John C. Baez

John C. Baez

John Carlos Baez (born June 12, 1961) is an American mathematical physicist and a professor of mathematics at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in Riverside, California. He is known for his work on spin foams in loop quantum gravity. More recently, his research has focused on applications of higher categories to physics. On January 14, 2010 Baez announced that he is leaving categorical mathematical physics. He said "I want to shift the focus of my research away from fancy abstract n-categorical math to slightly more practical things. My job at the CQT (Centre for Quantum Technologies) will give me a chance to explore computer science, microtraps, and quantum optics. What I really want to do is help save our beleaguered planet."

Baez is also known to science fans as the author of This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics, an irregular column on the internet featuring mathematical exposition and criticism. He started This Week's Finds in 1993 for the Usenet community, and it now has a worldwide following in its new form, the blog "Azimuth". This Week's Finds anticipated the concept of a personal weblog. Additionally, Baez is known on the World Wide Web as the author of the crackpot index.