…it is with great sadness that I report that Jack Eddy passed away yesterday.
– Dr. Leif Svalgaard in comments today
“My reasons for taking this less-traveled road were many. One is the inevitable thrill of discovery when you wander into new areas. More importantly, you also avoid the danger of being too comfortable in too narrow a niche. I truly believe the sayings that there is no hope for the satisfied man and that without fear there is no learning. Entering a new field with a degree in another is not unlike Lewis and Clark walking into the camp of the Mandans. You are not one of them. They distrust you. Your degree means nothing and your name is not recognized. You have to learn it all from scratch, earn their respect, and learn a lot on your own. But I also think that many of the most significant disc
overies in science will be found not in but between the rigid boundaries of the disciplines: the terra incognita where much remains to be learned. It’s not a place that’s hidebound by practice and ritual. I have always tried to keep moving between fields of study.” — Jack Eddy, 1999. Click here to view full text of Eddy interview
I didn’t know Jack Eddy personally, I knew of his work (the Maunder Minimum ) in 1978 before I knew he was the man behind it.
I think I speak for the entire WUWT community when I say that we have lost a man whom was true to his craft, careful in his outlook, and courageous in his challenge of the solar consensus of the 1970’s. The WUWT community, offers our sincerest condolences to the Eddy family and to his friend, Dr. Leif Svalgaard. – Anthony
Tributes can be left in comments.
UPDATE:
An online petition has been started to name the next solar minimum per Leif’s suggestion in comments:
Nearly 200 signatures so far.
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We are indebted to Jack Eddy’s attitude. More power to people like him.
Many of us had no chance to know you Jack, but from the few words shown here it must have been a privilege for those who did. The rest of us are just grateful that his work was so enlightening.
Just exactly the reason that if this current min sun activity turns out to be a true minimum.. it should be the Eddy Minimum. Gore should be forgotten.
In that interview, he seemed to be a man still humbled and in awe of the first step in the scientific process. Observation. It is a rare scientist, one with books and papers listed in a pages long bibliography, who still believes that there is more to discover. No wonder Leif liked him.
A man who is willing and able to look beyond and above the herd mentality is indeed a gift to humanity. He will be greatly missed.
Jack Eddy, unpresumptuous genius.
Sad to hear of this loss. I wonder who will now be able to stop Al Gore and the IPCC from inconveniently erasing the Maunder Minimum and the LIA from the climate record (As one postie stated, Leif Svalgaard matybe, nothing much changes unless someone dies)?
I repeat and endorse Ian Cooper’s words: Many of us had no chance to know you Jack, but from the few words shown here it must have been a privilege for those who did.
Further… those few words Anthony quotes from Jack Eddy are both inspiring and humbling. May history make note of this man’s contribution to knowledge, and place on record his wisdom.
sorry Leif.
Tim
A true scientist has passed on. The world should mourn. I do.
RIP.
I shall raise a glass in tribute.
That excerpt is spot on, in my opinion ! This man understood fundamentals that few too scientists ever stop to even ponder.
Condolences to the Eddy family and his close associates !
pkatt (21:11:22) :
it should be the Eddy Minimum.
At the Solar Physics Division [of the American Astronomical Society] next week in Boulder, CO, I’ll formally request that if a significant solar minimum materializes that it be called the ‘Eddy Minimum’.
This humble man of science and astute observer of mankind will be missed. From the interview……..
” I still believe that to some extent, for there is a hypnotism about cycles that seems to attract people. It draws all kinds of creatures out of the woodwork. “
I never got to meet Eddy, but I have met you, Leif, and an honor it was.
Count me in for the “Eddy Minimum” too.
It’s a great way to honor your good friend, Jack Eddy.
A man of Truth.
Rest in peace.
“Jack Eddy, unpresumptuous genius.” I completely agree, Nassif.
Thank you for this recognition of Eddy, including the wonderful quote about moving between disciplines. I’ve never seen anything else about him, so Spencer Weart deserves our gratitude for a collegial insight into Eddy. He seems both warm and candid with his former student. That’s a trick in itself. I hope other aspects of his life, perhaps from readers here, become public in addition to this interview.
< Just exactly the reason that if this current min sun
< activity turns out to be a true minimum.. it should
< be the Eddy Minimum. Gore should be forgotten.
I completely agree.
The greatest gift to science are those few extra ordinary people able to look beyond and challenge the comfort zone prejudices that all areas of endevour suffer from.
The boundaries of science are in fact only really moved forward by rebels who rail against the prevailing logic, those few who can see past the widely accepted dogma and have the courage and self belief to explore beyond the confines of widely accepted beliefs.
From plate tectonics to the age of the earth rebels have pushed aside the old theories by sheer determination and force of will, the old does not and never have and never will move willingly aside for the new, it must be bulldozed aside by sheer effort and endevour and that is how it should be, it should be welcomed and helped yet the new is always derided and scoffed at by the old established belief systems and the more powerful the consensus the harder it is to push the old aside yet it does happen often and the new becomes the accepted then turns into the old, its almost as if scientific theories have a human type life span.
The old certainties are so sure they are right, so much time invested in them and the power of those who cling to them ensure that the new always has a difficult time in replacing them and yet pehaps that is how it should be,
like a form of natural selection?
Dr. Eddy will be honored with a toast and will always be remembered. My humble condolences to his family, friends and co-workers. I also am in favour of “The Eddy Minimum”.
BTW, anywone visiting Boulder in June should definitely take raingear and explore one of the open – space trails above the Chatauqua Auditorium. Take an alpine flower book.
Condolences to his family and friends.
A true man of science and humanity. RIP Jack Eddy.
As I read the rest of the interview I came to see in Eddy a very polite and humble man with a towering integrity. This type of integrity should absolutely be celebrated. Condolences to all who called this man a friend or a loved one. Your loss is also the world’s loss.
The Eddy Minimum is an appropriate memorial to the man and his work.
I heard about the Maunder Minimum long before I heard anything about AGW, so I have been a skeptic for quite some time. For this I owe thanks to Jack Eddy. It is sad he is not with us so see the full development of cycle 24 and it’s implications for solar science.
In reading the transcript of Spencer Weart’s article with his old professor, I am rather struck that, though a “hard scientist”, Jack Eddy represented the essence of what we mean by “liberal arts”: a recognition that knowledge doesn’t end at the borders of our discipline. We are the richer for it.
By all means, Leif, the Eddy Minimum.
A very generous man, and loved by all. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Thank you Dr. Svalgaard for requesting to name this current minimum after Jack.