Well-Known Scientists: Filipino and Foreign

Well-Known Scientists

• Five Filipino scientists are highlighted.
• Ten foreign scientists are mentioned.

Florencio Medina Sr. (1905-1990)

• Known as the "Father of Nuclear Research".
• Was a teacher, author of math books, and advocated for mental health.
• First head of the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (Philippine Nuclear Research Institute).

Dr. Gloria de Castro - Bernas

• Worked at the Thomas Aquinas Research Center of the University of Santo Tomas.
• Earned a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of the Philippines (UP).
• Specialized in cellular biochemistry related to cancer research.
• Developed a procedure called angiogenesis/metastasis for new blood cells.
• Focused her career on developing affordable treatments from indigenous natural products.

Dr. Reinabelle Reyes

• Born in Tokyo, Japan, on June 29, 1983.
• A Filipina astrophysicist who verified the general theory of relativity on a cosmic scale.
• An educator and public speaker, currently an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Physics, UP Diliman.
• Her research team demonstrated that galaxy clustering aligns with Einstein's gravity.

Alfredo Mahar Lagmay

• Born on October 4, 1966.
• Member of the National Research Council.
• Specialized in experimental psychology, introducing behavioural studies and hypnosis techniques for relaxation.
• His research significantly contributed to understanding how behavioural changes can treat long-term mental health issues.

Angel Alcala

• Born on March 1, 1929, and died on February 1, 2023.
• Named a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014.
• Established no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) in the 1970s to increase and preserve marine biodiversity.
• Focused on building sanctuaries and promoting biodiversity in the Philippines' aquatic ecosystems.

Archimedes

• Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer.
• Born around 287 BC in Syracuse, Sicily.
• Died around 212 BC during the Second Punic War.
• A leading scientist in classical antiquity.
• Made contributions to science including the Archimedes screw, understanding circles and solid volumes, levers, odometers, hydrostatics, and laws pertaining to mechanics, buoyancy, and specific gravity.

Albert Einstein

• German-born theoretical physicist.
• Entered the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich to study physics and mathematics in 1896.
• Graduated in 1901.
• Made significant contributions in many areas of physics.
• Developed the Special Theory of Relativity and the famous equation E=mc².
• Explained the photoelectric effect and the nature of light.
• Contributed to the understanding of Brownian motion and the existence of molecules.
• Studied the dynamics of individual moving bodies and the nature of space and time.

Isaac Newton

• Physicist, mathematician, and astronomer.
• Born in 1643 and died in 1727..
• Developed the theory of gravity and its three laws.
• Proved that light travels in a straight line.
• Calculated the velocity of sound.
• Formulated much of physical mechanics.
• Invented integral calculus.
• Made a scientific study of light.
• Created a reflecting telescope.

Rosalind Franklin

• Finished a bachelor's degree in 1941 and a doctorate in physical chemistry in 1945.
• Worked as a research fellow at King's College, London, studying biological molecules (DNA, RNA, viruses) using X-rays.
• Photographed the DNA molecule, clearly showing its helical structure.
• Her research on viruses laid the foundation for virology.
• Died in 1958.
• Her work on DNA was used by other scientists and contributed to the understanding of the DNA double helix structure.

Watson and Crick

• Realized DNA is composed of two nucleotide chains.
• Nucleotide pairs encode genetic information.
• This revealed how genes and chromosomes duplicate.

Nicholi Copernicus

• Polish astronomer.
• Proposed the theory that the Sun is at the center of the universe, with Earth revolving around it.
• Developed the Heliocentric system of the universe.
• Born on February 19, 1473 in Torun, Poland.
• Received a top education and intended for career in canon law.

Paul Ehrlich

• German physician and scientist.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work in developing salvarsan, a treatment for syphilis.
• Conducted 605 unsuccessful experiments.
• Made fundamental contributions to ecology including co-evolution, metapopulation dynamics, ecosystem services, and the role of humans in ecological sustainability.
• Considered the founder of chemotherapy.

George de Mestral

• Swiss electrical engineer.
• Invented the hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro).
• Invented the fastener by observing burrs sticking to his clothing.
• In 1955, developed the patent for the fastener.

Thomas Alva Edison

• American inventor.
• Developed the incandescent light bulb.
• Created tremendous advancements in inventions including the phonograph and motion picture camera.
• Improved the telegraph and telephone.

This quiz explores notable Filipino and foreign scientists, highlighting their contributions to various fields of science. From the pioneering work of Florencio Medina Sr. in nuclear research to Dr. Gloria de Castro - Bernas's advancements in cancer research, discover their remarkable legacies. Test your knowledge on these influential figures and their discoveries.