Top 10 Influential Scientists

There is no doubt that scientist have contributed greatly to the continued development of the present society. Some of the things that we enjoy today such as electricity are innovations of someone who dedicated his life. Unlike other professions, scientists are well known for giving up everything else to research as well as innovation. Persecution and death threats could not stop them from making the breakthroughs they made. In a bid to celebrate breakthroughs in technology and research, this article aims to highlight some of the most influential scientists of all times.

1. Aristotle

Aristotle is well known as the greatest philosopher of his time. He had wide knowledge regarding different disciplines something that has been managed only by a few scientists. His contribution ranges from physics, zoology, biology, politics, ethics and logic amongst others. Contributions made by Aristotle can still be felt in the present age despite having lived hundreds of years ago. It was because of him that we now understand science and matter applicably.

2. Isaac Newton

Probably considered as one of the greatest scientist of his time. Just like Aristotle, Isaac Newton was well versed in different subject areas such as mathematics, physics and natural philosophy amongst others. Isaac Newton is best known for his contribution in attempting and managing to explain gravitational law as well as the three laws of motion. High school math and science courses still use his  cradle to explain motions and movements.

3. Galileo Galilei

Up-to-date, Galileo Galilei is still considered as having made the greatest contribution to science. He continued to make discoveries that are still being used in the present age, despite being persecuted by the church for what he believed in. Not only was he a physicist but also an astronomer as well as a philosopher. His contributions to science include creation of telescope and first two laws of motions. It was only in the early 2000s that Pope John Paul II recognized Galilei’s work as legit, after approximately 400 years of denial by the Roman Catholic Church.

4. Charles Robert Darwin

Coming in at number four is Charles Darwin even though there are those who dispute to him having been a scientist in the first place. His contributions were major on origin of man. He is also known to have traveled extensively around the world so as to prove his theories. His work on the survival of fittest has sparked eugenics movements as well as Social Darwinist research. It now helps explain convergent and divergent evolution.

5. Albert Einstein

Looking at the past of Albert Einstein nobody would not have thought that a boy who could not talk till he attained the age of three and had to wait till he was eight years of age to read could be one of the greatest scientists of all time. In spite of all the hurdles that faced him, he managed to win noble peace prize for the contributions he made in physics.

6. Thomas Edison

No other scientist has managed to have under their belts over 1000 patents for innovations made as Thomas Edison. Somehow, just like Einstein, Thomas had learning challenges. His innovations include the phonograph as well as the electric bulb. He sets an example to all students today struggling with a learning disability. Success is possible and can be attained.

7. Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta

An Italian, Volta made his contribution as a scientist by adding to the development of the electric battery. The unit for measuring electric unit- Volt is named after him as an honor for his contributions.

8. Charles H. Best

9. Frederick Banting

These two Canadians have saved millions of lives who have been affected by diabetes. These individuals are heroes in the minds of all Canadians. They created a pancreatic hormone insulin, which sought to effectively treat diabetes.

10. Albert Bandura:

This influential Canadian is still living among us today. His experiments including the Bobo Doll experiment has made quite a number of discoveries. Parents increasingly do not understand why their children act the way they do. Bandura sought to explain a child’s violent actions by doing a Bobo doll experiment. He showed a number of children a video of parents hitting the doll. When he brought the children to the Bobo doll, they mimicked the behaviour of the parents. Our children are strongly influenced by what we as adults do. Bandura’s experiment just proved it in scientific and experimental terms.

The above list only tries to mention some of the most influential scientist of all times and does not mean that other scientist not mentioned above have not in anyway made contributions in their respective fields. As the world and technology advances, contributions are still being made on how to make present electric devices more efficient and affordable. For instance, after innovation of internet, there has been continued development to ensure that access to the we is not only cheap but simpler.