Mehrdad Mansouri
What publication are you most proud of?
I am not particularly proud of any of my own publications. But if I can choose one on behalf of humanity, it would be Gödel’s On Formally Undecidable Propositions. It is remarkable that we managed to use logic to prove the limits of logic itself. Few papers say as much about both the power and limitations of human thought.
What’s the most important take home message from your course?
The main thing I want students to learn is how to approach unfamiliar problems. Specific methods and tools will change, but the ability to break down a problem, question assumptions, test ideas and explain your reasoning clearly will always be useful.
If you could go back in time, what bit of advice would you give to yourself as a student?
Learn to be comfortable with not understanding something immediately. Confusion is often the beginning of real learning, not a sign that something has gone wrong. Stay with difficult ideas for longer, and ask questions sooner. Understanding rarely comes all at once.
Who would play you in the biopic of your life?
