• Question: whats your favourite scientist

    Asked by 892furk52 to Chris on 4 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Chris Werner

      Chris Werner answered on 4 Nov 2017:

      Hmm, good question as I admire so many of them. My favourite scientist, because he’s the one who got me into science is more of a science writer now, Prof. Bill McGuire of University College London. He is a world renowned expert on natural disasters, and I remember being lucky enough to do a Masters degree in London where he was a lecturer. It was quite something to be lectured by my childhood hero and have him give me top of the class for one of our assignments. He may be a bit of a doomsday fantasiser, but he’s the main reason I got into science, so he’s my pick!

Comments

  • Photo: Joanne

    Joanne commented on :

    I think I’d have to split this one into living and dead scientists. I think what scientists in the past were able to figure out, given the lack of equipment and knowledge and technology, is remarkable. So going with the past I’d have to say Darwin. The idea that he could have figured out evolution without even knowing about genes or DNA is mind-blowing! Among living scientists I think I’d have to say Sunita Williams, she’s an astronaut and she ran the Boston Marathon while on the International Space Station.

  • Photo: Kathryn

    Kathryn commented on :

    I think there are so many great scientists, but because you can never meet them all I’m going to say this:

    Favorite role model scientist: tie between Jane Lubchenco and Sylvia Earle because they are both outspoken marine biologists who pioneered research on seaweeds and on diving in the ocean. Sylvia Earle still (in her late 80s) does deep dives in deep sea submersibles and Jane Lubchenco was the head of NOAA (USA) which is the governments environmental/ocean program in the US.

    Favorite dead scientist: Alexander von Humboldt- so many things named after him, what an explorer!

    Favorite science spokesman- Neil DeGrasse Tyson. He’s so good at talking describing about astrophysics and making me like it! Check out the Cosmos: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/cosmos-a-spacetime-odyssey/

    But he also thinks exploring the deep sea is not as important as exploring space, so.. we disagree on some things.

  • Photo: Sarah

    Sarah commented on :

    My favourite living scientist is Philip Moriarty, he’s an amazing science communicator with his own YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/sixtysymbols . My favourite scientist of all time is Kathleen Lonsdale, she did loads of work with crystals, and fought for more women in science- we have a building named after her in the University of Limerick.