Key Takeaways
- • The New York Academy of Sciences announced the death of former Board member James "Jim" Simons, who was 86 years old.
- • Simons founded Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund that pioneered quantitative trading and became one of the most profitable investment firms in history.
- • Simons served on the Academy's Board of Governors from 1998 to 2001 and was a longtime benefactor of its efforts to promote science for the public good.
- • Simons and his wife established the Simons Foundation to advance scientific and mathematical research, with support linked to breakthroughs in autism, cosmology, cellular biology and computational science.
Summary
The New York Academy of Sciences said it was saddened by the passing of James "Jim" Simons, a former Board member and longtime supporter of the Academy. Simons was 86 years old, according to the Academy's blog post published May 10, 2024, written by digital content manager Nick Fetty.
The Academy described Simons as an award-winning mathematician, a legend in quantitative investing and an inspired and generous philanthropist. Earlier in his career he founded Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund that pioneered quantitative trading and is widely regarded as one of the most profitable investment firms in history. He had also previously chaired the mathematics department at Stony Brook University in New York.
Simons and his wife established the Simons Foundation to promote scientific and mathematical research. The Academy said their support led to breakthroughs in the understanding of autism, the origins of the universe, cellular biology and computational science. He served on the Academy's Board of Governors from 1998 to 2001 and remained a longtime benefactor of its efforts to promote science for the public good.
The Academy described Simons as an award-winning mathematician, a legend in quantitative investing and an inspired and generous philanthropist. Earlier in his career he founded Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund that pioneered quantitative trading and is widely regarded as one of the most profitable investment firms in history. He had also previously chaired the mathematics department at Stony Brook University in New York.
Simons and his wife established the Simons Foundation to promote scientific and mathematical research. The Academy said their support led to breakthroughs in the understanding of autism, the origins of the universe, cellular biology and computational science. He served on the Academy's Board of Governors from 1998 to 2001 and remained a longtime benefactor of its efforts to promote science for the public good.
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