THE ANCIENT SCIENTISTS

 

THALES OF MILETUS
(624-548 B.C.)

    

 

     Thales of Miletus. Later generations told many anecdotes about this wise man, but it is difficult to verify the reliability of these stories. What seems certain is that he predicted the solar eclipse of 28 May 585, which was remembered because the Lydian king Alyattes and the Median leader Cyaxares were fighting a battle on that day. Another reliable bit of information is that he did some geometrical research, which enabled him to measure the pyramids. However, his most important contribution to physics and philosophy is his attempt to give non-religious, rational explanations for physical phenomena. Behind the phenomena was not a catalogue of deities, but one single, original principle. Although his hypothesis that this principle was water is rather unfortunate, his idea to look for deeper causes was the true beginning of philosophy and science.

 

ARISTOTLE
(384-322 B.C.)

         The most famous student of the Athenian philosopher Plato was the Macedonian scientist Aristotle of Stagira (384-322). After the death of his master, he studied biology and accepted a position as teacher of the Macedonian crown prince Alexander. When the Macedonians subdued Greece, Aristotle founded a school at Athens. Most of his writings are lost; what remains are his lecture notes, which were rediscovered in the first century BCE. During the last decades, scholars have started to re-examine the fragments of the lost works, which has led to important changes in our understanding of Aristotle's philosophy. However, the accepted view remains that he replaced his master's speculations with a more down-to-earth philosophy. His main works are the Prior Analytics (in which he described the rules of logic), the Physics, the Animal History, the Rhetorics, the Poetics, the Metaphysics, the Nicomachean Ethics, and the Politics. All these books have become classics, and it is not exaggerated to say that Aristotle is the most influential philosopher of all ages and the founder of modern science.

 

HIPPARCHUS (161-122 B.C.)

    The stellar catalogue made by Hipparchus of Nicaea contains observations that can be dated to 162-128 BCE, and this gives us an indication about the period in which he lived. Unfortunately, this is about everything we know about this astronomer, who was the first to discover the precession, i.e. the slow reorientation of the earth's axis. He was able to do this because he possessed the sky map of Eratosthenes and age-old Babylonian observations and knew the theories of the great Kidinnu. Unfortunately, Hipparchus ignored Kidinnu's calculation of the length of the solar year. The Greek astronomer's estimate had an error of 6� minutes, whereas the Babylonian was only 4� short of the real length of the year. Nevertheless, Hipparchus was able to improve the calendar. Another triumph was the accurate calculation of the distance to the moon, and the improvement of the world map of Eratosthenes.

 

 

GALEN OF PERGAMON
(129-216)

Galen of Pergamon (129-216) started his career as physician of gladiators, but he became court physician of the Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Septimius Severus. He published many books, which he had to rewrite after his library was destroyed by fire in 191. These book became extremely influential in the Middle Ages, when they were well-read in both the Byzantine empire and the Arab world. Great scientists like Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd and Vesalius based their researches on the foundations laid by Galen. Being both a doctor and a writer, he was rather indiscreet, but on the other hand: we now have the entire medical status of two emperors.

 

 



PTOLEMY (100-170 A.D.)

   Ptolemy of Alexandria (c.85-c.165) was interested in both geography and astronomy. On both subjects, he published important works. His astronomical book was called the Megal� Syntaxis, the 'big explanation'. It is a summary of all astronomical knowledge of his age, and it remained the most important work on this subject until the sixteenth century, especially because he gave mathematical explanations of the phenomena. After Antiquity, the Arabs translated it and called it Almagest, under which name it is still known. In his Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy explained the importance of astrology, and told how the stars influenced countries and individuals. In the eight books of his Geography, he deals with map making and describes the entire known earth. It remained one of the most important works until 1488, when Bartolomeus Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope and proved that Ptolemy's statement that one could not circumnavigate Africa was simply wrong.

 

 

 

THE FOREIGN SCIENTISTS

 



ALESSANDRO VOLTA

 



   The famous Italian physicist Alessandro Volta is one of the revolutionary scientists, who developed the electrical battery, laying down the foundation of the electric age. Volt, the unit of electricity, has been named to honor this great scientist.

 





ARCHIMEDES



      The next name on the list of greatest scientists who changed the world is that of the genius mathematician, Archimedes, who was responsible for laying the foundation of calculus. He also made discoveries on buoyancy, laws of lever, fluid equilibrium and hydrostatics.





MARIE CURIE



     Marie Curie is the only women on the list of scientists who changed the world,. This Polish scientist was also the first woman to be honored with Nobel Prize. She dedicated her life to scientific experiments on radio activity and discovering elements which exhibited this property, such as radium and thorium. Her work in the field earned the title of “Mother of Atom Bomb”.

 

 



GALILEO



     Next on the list of greatest scientists is Galileo, who made outstanding discoveries in the fields of physics and astronomy. He was the person who invented the telescope for studying heavenly bodies. Discovery of Law of pendulum is another one of his glorious contributions to the world. The 4 moons which revolve around Jupiter were discovered by him and are also named after this great scientist.

 

  





CHARLES DARWIN
 



   Charles Darwin, the great English zoologist, is credited with presenting the theory of evolution, which has been a great contribution to the human race. The theory plays a key role in comprehending the origin of human life, besides explaining the diversity in it.

  



THOMAS ALVA EDISON



    One of the most successful inventors was Thomas Alva Edison, who made 1093 inventions during his career, including lights, power, battery, telegraphs and mining. He also made improvements on telephone, besides inventing kinetoscope. He was a hard working scientist and spent more than 20 hours a day working.





 





NIKOLA TESLA



     Nikola Tesla was a hidden genius, who played a key role in changing the world with a large number of inventions, most of which were copied or stolen by others. The 1856 born Serbian scientist was far ahead of his time. His achievements include generation of ac current much before Edison did it, besides inventions like RADAR and X Rays. He is also credited with invention of remote control, electric motor, neon lights and earthquake machine.

 

LOUIS PASTEUR

   Louis Pasteur was a scientist recognized for his contributions in the field of biology and medicine, particularly for inventing the process of Pasteurization for preventing milk from being damaged by microbes. He was also acclaimed for finding vaccines for diseases like rabies and anthrax, in addition to cure for puerperal fever. He was called the father of microbiology as he discovered the Germ Theory, which helped in prevention and cure of disease.

 

ALBERT EINSTEIN

       Featuring next on the list of top 10 scientists who changed the world is the great physicist, Albert Einstein, who is regarded as the father of modern physics. His greatest achievement is development of theory of relativity. The great German scientist was honored with Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for discovering the Law of Photoelectrical Effect.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON



    One of the greatest scientists, who was responsible for discovering the law of gravity, was Sir Isaac Newton. The England born scientist also revolutionized mathematics by introducing the concept of Calculus. His other contributions include study of Laws of Motion, invention of telescope and study of speed of sound.

     Aristotle, Michael Faraday, J C Bose and Stephen Hawking are some other great scientists who have brought about revolutionary changes in the world with their inventions and discoveries. They will always be remembered for their glorious contributions.

 

 

 

 

FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

 

 

 

 

PAULO C. CAMPOS

    Paulo C. Campos, MD is noted for his work in nuclear medicine. As a health scientist, Campos authored and co-authored 75 scientific publications, some of which have won awards. Three of his works, titled Observation of Some Parameter of Insulin Action, Cr-51 Tagged Red Cell Studies and The Genetic Factor in Endemic Goiter, have won the first prize in Research Award. For his achievements in the field of medical research, Campos was named conferred the Gregorio Y Zara award as an outstanding scientist by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (PAAS). He was credited for establishing the first known radioisotope laboratory in the country and the first research laboratory of the University of the Philippines Medicine Department. He also established the Thyroid Clinic of the UP-PGH.



PEDRO B. ESCURO

   Pedro B. Escuro, Ph.D. Genetics and Plant Breeding — As a scientist Escuro has made significant contributions to rice breeding as plant breeder Professor extension worker and consultant in agricultural projects. He provided leadership in the development, isolation and release of nine Seed Board rice varieties: Milpal 4, HBD-2, Azmil 26 and C-22 (upland) and C-18, C4-63, C4-137, C-168 and C-12 (lowland). Escuro has 18 honors and awards to his name, including two Presidential awards – the Presidential Plaque of Merit for outstanding accomplishments in rice improvement (1967) and the Rizal Pro Patria award for his outstanding contribution to rice breeding and genetics. He also received the University of the Philippines Distinguished Professorial award in agriculture (1973) and D. Sc. honoris causa in 1974, and the 1974 Ayala award in agricultural science.

 

JOSE N. RODRIGUEZ

    Jose N. Rodriguez, MD Leprology — He is a renowned Filipino leprologist and researcher who has devoted 53 years of his life to the control of leprosy in the country. As one of the few pioneers in the early fight against leprosy worldwide, Rodriguez proposed a leprosy control program which was adopted by the Philippines and other Asian countries. He has written many scientific articles on leprosy which have been published in various medical journals all over the world and which are considered classic texts in leprosy research. In recognition of his untiring struggle to control and eradicate leprosy in the Philippines, he is the recipient of many honors and awards, including the 1974 Damien Dutton Award.

 

GREGORIO Y. ZARA

     Gregorio Y. Zara, D.Sc. Physics — His important achievements include: the invention of the two-way television telephone, the discovery of electrical kinetic resistance known as the Zara effect, the invention of an airplane engine that runs on alcohol instead of aviation fuel and methods by which solar energy can be harnessed. Zara’s airplane engine was successfully tested in a test flight conducted at the Manila International Airport (now the Ninoy Aquino International Airport) on Sept. 30, 1954. For having completed over 40 research papers and making 20 outstanding contributions to science, Zara received many awards, including the Presidential Diploma of Merit. He was conferred the Distinguished Service Medal in 1959 for his pioneering works and achievements in solar energy research, aeronautics and television. Zara was also given the Presidential Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor for Science and research in 1966; the Cultural Heritage Award for Science Education and Aero Engineering in 1966.

Prepared by:

        Group 3

 

     Jhez Cabaluna

     Enersto Cagud

     Donna Mae Siva

     Ave Caligayan

     Angel Cabilitasan

     Mary Grace Cortejo