Today, when we honor an inspired and inspiring human being, I am grateful for the opportunity to pay my own tribute to Judea Pearl on his 90th birthday.
Dear Judea: We have much to celebrate about you and much to learn from you.
As we all know, Judea is one of UCLA’s superstar scientists, thinkers and writers. He is, above all, a master of conversation. It is a skill that we sometimes take for granted. After all, conversation is something we do every day. And yet, in many ways, it is an art that we, as a society, have let fade away:
The ability to not just talk, but connect — show people who we really are and what we really care about, even when it makes us vulnerable.
The ability not just to hear, but listen — receive what people have to give us with humility and grace, and understand the beauty and hope that often lie beneath the words we use.
Conversation is the cornerstone of education. And that’s especially true at UCLA. Without it, we could not begin to fulfill our stated mission to advance “the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society.”
Judea has spent a lifetime in conversation with life’s most difficult questions. And in doing so, he has been a living testament to what higher learning makes possible.
And today, I would like to touch on three of those conversations and why they mean so much to me.
The first is the dialogue he has created through his award-winning research, exploring some of the most complex questions in science and mathematics.
He is a pioneer of probability and a connoisseur of causality. He has ushered in new ways to turn uncertainty into understanding.
And he has laid the groundwork for modern AI, which is perhaps the most significant innovation of our lifetime, informing how we think about the capabilities, modalities, and ethical complexities of this technology.
Like every good conversation, Judea’s work has helped us connect the dots. His breakthroughs extend well beyond the field of computer science — they have revolutionized the social sciences, statistics and medicine as well. And by engaging with the philosophy of science, Judea has shown us how to ask tough questions and remain open-minded about the answers.
Judea has made UCLA a world-renowned home for scientific inquiry and knowledge pursuit. He has inspired countless students, faculty and staff — not just on our campus, but also in classrooms, labs and research centers around the world.
Second, Judea has also grappled with some of the most contentious questions about Jewish identity.
For decades, he has come to the table ready to debate, to defend, and to dialogue. And he has shown us that we can argue our differences passionately — even sometimes vehemently — but always respectfully. Such openness is at the core of his thinking, the scope of which spans far beyond the arguments of today, this year, or even this century.
That broad lens for understanding history and identity is the foundation of his belief in what he calls a “genuine reconciliation effort based on mutual recognition and shared indigeneity.” I personally support this statement wholeheartedly.
But I don’t just admire the courage of Judea’s convictions. Earlier this year, he said that he is “not only a Jew of spine…[he’s] a Jew of joy.” That is what makes him such a great inspiration and advocate for Jewish life on our campus. Because of him, Jewish life at UCLA is more joyful.
And in so many ways, this is completely remarkable. Because the third conversation that has shaped so much of who Judea is, is the one he has had with grief.
With the murder of his son, Daniel, Judea and his late wife, Ruth, were forced to confront the most difficult question of all: how to live after losing a child.
Once again, Judea showed us how to make sense of senselessness. He told the world that Danny personified humanity, and then he proved it. With the Daniel Pearl Foundation, Judea and Ruth opened new pathways for peaceful dialogue. In Danny’s memory, they have started countless conversations — the most powerful antidote to the evil that took their son away.
That UCLA can participate in those conversations — through the Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture in Journalism and International Relations — is an enduring honor. Danny’s memory is enshrined here at UCLA, where it will forever be a blessing.
Especially now, as we feel our world becoming more fractured, these conversations are not happening by themselves. They take community, courage and curiosity. This is the wealth Judea Pearl offers — throughout the world, but especially here, in our little corner of it.
In fact, as chancellor of UCLA, I want to mention one more mind he has shaped: my own.
It started early in my time on campus, when I was listening to a variety of voices and learning how to become a leader worthy of this great institution.
I am beyond grateful for just how much his contributions have enriched me.
Judea: Our university is better today because you have shown UCLA how to live in community, courage and curiosity with each other.
As we celebrate your 90th birthday, we also celebrate the many rich and enriching decades of conversations with Judea Pearl.
How fortunate we are to be part of them.
Thank you, Judea, and thank you all.