• Question: who is the most famous scientist?

    Asked by thedominater to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 26 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: John Welford

      John Welford answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      Well based on the questions that you guys have been asking I would say Einstein. Two questions about him so far I think. Most people seem to be able to recite his most famous equation e=mc2 (that 2 should be squared – but I bet you knew that!), even if they can’t explain what it means. I think people also recognise his picture very easily because of his crazy hair!

    • Photo: Carol White

      Carol White answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      Now that you have been asking lots of questions related to Einstein – I think that’s the answer!

      But before this week, I’d have said:
      male – Charles Darwin,
      female – Marie Curie.

      I guess mr Darwin just isn’t as memorable as Einstein and his hair.. or is it because the scientist characters we see on TV/in film are all made to look like Einstein (like Back to the Future)…?

      That’s almost a chicken & egg question!

    • Photo: Philip Glasson

      Philip Glasson answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      Who’s that guy with the apple on his head?

      You know….
      Discoved gravity (kind of),
      Theory of light/colour,
      Invented calculus,
      Derived the three fundamental laws of motion,
      Laid the foundations for classical mechanics,
      Built the first reflecting telescope,

      Used to be on the one pound note ! (showing my age )

      Oh Yes …

      Sir Isaac Newton,

      Even if he wasn’t No 1
      (Which he is…)
      He darn-well should be. =D

    • Photo: Rebecca Lacey

      Rebecca Lacey answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      I would probably go with Neils Bohr because he discovered the atom which was pretty amazing!!

    • Photo: Eleanor Turpin

      Eleanor Turpin answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      Hi thedominater – did you mean most famous ever or at the moment?

      I think the most famous ever was probably Charles Darwin – his picture is on the back of the £10 note. This makes me really proud to be British – that we value science so highly we have famous scientists on our currancy.

      I’m not sure who the most famous living scientists is, but some suggestions are Brian Cox, Barry Marshall, Craig Venter, Andre Geim. I feel like I’m betraying my gender but I’m struggling to think of any women… perhaps someone else can suggest some.

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