Science and society SM 5

Indian Scientists: From Ancient to Modern Era

  • Importance of science and technology in daily life.

  • Commemoration of Indian scientists on National Science Day (February 28)

  • Highlight of the Raman effect's discovery.

Ancient Era Scientists

  1. Brahma Gupta (628 AD)

    • Introduced the concept of zero.

    • Led the astronomical observatory at Ujjain.

    • Wrote books on astronomy and mathematics:

      • The Khandkhadyaka

      • Bramhasputa Siddhanta

      • Cadamekela

      • Durkeamynarda

  2. Budhayana

    • Introduced various mathematical concepts before the Western world.

    • First calculated the value of Pi.

    • Authored Sulva Sutra, which contains the precursor to the Pythagorean theorem.

  3. Mahaviracharya (850 AD)

    • Wrote Ganit Sara Sangraha, a modern mathematics textbook.

    • Described the Least Common Multiple method before it was known to the world.

  4. Nagarjuna (10th Century)

    • Aimed at alchemizing materials into gold.

    • Created an element resembling gold, documented in Rasaratnakara.

  5. Susruta

    • Pioneering figure in surgery, emphasizing its accuracy.

    • Susruta Samhita describes 1100 ailments and 760 medicinal plants.

    • Noted for ocular surgery and rhinoplasty, including 101 surgical instruments.

  6. Bhaskaracharya

    • Wrote Siddhanta Shiromani.

    • Divided into:

      • Lilawati (arithmetic)

      • Beejganit (algebra)

      • Goladhyaya (spheres)

      • Grahaganit (planetary mathematics)

    • Developed the Chakrawat method for algebra.

    • The Bhaskara II satellite was named after him.

  7. Kanada

    • Developed atomic theory 2500 years before Dalton.

    • Founded the Vaisheshika school, focusing on the nature of matter and cosmos.

  8. Varahamihira (6th Century)

    • Authored five works on astronomy: Panchasiddhantaka.

    • Made significant advancements in sine table calculations.

  9. Aryabhatta (5th Century)

    • Wrote Aryabhattiya, a reference in mathematics.

    • Comprised of four main sections.

Modern Era Scientists

  1. Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920)

    • Child prodigy, self-taught mathematician.

    • Contributions led to National Mathematics Day (December 22).

  2. Jagadish Chandra Bose

    • Pioneer in microwave research.

    • Experimented with plant responses to stimuli using a developed crescograph.

  3. C.V. Raman

    • Studied light scattering, Nobel Prize in Physics 1930 for the "Raman Effect."

    • Fellow of the Royal Society (1924).

    • Received Bharat Ratna in 1954.

  4. Subramaniyam Chandrasekhar

    • Discovered the Chandrasekhar limit regarding white dwarfs.

    • Nobel Prize in Physics 1983 for stellar structure analysis.

  5. Satyendra Nath Bose

    • Contributed to quantum statistics and predicted the Bose-Einstein Condensate.

  6. Meghnad Saha

    • Developed Saha's equation for classifying stars based on spectra.

    • First director of IACS.

  7. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis

    • Known for Mahalanobis distance in statistics.

    • Key figure in anthropometry and created the Indian Statistical Institute.

  8. Har Govind Khorana

    • Shared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1968).

    • Created oligonucleotides for biotech applications.

  9. Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya

    • Engineer known for pioneering irrigation systems.

    • Advocated industrial growth, celebrated as Engineer’s Day on September 15.

  10. A.P.J Abdul Kalam

    • Renowned scientist in missile technology, former Indian President.

  11. Homi J Bhabha

    • Founder of the Indian nuclear program, contributed to cosmic radiation and quantum theory.

    • Died in 1966, known for Bhabha scattering.

Contributions of Women in Science

  • Historical barriers faced by women in science.

  • Acknowledgment of women who made significant contributions in various scientific fields.

  1. Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)

    • Black mathematician at NASA, calculated flight paths.

    • Featured in the film "Hidden Figures."

  2. Marie Curie (1867-1934)

    • Pioneering research in radioactivity; first woman to win Nobel Prize in two fields.

    • Founded the Curie Institute in Paris.

  3. Valentina Tereshkova (1937)

    • First woman in space; orbited Earth 48 times.

  4. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (1836-1917)

    • First female doctor in England, opened a medical school for women.

  5. Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997)

    • Pioneer physicist, conducted the Wu experiment.

    • First woman faculty member in Princeton's physics department.

  6. Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)

    • Discovered DNA’s molecular structure; contributions often overlooked.

  7. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)

    • Considered the first computer programmer; helped develop algorithms.

  8. Sally Ride (1951-2012)

    • First American woman in space, advocated for women in science and mathematics.

  9. Mae Jemison (1956)

    • First Black woman in space; involved in diverse scientific fields.

  10. Marie-Anne Paulze Lavoisier (1758-1836)

    • Contributed to her husband's work in chemistry; helped discover oxygen.

  • Recognition of historic contributions necessary to promote women's success in STEM today.