February 07

William Bedell (1571–1642) was educated at Cambridge and served as Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin. Appointed Bishop of Kilmore in Ireland, he championed pastoral care for Irish-speaking communities. He commissioned an Irish translation of the Old Testament and encouraged using the native language in worship. Known for his conciliatory approach during the Irish Rebellion, he sought to bridge cultural and religious divides. Bedell's advocacy for scholarship and tolerance had a profound influence on the Irish church.

Stephen Gray (1666–1736) was a self-taught English scientist and a member of the Royal Society. He discovered in 1729 that electricity could be conducted through metal rods and silk threads. Gray's experiments laid the groundwork for understanding electrical conduction and insulation. He studied celestial phenomena and contributed to early meteorological observations. His work influenced later scientists such as Benjamin Franklin and helped launch the study of electricity.

Born in Memel in 1737, Hupel studied theology and served as a Lutheran priest in Livonia. He passionately documented regional dialects and customs, publishing one of the first Estonian-German dictionaries. As a translator, he made religious and educational texts accessible to Estonian readers. His articles on Baltic customs appeared in leading periodicals of the time, laying a foundation for later philological research. Hupel's scholarship advanced understanding of Uralic languages and Estonian folklore. His dedication to preserving local culture earned him recognition among European linguists.

Born in 1787, Karadžić championed the use of the vernacular in literature and education across Serbian territories. He simplified the Cyrillic script to reflect spoken Serbian, making literacy more accessible. His 1818 dictionary and 1814 grammar book laid the groundwork for modern Serbian language and literature. Karadžić also collected and published folk songs, tales, and proverbs, preserving oral traditions for future generations. He corresponded with leading European scholars, securing support for his linguistic reforms. His influence remains central to South Slavic cultural identity.

Born in 1847 in Livorno, Ferraris was a pioneer of electromagnetism. In 1885, he independently discovered the rotating magnetic field, a principle essential to the induction motor. His work paralleled that of Nikola Tesla, though Ferraris published first. He held professorships in engineering and physics, mentoring a generation of scientists. Beyond academia, he conducted research into thermodynamics and electrochemistry. His inventions and writings significantly advanced electrical engineering in Italy and abroad. Ferraris's legacy endures in the widespread use of electric motors based on his discoveries.

Igor Kurchatov was born in 1903 in what is now Ukraine and studied physics at Leningrad University. He led the Soviet atomic research program during World War II, achieving a controlled nuclear chain reaction in 1946. Under his direction, the USSR tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, marking a pivotal moment in the Cold War. Kurchatov later contributed to thermonuclear weapons development and championed peaceful nuclear energy. He founded and directed the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, which became a leading research center. Renowned for his leadership and scientific insight, he shaped Soviet nuclear policy for decades. He died on February 7, 1960, and is honored as a key figure in 20th-century physics.

Josef Mengele (1911–1979) was an SS officer and physician at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Appointed as camp doctor in 1943, he earned the nickname 'Angel of Death' for selecting prisoners for gas chambers and performing unconsented medical experiments. His research targeted twins, dwarfs, and other prisoner groups, often causing permanent harm or death. Mengele held doctorates in anthropology and medicine but abandoned ethical standards in service to Nazi racial ideology. After the war, he evaded capture and fled to South America, living in hiding for decades. Despite efforts by Nazi hunters to bring him to justice, Mengele died in Brazil in 1979. His crimes remain emblematic of the Holocaust’s atrocities.

Cheikh Anta Diop (1923–1986) was a pioneering Senegalese scholar who combined history, anthropology, linguistics, and physics to argue for the centrality of Africa in human civilization. He used radiocarbon dating and linguistic analysis to demonstrate that ancient Egypt was culturally and racially connected to sub-Saharan Africa. Diop’s landmark book, The African Origin of Civilization, sparked debates about African identity and colonial historiography. He founded the Radiocarbon Laboratory at the University of Dakar and mentored a generation of African intellectuals. His interdisciplinary approach laid the groundwork for Afrocentric scholarship and inspired movements for political and cultural liberation. Diop died in 1986, leaving a lasting legacy as one of Africa’s most influential scholars.

Alan Jay Perlis (1922–1990) was an American computer scientist who played a crucial role in the development of programming languages and compilers. As a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, he led the creation of the first successful ALGOL compiler, influencing modern language design. In 1966, Perlis became the inaugural winner of the ACM Turing Award in recognition of his foundational contributions to computer science education and software engineering. He authored numerous influential papers and delivered memorable quotes on programming philosophy, such as 'A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming is not worth knowing.' Perlis’s leadership in computer science departments shaped curricula and advanced research during the formative years of the field. His work continues to inform contemporary approaches to programming language theory and practice.

Marshall Rosenberg was an American psychologist who developed the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) process. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology and applied his principles worldwide through workshops and training. Rosenberg authored several influential books, including 'Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life.' His work emphasized empathy, conflict resolution, and compassionate dialogue. He founded the Center for Nonviolent Communication to promote peaceful communication globally. Rosenberg's approach has been adopted by educators, mediators, and leaders in various fields to foster understanding and cooperation.

Hans Rosling was a Swedish physician, academic, and public speaker who popularized global health statistics. He co-founded the Gapminder Foundation to develop tools that visualize complex data and debunk misconceptions about world development. His engaging lectures, particularly his TED Talks, reached millions and earned him widespread acclaim. Rosling served as a professor at the Karolinska Institute and advised the World Health Organization and UNICEF. He authored the book 'Factfulness,' promoting a data-driven worldview. Rosling's legacy lives on through his innovative approach to education and data visualization.

Born in 1986 in Beizhen, Liaoning, Li Wenliang trained as an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital. In December 2019, he alerted colleagues to a SARS-like pneumonia cluster before being reprimanded by local police for 'spreading rumors'. Despite his warnings, the virus spread worldwide, and Li contracted COVID-19 while treating patients. He died on February 7, 2020, at the age of 33, becoming a symbol of transparency and public health advocacy in China. His death sparked national mourning and prompted an official apology, highlighting the importance of open communication during health crises.