Robert Duncan Luce was a renowned mathematician and social scientist, and one of the most preeminent figures in the field of mathematical psychology. He was born on May 16, 1925 in Scranton. R. Duncan Luce received his BS in Aeronautical Engineering in 1945 and PhD in mathematics in 1950 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Luce was a pioneer in mathematical behavioral sciences. His work fundamentally altered our understanding of how individuals and groups make decisions in psychology, economics and statistics, and has revolutionized the mathematical underpinnings of psychology and the social sciences.

Luce was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1972 for his work on fundamental measurement, utility theory, global psychophysics, and mathematical behavioral sciences. He received the 2003 National Medal of Science in behavioral and social science for his contributions to the field of mathematical psychology. He died on August 11, 2012.