents as a mathematician were evident from an early age. Bob was trained in theoretical physics at the University of Sydney by the distinguished physicist Robbie Schafroth, receiving his PhD at 24 years old for his work on bosons and superconductivity. Nonetheless, May traced his good luck in mentorships back to his high school chemistry teacher Lenny Basser and was always quick to give accolades to the many influences on his development, from teachers and colleagues alike. For those who knew him, it was clear that he made it a point to pay forward this debt through his investment in his own students and others. After a postdoctoral stint with Max Krook at Harvard University—during which he met his future wife, Judith—Bob accepted a faculty position at the University of Sydney, and within a few years had risen to one of the first “Personal Professorships” at the university. In his early work, he focused on problems in plasma physics and related fields and quickly rose to prominence. However, soon after, concerned for the fate of the planet and feeling he had a … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: slevin{at}princeton.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1