About 1960, it became clear that it was best for me to bring the experimental part of my research program to a close - there was too much to do on the theoretical aspects - and I began the process of winding down the experiments.

Being exposed to theory, stimulated by a basic love of concepts and mathematics, was a marvelous experience.

During my McGill years, I took a number of math courses, more than other students in chemistry.

My life as a working theorist began three months after this preliminary study and background reading, when Oscar gently nudged me toward working on a particular problem.

My interest in the sciences started with mathematics in the very beginning, and later with chemistry in early high school and the proverbial home chemistry set.

After some minor pieces of theoretical study that I worked on, a student in my statistical mechanics class brought to my attention a problem in polyelectrolytes.

Life would be indeed easier if the experimentalists would only pause for a little while!