Ed Lorenz, a founder of chaos theory, also developed revolutionary ideas about the energetics of stratified, rotating fluids and made important contributions to the understanding of atmospheric dynamics and weather prediction. He was on the faculty of MIT from 1955 to his retirement in 1988. Through his profound contributions to science as well as his quiet demeanor, gentle humility, and love of nature, he set a compelling example of what it means to be a gentleman and a scholar.

Image Lorenz copy.jpg

To learn more, please see:

  • Kerry Emanuel’s biography of Ed Lorenz for the National Academy of Sciences here.

  • A list of Ed Lorenz's publications, including autobiographical works and his famous 1963 paper Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow (copyrighted material unavailable for distribution).

  • A short documentary on the indelible mark made by Lorenz and his close friend and collaborator Jule Charney on MIT and the field of meteorology as a whole.

  • MIT's Technology Review's 2011 article about how Lorenz's ground-breaking research on chaos overthrew the idea of the clockwork universe, and how nearly every field of science since has been affected.

  • Physics Today's May 2013 issue Chaos at 50,  a 50-year anniversary celebration of one of the great scientific revolutions of the 20th century.

Ed Lorenz, 1956

Ed Lorenz, 1956

Lorenz hiking in the Flatirons near Boulder, Colorado, with Jim Fullmer, PhD ’79, in the 1970s

Lorenz hiking in the Flatirons near Boulder, Colorado, with Jim Fullmer, PhD ’79, in the 1970s

A plot of the Lorenz attractor for the value r = 28, s = 10, b = 8/3.

A plot of the Lorenz attractor for the value r = 28, s = 10, b = 8/3.

“Fast Eddy” and the MIT Meteorology Department’s softball team, 1979.

“Fast Eddy” and the MIT Meteorology Department’s softball team, 1979.

“Fast Eddy” and his teammates, 1979.

“Fast Eddy” and his teammates, 1979.

Edward Lorenz and his wife, Jane, on Cape Cod.

Edward Lorenz and his wife, Jane, on Cape Cod.

Lorenz hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in November 2004

Lorenz hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in November 2004

Lorenz hiking in November 2003 at Mt. Battie in Camden, Maine.

Lorenz hiking in November 2003 at Mt. Battie in Camden, Maine.

Lorenz hiking in November 2003 at Mt. Battie in Camden, Maine.

Lorenz hiking in November 2003 at Mt. Battie in Camden, Maine.

Professor Lorenz presented an annual guest lecture to the Nonlinear Dynamics I: Chaos class. Here, he gives such a presentation in the Fall of 2005.

Professor Lorenz presented an annual guest lecture to the Nonlinear Dynamics I: Chaos class. Here, he gives such a presentation in the Fall of 2005.

During his 2005 guest lecture, Professor Lorenz discussed the behavior of one of the first systems that led him toward a lifelong study of chaos. Here, he discusses some of the signals that the system displayed before entering the regime of non-linea

During his 2005 guest lecture, Professor Lorenz discussed the behavior of one of the first systems that led him toward a lifelong study of chaos. Here, he discusses some of the signals that the system displayed before entering the regime of non-linear, chaotic behavior.

Edward Lorenz, 1917-2008.

Edward Lorenz, 1917-2008.

 Photos courtesy of the MIT Museum; Wikimedia Commons; courtesy of Jim Fullmer, PhD ’79; Kerry Emanuel; MIT News Office photo; Omari Stephens ’08/The Tech.