Anecdote time: I attended a Haskell event at MSR some fifteen years ago, and one of my overwhelming memories is how approachable and friendly SPJ is. I had som

Anecdote time: I attended a Haskell event at MSR some fifteen years ago, and one of my overwhelming memories is how approachable and friendly SPJ is. I had some pretty stupid questions around the topic he was presenting(STM), and he answered them with great vigour and clarity afterwards. This does feel like a significant loss to MSR, and a massive gain for wherever he ends up. Fingers crossed it is a teaching role, as I'd like to think we'd all benefit from turning a few more SPJs loose on the world. There is a recent MSR podcast episode with SPJ and Andy Gordon that is definitely worth a listen¹. It dips in to their histories, and also their work on Excel. ¹ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/podcast/advancing-excel-as-a-programming-language-with-andy-gordon-and-simon-peyton-jones/ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/podcast/advancing-e... Edit: My other memory was the sheer level of professionalism in the support staff at MSR Cambridge, I simply can't recall anywhere I've been where the support staff have been as helpful and courteous as they were there.