March 07

Nicéphore Niépce was born in Chalon-sur-Saône and initially pursued a career in lithography and printing. In the early 1820s he developed heliography, a process using bitumen-coated plates to capture images by light exposure. In 1826 or 1827, he produced 'View from the Window at Le Gras', the earliest surviving photograph. Niépce later partnered with Louis Daguerre, and their work laid the groundwork for modern photographic techniques. He died in 1833, and his pioneering contributions are celebrated as the birth of photography.

John Herschel was born in Slough, the son of astronomer William Herschel, and showed early aptitude in science. He conducted extensive observations of southern skies during an expedition to the Cape of Good Hope, cataloguing thousands of stars and nebulae. Herschel introduced new mathematical techniques in analysis and was elected President of the Royal Society in 1825. He invented the cyanotype photographic process and popularized terms such as 'negative' and 'positive' in photography. His interdisciplinary work bridged astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, and photography, influencing generations of scientists.

He was an American scientist and naturalist whose pioneering surveys mapped the geology and ecology of the Great Lakes region. Lapham led the first detailed topographical surveys of Wisconsin's coastline and studied glacial geology. As the state's first official geologist, he cataloged native plants, animals, and fossils. His research into weather patterns prompted him to propose one of the nation's first storm warning networks. He published extensively on meteorology and archaeology, preserving knowledge of prehistoric Native American sites. His cross-disciplinary work laid foundations for meteorological services and geological understanding in the Midwest.

Draper was an American physician and amateur astronomer who pioneered astrophotography in the mid-19th century. He captured the first photograph of a stellar spectrum and initiated the Harvard College Observatory's Draper Catalog of stellar spectra. Draper's work established techniques for long-exposure observations and image processing in astronomical research. He designed telescopic equipment and spectroscopes for detailed spectral analysis. His contributions laid the groundwork for modern astronomical spectroscopy and the classification of stars. The Henry Draper Medal, awarded by the National Academy of Sciences, honors his legacy in astrophysics.

Ludwig Mond was a German-born chemist who discovered and characterized metal carbonyl compounds, notably nickel carbonyl. He co-founded the Brunner Mond chemical company, which became one of the largest alkali producers in Britain. Mond's work in organometallic chemistry laid foundations for catalytic processes in the chemical industry. He served as director of several industrial firms and advocated for scientific research in manufacturing. A passionate art collector and philanthropist, he supported scientific institutions, donating collections to museums and universities. Mond's legacy endures in modern organometallic chemistry and industrial research practices.

Luther Burbank was an American botanist and horticulturist whose plant breeding experiments revolutionized agriculture. Over his 55-year career, he developed more than 800 new varieties of fruits, vegetables, grains, and flowers. His notable creations include the Russet Burbank potato, widely used for fries, and the Shasta daisy. Burbank advocated for practical applications of genetics and selective breeding techniques. He operated a large experimental farm in Santa Rosa, California, attracting visitors worldwide. His methods influenced modern horticulture and plant science, earning him international recognition.

Julius Wagner-Jauregg was an Austrian physician and psychiatrist renowned for introducing malarial therapy to treat neurosyphilis. In 1927, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery that infecting patients with malaria could combat advanced syphilis. His work marked the first effective biological treatment for a mental illness and laid groundwork for modern psychiatry. Wagner-Jauregg served as a professor at the University of Vienna, influencing generations of medical practitioners. Despite later controversies over eugenic views, his breakthroughs represented a major advance in therapeutics. He published extensively on neuropsychiatric disorders and championed the integration of laboratory research into clinical practice.

Sir Geoffrey Ingram Taylor made fundamental contributions to applied mathematics and physics. His studies of fluid flow, turbulence, and wave mechanics revolutionized our understanding of these phenomena. Taylor also investigated crystal structures and the behavior of metals under stress. He received the Royal Medal and Copley Medal and served as President of the Royal Society from 1955 to 1960. His rigorous methods and theoretical insights continue to underpin modern research in physics and engineering.

Wilson Dallam Wallis conducted extensive ethnographic research with the Tlingit, Salish, and other indigenous peoples of North America. Later, he studied Polynesian societies in Samoa and Tahiti. His publications on social structure, kinship, and cultural practices were influential in American anthropology. Wallis emphasized the importance of in-depth fieldwork and participant observation. He taught at the University of Minnesota and mentored a generation of anthropologists until his death in 1970.

Kurt Weitzmann was a German-American historian and author specializing in Byzantine and medieval art. He emigrated to the United States in 1935 and became a leading scholar at Princeton University. Weitzmann's research focused on illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, and iconography. He authored seminal works such as “The Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai” and “Age of Spirituality.” His meticulous studies and publications shaped modern understanding of early Christian and medieval visual culture. He mentored generations of art historians and contributed significantly to the field of art history.

Betty Holberton was an American engineer and programmer, part of the team that developed the ENIAC computer. She helped design the first widely used high-level programming language and contributed to UNIVAC development. Holberton wrote early standards for COBOL and FORTRAN, influencing modern programming practices. During World War II, she programmed ballistic calculations on ENIAC, advancing military computing. She later worked at the U.S. Census Bureau and Sperry Rand, promoting computer science education. Holberton is celebrated as a pioneer among women in technology and computing.

Olga Ladyzhenskaya was a Russian mathematician known for groundbreaking research on partial differential equations. Her work on the Navier–Stokes equations advanced the theory of fluid dynamics and mathematical physics. She held a lifelong position at Leningrad State University and mentored numerous mathematicians. Despite political challenges during the Stalinist era, she continued her research and teaching. Ladyzhenskaya authored influential texts and received international recognition late in her career. She is remembered for her intellectual rigor and significant contributions to mathematics.