Most Famous Irish Scientists
Over the years, Ireland has birthed numerous scientists of which many of them made valuable contributions to their fields of study. The impacts they made by their contributions have had long-lasting effects on the world of scientists to this day. So here are some of the most famous scientists in Ireland throughout the centuries.
1. Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle was a natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor. Famously known as the first modern chemist, Robert Boyle is also among one of the founders of modern chemistry. Being one of the first to explore the scientific method, he also wrote a book called The Sceptical Chemist which is a highly valuable book in chemistry.
2. William Rowan Hamilton
Sir William Raw Hamilton was originally known as a master of languages such as Persian, Latin, and Greek. But at the age of 16, he started to gain a keen interest in math. Today he is famous for the major contributions he made to algebra, optics, and Hamilton mechanics.
3. John Tyndall
John Tyndall was a self-made individual who conducted research on the greenhouse effect. He also, later on, discovered the Tyndall effect. Among all this John Tyndall was also a glaciologist and mountaineer.
4. George Stokes
Famous for being an Anglo-Irish mathematician and physicist, Sir George Stokes studied at Pembroke College in Cambridge. He was also a professor of mathematics and as a physicist, he made many valuable contributions to physical optics and fluid mechanics.
5. John Lennox
John Lennox is an exceptional mathematician who explored complicated topics such as artificial intelligence and religion. He was also a lecturer at multiple institutes including Oxford and has even written a book called Can Science Explain Everything?
6. William C. Campbell
William C. Campbell is a biologist who was famous for being one of the first people to explore the prevention of parasitic infections in animals and humans. He has also won the Nobel Prize for his exceptional work in science.
7. Francis Beaufort
Francis Beaufort is a famous hydrographer who was the first individual to invent a method for estimating the strength of wind without using any instruments. Today this method is called the Beaufort scale.
8. George J. Stoney
George J. Stoney was a famous Irish physicist who for the fundamental unit of electricity, introduced the term electron. In addition to this, he also explored gases and optics while also being a professor at Queens College Galway.
9. William Thompson
William Thompson was a mathematician, engineer, and physicist who is famous for introducing the temperature scale called the Kelvin Scale. Later on, he received the position of director of the Atlantic Telegraph Company. At this point, he also closely worked with other individuals to install a telegraph cable under the Ocean in the Atlantic. He was heavily recognized for the contribution he made to this project.
10. Jocelyn Bell-Burnell
Jocelyn Bell Burnell is an astrophysicist who identified radio pulsars being emitted from a radio telescope that she contributed to constructing. Today these pulsars help scientists to identify planets beyond the earth’s solar system, gravitational waves, and cosmic distances.
11. Kathleen Lonsdale
Kathleen Lonsdale was an X-ray crystallographer. She took a role in the chemistry department of Leeds University and solved decades of debate by proving with her findings that the benzene ring was flat. She also extensively published on pacifism and is famous to this day for encouraging females to take up careers in science.
12. Ernest Walton
Ernest Walton is a Nobel Prize winner for being one of the first scientists to split the atom. He also invented the first-ever nuclear particle accelerator also known as the Cockcroft-Walton generator. This became very useful in conducting the world’s first artificial nuclear reaction without using any radioactive substances.
To this day, the above-listed Irish scientists are well known among people for the massive contributions they made to each field. Whether it be chemistry, physics, or any other scientific field they have without a doubt managed to make a positive impact with the use of their knowledge and sacrificial efforts.
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