Ideas and Mathematical tools

IEEE Medal of Honor for the year 2007 goes to Prof. Thomas Kailath for "exceptional development of powerful algorithms in the fields of communications, computing, control and signal processing".

How can one work and contribute at highest level in so many varied fields? What is his recipe for success?

Before we discuss that aspect, here is the link to article in IEEE Spectrum on Kailath and his achievements. I will summarize the article here for the sake of readers' convenience (also I find it easier for this discussion that way):

• His doctoral research was on the detection of random signals in noise.
  
  
• He worked out a theory for using a separate feedback channel to provide information about noise in a communications channel and adapt the incoming signals to move through the noise. (That work has yet to find practical application).
  
  
• He was involved in developing computer algorithms for the systematic design of special-purpose chips.
  
  
• He laid the groundwork for what came to be called the Esprit algorithm, which is now used in military surveillance.
  
  
• His team developed spatial multiplexing in MIMO antenna systems, which is now used in Wi-Fi, WiMax.
  
  
• He calculated exactly how fast you could heat and cool a wafer as part of the semiconductor manufacturing process, without warping it.
  
  
• He determined an efficient way to calculate how much a mask used for etching the circuits on a microchip needs to be distorted to compensate for the distortion of the optical system that focuses the etching beam.
   

He didn't seem destined for a technical career, he so dreaded the math classes, until when his scary math teacher introduced the class to geometry, for the first time, he realized that math could be engaging. And the rest as they say is history. He was to become the first India-born student, to earn a doctorate in electrical engineering from MIT.

• In the 1960s, he focused on communications. 
• In the 70s, he turned to control theory. 
• In the 80s it was antenna arrays and VLSI chips. 
• And in the 90s, it was semiconductor manufacturing.

So what research area would he be plunging into now if he were launching a fifth phase of his career? He just says 'Biotechnology'. Well, it seems his first job was counting seeds in a seed-packing facility in India!

So coming back to our question.. how can one work and contribute in so many disparate fields and excel at the highest level all at the same time..?

Well after reading this article, I feel that to excel in such diverse fields it is as important being excellent at fundamentals, mathematical tools, techniques as being able to come up with new ideas, intuitiveness and adept at visualizing concepts. Just excelling at one might not be sufficient to achieve great heights. It is like Science and Religion. Quoting Einstein.. "Science without Religion is blind and Religion without Science is lame". I feel like wise for intuition / ideas and mathematical tools.

What do you feel.. do share your thoughts..!