Whitten's journey from physics to mathematics

Edward Whitten, a prominent figure in mathematical physics, discusses how his interest in mathematics was sparked during his childhood fascination with astronomy and exposure to calculus. After studying modern languages and briefly considering journalism and history, Whitten turned to physics and quickly excelled. He attributes his success to interacting with influential physicists such as Sidney Coleman, who introduced him to advanced mathematical topics. Whitten's interest in mathematics deepened as he delved into the Standard Model and the theory of strong coupling behavior, prompting him to learn complex mathematical concepts like Morse theory and Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem.