Live data from Hacker News

Patrick Winston has died

news.mit.edu

51–60 of 86 posts

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#51

Many years ago, My TA in 6.034 for some reason gave me a C for the semester. This made no sense because I was 80% sure I was supposed to get an A. I was hesitant to get in touch with the head TA for the class because I wasn't the sort of student to complain about a grade, but I did it anyway. He told me to come in and talk to PHW himself. I came in and he asked me why my TA would give me a C and I told him I had no i…

[deleted]

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#52
Proudly say that his was the only class I voluntarily attended during my time at MIT even when I didn't have to. Still remember how simple he made everything. It was about learning and not about taking tests. RIP

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#53
In January of 2016, I wept because Minsky died and because PHW lost someone who meant so much to him.

Today, I can't sleep because I can't stop crying.

RIP PHW.

Thanks for delivering on your 6.034 empowerment promise, and thank you for being the inspiration and a reason to continue onward in my mission.

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#54
He was a wonderful man. I took 6.xxx with him and liked it so much that I started attending his group meetings and eventually asked him to be part of my thesis committee.

Some of the best mentoring I have received on the inner workings of academia came from Patrick. A great example: his theory of presentations, where he had a wonderful template: Vision, Step and News, i.e., the grand theory of your research, the concrete steps you're taking in the next year or so and the latest findings. He gave me that advice two days before my defense and it worked like a charm.

A great teacher, a great mentor and a great human being. I will miss him.

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#56
In January of 2016, I wept because we lost Minsky and because PHW lost Minsky.

Today, I weep because we lost PHW and because I lost PHW.

RIP PHW

Thank you for delivering on 6.034's empowerment promise.

My mission remains the same, but I can no longer hope to show you its results.

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#57
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> He asked me if I came into recitation, I said yes. He asked me if I participated in recitation and I said yes. Non native English speaker here. What does "came in to recitation" mean. Recitation is the act of repeating something. What was the Recitation about and how can you go in to recitation. Could you please explain ?

A “recitation” session is generally a regularly scheduled classroom session that is not led by the professor or lecturer but by a teaching assistant (TA). These are along the same lines as a “lab” sessions used alongside Chemistry or Physics lectures.

May be it is an Americanism, never heard of the word used in that manner before(as a non American).

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#58
Patrick Winston was one of the last of the old-guard of MIT -- the type of professor who genuinely cared about students, acted with integrity, scientific progress, and was the soul of the old Institute.

A few remain, but not many.

I'm deeply saddened by each loss. The soul of the Institute dies a little bit more each time.

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#59

i wonder what it must feel like at mit with two of its titans gone (minksy and winston). are there others stepping in their place? abelson and sussman are still there. in a world where machine learning has taken over "ai", it doesn't feel there are many left who have the ability and interest in researching general artificial intelligence.

They are there, but they're largely marginalized by the newcomers. I think the deeper problems -- than ML taking over AI -- is the commitment to students, to scientific integrity, and to substance over hype and self-promotion.

Re: Patrick Winston has died

#60
Winston was always a pleasure to meet. He had asked his students to send him a postcard when they would visit places. I sent him postcards for the first few years after MIT. He was always enthusiastic and warm, and respectful.

VSNC, Star - Story, Slogan, Salient, Surprise, Symbol

Post reply on HN