Manfred Kochen

Life

1928-1989Educ

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Worked at: Institute for Advanced Study; IBM; and University of Michigan

Education

B.S. Physics (1950) MIT; M.A. (1951) and Ph.d. (1955), Physics, Columbia University.

Contributions

Worked on the Neumann computer project at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, 1953-55; research mathematician, IBM, 1955-1964; Univ. of Michigan, 1965-1989. Consultant to a wide variety of scientific organizations.

Kochen believed that "authoritative, accurate, easy to access, and easy to understand information could some day be provided to anyone who sought it on almost any topic of interest. He saw collaboration as the key to solving many large problems--in this saw an opportunity for efficient and effective communication by personal networking, avoiding the slow established organizational channels that often separate us" (In Memoriam).

At IBM, he analyzed information needs of scientists and also studied and evaluated information systems. He was professor of information science in the University of Michigan Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI) from 1965 until his death in 1989. Kochen wrote more than 8 books and numerous articles relating to information science, including Information for Action and The Growth of Knowledge.

Additional Information

For additional biographical information see: Garfield, E. (1989), Manfred Kochen: In memory of an Information Scientist Pioneer qua World Brainist. Current Comments, No. 25, June 19, 1989. Online copy at: http://garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/v12p166y1989.pdf

A bibliometric evaluation of his work is: Lancaster, F.W. Bushur, S. & Low, Y.M. (1993), "Kochen's influence examined bibliometrically." Library Trends, Spring93, Vol. 41, p549- 566; 18p,1993, 18p

Also: DeBeer, C.S. & Roux, P.J.A. "Manfred Kochen and the growth, integration, and fragmentation of knowledge." South African Journal of Library & Information Science, September 1993, Vol. 61, p101- 108; 8p,1993, 8p

Papers

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Includes: Only limited information in the IBM Archives. See separate IBM entry.

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