Memories of Ian G. Macdonald

Abstract

This is a slightly edited translation of a paper in Dutch that appeared in Nieuw Archief voor Wiskunde (5)  25 (2024), no. 2, 87–90 on the occasion of I. G. Macdonald’s death in 2023, and aimed at a very broad mathematical audience. First, we review some of Macdonald’s most important older results. Then, we focus on the period 1985–95, when Macdonald often visited the Netherlands and there was much interaction between his work, notably the Macdonald polynomials, and the work by the authors. We end with some glimpses about Macdonald as a person.