Joannopoulos was a prolific researcher in the field of theoretical condensed-matter physics, and an early pioneer in the study and application of photonic crystals. Many of his discoveries, in the ways materials can be made to manipulate light, have led to transformative and life-saving technologies, from chip-based optical wave guides, to wireless energy transfer to health-monitoring textiles, to precision light-based surgical tools. His remarkable career of over 50 years was spent entirely at MIT, where he was known as much for his generous and unwavering mentorship as for his contributions to science. He made a special point to keep up rich and meaningful collaborations with many of his former students and postdocs, dozens of whom have gone on to faculty positions at major universities, and to leadership roles in the public and private sectors. In his five decades at MIT, he made lasting connections across campus, both in service of science, and friendship. 'A scientific giant,...
learn more
