Dr. Dobb's | Gene H. Golub, Numerical Analysis Pioneer, Dead at 75

Gene H. Golub, Numerical Analysis Pioneer, Dead at 75

Golub created an algorithm for computing the singular value decomposition

November 27, 2007
URL:http://drdobbs.com/gene-h-golub-numerical-analysis-pioneer/204204032

Gene H. Golub, a professor emeritus at Stanford University who helped found the university's Computer Science Department in the 1960s, died November 16 at Stanford Hospital, a few days after being diagnosed with leukemia. He was 75.

Golub was a pioneer in the field of numerical analysis, creating algorithms and software that allowed researchers to run engineering and science calculations on computers.

Earlier this year, Golub was nominated for the Turing Award, often described as the "Nobel Prize of computing." The nomination cited, among other accomplishments, his contributions to matrix computations, a subject with profound importance for solving complex problems such as predicting the weather, studying the stability of structures, and finding oil deposits.

"Our community has lost its foremost member," said Cleve Moler, another recognized leader in numerical analysis and the founder of MathWorks, a company that produces software for technical computing and design.

In 1964, Golub created an algorithm for computing what's known as the singular value decomposition, or SVD. The algorithm is used in a variety of applications, including search engines, signal processing, and data analysis. It is sometimes called the "Swiss Army knife" of numerical computation for its versatility.

"We'll always remember him as "Professor SVD," said Professor Michael Saunders, a Golub graduate student and later colleague and friend. Saunders listed numerical analysis terms that always will be associated with Golub: the QR method for least squares; SVD; generalized CG; separable least squares; total least squares; moments and quadrature.

"He was one of the people who nurtured the field and traveled around the world bringing people together as a catalyst," said Donald Knuth, computer science professor emeritus. With Charles Van Loan, Golub wrote one of the best-known textbooks in the field. A memorial website has been created at http://genehgolub.blogspot.com/.