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Having a role model that inspires and motivates you as a child is crucial. Scientists and mathematicians serve as great inspirations to kids. The groundbreaking discoveries and life-changing inventions of these intellects are something to look up to.
Best Scientists in the World
We bring to you the best 25 best scientists in the world to inspire your child. After reading about these great scientists and mathematicians try the questions at the end of this article.
Albert Einstein
Topping our list is one of the most famous and renowned scientists to have walked on earth- Albert Einstein. Known for his unparalleled contributions to science, Einstein is an inspiration to kids and adults alike. Einstein’s general and special theories of relativity changed the face of science. He also won a Nobel prize for physics in the year 1912 for explaining the photoelectric effect. Einstein’s intellect, determination, unwavering humour, and passions make him the perfect role model for kids.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was an English Naturalist who laid the foundation for modern evolutionary studies with his theory of evolution through natural selection. The origin and adaptations of organisms became easy to explain because of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. His theories changed the way we perceived and understood life and evolution. Even though Darwin’s nonreligious theories weren’t well-received by most of the people back then, it didn’t stop him from coming up with new theories that highly influenced modern western society.
Thomas Edison
Described as “America’s greatest inventor”, Thomas Alva Edison is an American inventor and businessman who paved the path for great inventions. Edison invented devices in fields such as sound recording, motion picture, electric power, and mass communication.
Though Edison did not invent the telephone or the light bulb, he invented a design that would be long-lasting and practical to be used by the masses. Edison was considered to be “addled” by his teachers but proved them wrong with his scientific inventions. Thomas Alva Edison is a great example to teach kids to never give up and face challenges that life throws at them.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie is one of the brightest and smartest scientists who pushed the borders of science. Marie Curie’s work in science helped shape the 20th and 21st centuries. In a time where women were expected to stay at home, Curie chose a different path and decided to dedicate her life to science. Curie discovered radium and polonium, two new chemical elements. She was the first woman to win a Nobel prize and the first person to win two Nobel prizes in different scientific disciplines. Marie Curie is a great inspiration to young girls.
Aryabhata
Aryabhata was an Indian Mathematician and Astronomer who changed the face of the world with his discoveries. Aryabhata discovered the digit zero and called it ‘Sunya’ meaning ‘null’ or ‘void’. He also discovered the approximation of pi. His theory on how the earth rotates about its own axis daily earned him the title of a physicist. Aryabhata’s discoveries are unparalleled and laid the foundation for many other mathematical and astronomical discoveries. Aryabhata is the perfect Indian role model for your young mathematicians.
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton was an English Mathematician and Physicist who is considered to be one of the most influential scientists of all time. Newton is well known for this formulation of laws of motion and universal gravitation. These theories formed the basic scientific viewpoint until the theory of relativity was discovered. He also invented the first practical reflecting telescope which led to the observation that white light could be segregated into different colours through a prism. Isaac Newton’s discoveries unlocked a whole new world of possibilities for scientists and mathematicians.
Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday is popularly known as the Father of Electricity. He was an English scientist who made unparalleled contributions to the field of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. Faraday discovered a way to convert magnetic force into electric force. The electric motor and discovery of the element Benzene remain to be two of his greatest inventions. To date, Faraday’s work continues to inspire other scientists in their scientific work.
Galileo Galilei
Best known for his invention of the telescope, Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist, astronomer, and engineer. Galilei revolutionized astronomy and His work in science laid the foundation for future scientists and championed the Copernican model of the universe. Though Galilei’s theories were faced with opposition, he never gave up on his quest to discover the truth of the universe.
Pythagoras
Pythagoras was a Greek mathematician and a philosopher who had a major hand in the development of mathematics. Pythagoras is immortally famous for the discovery of the Pythagorean theorem. He was also the first to divide the earth into five climatic zones. Though Pythagoras wasn’t a conventional scientist, his discoveries changed the face of the world and are considered to be one of the greatest influences in the mathematical and astronomical world of all time.
Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage was an English philosopher, mathematician, and mechanical engineer. Known as the “father of computers”, Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer. Though Babbage could not build the first computer, his design served as a blueprint to build basic and complex computer machines in the future. Babbage’s contributions to other fields of science and mathematics make him one of the most revered scientists and inventors.
Alan Turing
Alan Turing was an English mathematician and scientist who pioneered in theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. He is considered one of the most innovative and progressive thinkers of the 20th century. He was well known for being one of the most influential code breakers of the century. His invention, the Turing machine was one of the first practical models of the general-purpose computer.
Edward Jenner
If there is one man you have to thank for the vaccinations, it is Edward Jenner. This English physician and scientist pioneered the concept of vaccinations which saved more lives than one can imagine. Known as the “father of immunology”, Jenner was the one who created the world’s first vaccine, the smallpox vaccine. Jenner received worldwide recognition for the smallpox vaccine and reducing the death rate from smallpox vaccine by great numbers.
Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming was a Scottish bacteriologist who became well known for the discovery of penicillin. Fleming’s discovery of an antibiotic substance and its use saved millions of lives. The discovery of penicillin not only saved lives but also guaranteed him a place in the history of bacteriology. Fleming was knighted for his achievements and also won the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American mechanical engineer and inventor who was responsible for designing the first modern alternating current (AC) motor. His work in the alternating current paved path for a power system that provides electricity to buildings. He was also the inventor of the Telsa coil, an induction coil that is popularly used in radio technology. Tesla’s intellect and discoveries paved way for many technological developments.
Srinivas Ramanujan
Srinivas Ramanujan was an Indian mathematician who made numerous original contributions to the field of mathematics. Ramanujan hailed from humble beginnings and did not have formal training in mathematics. But this did not stop him from making groundbreaking contributions to number theory, the infinite series, and mathematical analysis.
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur was a French microbiologist, biologist, and chemist who was well-known for his discoveries of the principal of pasteurization and microbial fermentation amongst other things. His discoveries supported the germ theory of diseases and led it to its application in clinical medicine. In his quest for disease treatments, Pasteur invented the first vaccine for fowl cholera.
Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician who was a pioneer in computer science. Lovelace was mainly known for her work on Charle’s Babbage proposed mechanical computer. She was the first person to recognize that the computer machine had more applications than mere pure calculation. She is touted as the first person to recognize the true capability and value of computers and also, the first programmer.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist who was the first to explain the theory of cosmology. Singularities and Laws of Blackhole Mechanics are two of his many popular discoveries. Hawking fell prey to an incurable ailment that rendered him disabled for most of his life. But this did not stop Hawking from trying to understand the ways of the universe. Hawking serves as an inspiration to kids of all ages and shows them that one can succeed in spite of terrible adversity.
C V Raman
C V Raman was an Indian physicist who made major contributions in the field of light scattering. Raman discovered that when light traverses through a transparent medium, some of the deflected light changes wavelength. This phenomenon came to be known as the Raman Scattering. He won the Nobel Prize for Physics for his contributions and became the first Asian to receive a Nobel Prize in science.
Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall is an English anthropologist and primatologist who is well known for her groundbreaking discoveries about Chimpanzees. Goodall discovered that Chimpanzees have similar social behaviour to humans in the way they eat, make tools, and hunt for food. Her discovery led to a better understanding of these species. She is also actively involved in wildlife conservation and animal welfare issues.
Raye Montague
Raye Montague was an American Naval engineer who was famous for creating the first naval ship design using a computer program. Montague smashed gender and racial norms with her work as a Naval engineer. She became the U.S. Navy’s first female program manager of ships.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was an Indian Aerospace scientist who spearheaded the development of Indian missiles. Known as the “missile man”, Kalam spent four decades working as a scientist and science administrator at Defence Research and Development (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He played a crucial role in India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1988. Kalam’s scientific and political contributions garnered him attention from all over the world.
John Craig Venter
John Craig Venter is an American biologist and businessman who pioneered new techniques in genomics research. He is popular for leading the first draft sequence of the human genome. He also led a team of scientists who were the first to create “synthetic life”.
Michio Kaku
Michio Kaku is an American theoretical physicist and futurist who co-founded string field theory, a subset of string theory. Kaku is known as the “popularizer of science” for his comprehensive publications of scientific books and journals. Michio’s discovery of the subset of string theory has pushed us closer to solving string theory.
Katie Bouman
Katie Bouman is an American computer scientist and engineer who led the development for an algorithm for imaging black holes. Bouman worked on the algorithm for three years and was by assisted by a team of professionals at MIT. Katie Bouman groundbreaking achievement at a mere age of 29 years makes her an amazing role model for kids.
Did we miss out any inspirational scientists and mathematicians for kids in our list? Let us know in the comments below!
Read about 10 great musicians of the time.
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