Dear UT Community,
It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Professor John B. Goodenough at age 100.
John has been a staple at The University of Texas at Austin, serving as a faculty member in the Cockrell School of Engineering for close to four decades. He will forever be known around the world for his lithium-ion battery discoveries that led to the wireless revolution and put electronic devices in the hands of billions of people. This work earned him the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry (which was a long time coming).
John’s remarkable career at UT Austin began in 1986 at the age of 64. When most of us would be winding down, he was just getting started. John continued to come to work in his lab daily well into his late 90s, living one of his most frequent pieces of advice: Don’t retire early, if ever.
John’s legacy is a shining example of advancing our research and teaching mission, and his contributions to battery science and engineering will be felt far into the future. But his impact goes far beyond those remarkable achievements. He was dedicated to teaching and mentoring multiple generations of students. Many of those students have gone on to make important discoveries in batteries and other scientific and engineering achievements.
He was an early adopter of interdisciplinary research, working closely throughout his career with scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines. This type of work—crossing boundaries of specialties—is now a hallmark of our research philosophy at UT Austin.
Last summer, we had the privilege of celebrating John’s 100th birthday. It was a wonderful illustration of his impact on the engineering community, bringing together battery experts from around the world—many of whom studied under John—for a spirited symposium.
John’s presence has always loomed large. His booming laugh could be heard bellowing throughout the Cockrell School for decades. You always knew when he was on your floor.
As dean of the Cockrell School in 2019, I had the honor of traveling with the UT delegation to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm. At every event he was greeted warmly with long lines of people who wanted to engage, talk to him and learn from him. It was wonderful to see this outpouring of appreciation for John and his many engineering discoveries.
John will remain a giant in the engineering community, a pillar of the Cockrell School and a legendary Longhorn. Our hearts are with the Goodenough family, his close friends and those who were inspired by his extraordinary life and legacy.
Sincerely,
Sharon L. Wood
Executive Vice President and Provost