QS Energy Inc (QSEP)

[valueyoda]

Temple is a third tier university, according to many rankings.

The ranking for the physics department is actually worse compared to Temple's other departments.

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/physics-rankings/page+5

This, however, doesn't necessarily mean anything for Tao's reputation or for STWA. However, if you research for the most cited physics academians, Tao's name is nowhere to be found. Tao's reputation has been touted as stellar on this and other forums, but often the most important validation of that is citations of Tao's papers and research by fellow academians. If you look within google scholar for Tao's papers between 1991 and 2014 for citations by other academians, hardly anyone aside from Tao himself or fellow authors cite his work.

If you futhermore look at the youtube channel from STWA that I posted yesterday where you see Tao at work in his lab, one can hardly conclude that groundbreaking research was going on there (Tao must truly admire Walter White's outfit).

This is not to bring mr. Tao down, as he must be an intelligent man, receiving his PhD from Columbia. However, don't get carried away with the excellence of his academic career, his research or the reputation of Temple University.