# David J. C. MacKay

> Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge (1967-2016)

**Wikidata**: [Q446862](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q446862)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_J._C._MacKay)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/david-j-c-mackay

## Summary
David J. C. MacKay (David John Cameron MacKay) was a British physicist, computer scientist, mathematician, and professor who worked at the University of Cambridge. He served as Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (2009). He is also associated with the development of the computer accessibility tool Dasher.

## Biography
- Born: 1967-04-22 (Stoke-on-Trent)
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Education: Trinity College (University of Cambridge); California Institute of Technology; Newcastle-under-Lyme School
- Known for: Work in physics, computer science, and engineering; associated with the accessibility tool Dasher
- Employer(s): University of Cambridge
- Field(s): Physics; computer science; mathematics; engineering; university teaching

## Contributions
David J. C. MacKay’s documented contributions in the provided sources include academic leadership, research training, and software-related development. He held a senior academic role at the University of Cambridge, serving as Regius Professor of Engineering, and was employed by the University of Cambridge. His research lineage includes doctoral supervision under John Hopfield and supervision of multiple doctoral students, including Oliver Stegle, Hanna M. Wallach, Ryan Adams, Christian Steinruecken, Philipp Hennig, and Carl Scheffler.  

MacKay is also linked to the creation/development of **Dasher**, described in the sources as a “computer accessibility tool.” In addition to his academic and technical work, he received major professional recognition: he was elected **Fellow of the Royal Society** (point in time: 2009; award date qualifier: 2009-05-15), and he received honors including **Knight Bachelor**, **Fulbright Scholarship**, **Fellow of the Institute of Physics**, and the **Maxwell Lecture** (point in time: 2014). His career and outputs are widely cataloged across library and scholarly authority systems (e.g., VIAF, ISNI, GND, Scopus, DBLP), reflecting broad dissemination and indexing of his work.

## FAQs
### Q: Who was David J. C. MacKay?
A: David J. C. MacKay was a British physicist, computer scientist, mathematician, and professor employed by the University of Cambridge. He served as Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009.

### Q: What was David J. C. MacKay affiliated with?
A: He was employed by the University of Cambridge. He was also educated at Trinity College (University of Cambridge) and the California Institute of Technology.

### Q: What is David J. C. MacKay known for building or developing?
A: The provided sources associate him with **Dasher**, described as a computer accessibility tool. The sources also document his role in training researchers through doctoral supervision.

### Q: What awards and honors did David J. C. MacKay receive?
A: The sources list honors including Fellow of the Royal Society (2009), Knight Bachelor, Fulbright Scholarship, Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and the Maxwell Lecture (2014).

### Q: How did David J. C. MacKay die?
A: The sources state that his cause of death was stomach cancer. His death date is given as 2016-04-14, and his death place as Cambridge.

## Why They Matter
David J. C. MacKay matters for his combined impact as a senior academic leader, a cross-disciplinary scientist (physics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering), and a contributor to practical computing tools. His appointment as **Regius Professor of Engineering** at the University of Cambridge places him among the most senior figures in UK engineering academia, and his election as a **Fellow of the Royal Society (2009)** signals high scientific distinction recognized by one of the UK’s leading scientific institutions.  

His influence also extends through mentorship and academic lineage. Supervised by **John Hopfield** and later serving as doctoral supervisor to researchers including **Hanna M. Wallach**, **Ryan Adams**, **Philipp Hennig**, and others, MacKay contributed to the development of future scientists and educators. In applied computing, his association with **Dasher** connects him to accessibility-focused technology, reflecting an orientation toward real-world impact beyond purely theoretical work. Without figures who combine high-level academic leadership, recognized scientific standing, and the training of new researchers, the continuity and growth of research communities—and the translation of ideas into usable tools—would be diminished.

## Notable For
- Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge
- Fellow of the Royal Society (elected 2009; award date qualifier: 2009-05-15)
- Associated with development of **Dasher** (computer accessibility tool)
- Knight Bachelor (honor listed in sources)
- Delivered the Maxwell Lecture (point in time: 2014)

## Body
### Identity and Names
- Full name (alias set includes): **David John Cameron MacKay**
- Common forms (aliases include): David J. C. MacKay; David J.C. MacKay; David J MacKay; D J C MacKay; Sir David John Cameron MacKay; Professor Sir David John Cameron MacKay
- Sex or gender: male
- Language listed: English

### Life Events
- Birth:
  - Date: 1967-04-22
  - Place: Stoke-on-Trent
- Death:
  - Date: 2016-04-14
  - Place: Cambridge
  - Cause: stomach cancer
  - Manner of death: natural causes

### Fields and Occupations
- Occupations listed in sources:
  - Physicist
  - Computer scientist
  - Mathematician
  - Professor
  - University teacher
- Nationality / citizenship: United Kingdom

### Education and Training
- Educated at:
  - Trinity College (University of Cambridge)
  - California Institute of Technology
  - Newcastle-under-Lyme School
- Doctoral advisor:
  - John Hopfield

### Academic and Professional Roles
- Employer:
  - University of Cambridge
- Noted role/description:
  - Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge

### Students and Academic Lineage
- Doctoral students listed:
  - Oliver Stegle
  - Hanna M. Wallach
  - Ryan Adams
  - Christian Steinruecken
  - Philipp Hennig
  - Carl Scheffler

### Recognitions and Honors
- Member of:
  - Royal Society (point in time: 2009)
- Awards/honors listed:
  - Fellow of the Royal Society (2009; award date qualifier: 2009-05-15)
  - Knight Bachelor
  - Fulbright Scholarship
  - Fellow of the Institute of Physics
  - Maxwell Lecture (point in time: 2014)

### Tools and Development
- Created / developed by (associated work):
  - **Dasher** (computer accessibility tool)

### Identifiers and Authority Records
- ISNI: 0000000124231901
- VIAF: 72445077; 164334960
- GND: 173311342
- ORG/academic and catalog identifiers (selected from sources):
  - DBLP author id: 96/3790
  - Scopus author id: 7402243706
  - Open Library: OL7167291A
  - Mathematics Genealogy Project id: 122241
  - Oxford DNB id: 111695
- Image (source URL provided):
  - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/David_John_Cameron_MacKay_by_David_Stern.jpg

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## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. datos.bne.es
3. [Source](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12633622)
4. [Source](https://www.ted.com/speakers/david_mackay)
5. [Source](https://www.ted.com/talks/david_mackay_a_reality_check_on_renewables?language=es)
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. Mathematics Genealogy Project
8. general catalog of BnF
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. [Source](http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2454762/acclaimed-expert-on-energy-and-engineering-sir-david-mackay-dies-aged-48)
12. [Source](http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay/bio.html)
13. [Source](http://authors.library.caltech.edu/6938/1/MCEieeejstc98.pdf)
14. [Source](http://reu.dimacs.rutgers.edu/~alexo/belief.pdf)
15. IdRef
16. [Source](http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/10069)
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. Autoritats UB