Lesson 2.

WELL – KNOWN FOREIGN AND FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify ancient scientists and their achievement;

2. Identify well – known foreign scientists and their fields of endeavor; and
3. Identify Filipino scientists and their field of specialization.

ANCIENT SCIENTISTS AND THEIR ACHIVEMENTS

Scientists Years of Work Achievements

Thales of 624 – 548 B.C. Astronomy – predicted eclipse of the sun in 585 B.C.,
Melatus Geometry of the circle

Anaximander 611 – 547 B.C. Cartography, Obliquity of the ecliptic

Anaximenes 570 – 500 B.C. Law of conservation of matter and energy

Pythagoras 532 – 500 B.C. Relation between sides of right-angle triangle toned
of Crotona Vibration

Meton of 500 B. C. Metonic cycle

Athens

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 WELL – KNOWN FOREIGN SCIENTISTS

1. MARIE CURIE (1867 – 1934)

She was a Polish scientist who, with her

French husband Pierre (1859 – 1906) and Henri
Becquerel (1859 – 1908), received the 1903 Nobel
Prize for Physics for the discovery of radioactivity. She
also received the 1911 Nobel Prize for chemistry for
her discovery of the element’s radium and polonium.

2. JOHN DALTON (1766 – 1844)

British chemist and physicist John

Dalton were born in Eaglesfield, near
Cockermouth. He was a mathematics and
physics teacher in Manchester from 1799 to
1793. John Dalton advanced the atomic
theory in 1805. This theories states that
matter is made up of tiny particles called
atoms and that chemical changes takes place
between atoms or groups of atoms. It was a
breakthrough in the study of the nature of
matter that came just after the result of the
study by a scientist named Lavoisier on the
nature of chemical reactions.

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 3. RUDOLF DIESEL (1859 – 19130)

The engine that bears his name set off a new

chapter in the Industrial Revolution, but German
engineer Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913), who grew up in
France, initially thought his invention would help small
businesses and artisans, not industrialists. In truth, diesel
engines are commonplace in vehicles of all types,
especially those that have to pull heavy loads (trucks or
trains) or do a lot of work, such as on a farm or in a power
plant.
For this one improvement to an engine, his impact on the
world is clear today. But his death more than a century
ago remains a mystery.
Fast Facts: Rudolf Diesel
Occupation: Engineer
Known For: Inventor of the Diesel engine
Born: March 18, 1858, in Paris, France
Parents: Theodor Diesel and Elise Strobel
Died: September 29 or 30, 1913, in the English Channel
Education: Technische Hochschule (Technical High School), Munich, Germany; Industrial School
of Augsburg, Royal Bavarian Polytechnic of Munich (Polytechnic Institute)
Published Works: "Theorie und Konstruktion eines rationellen Wäremotors" ("Theory and
Construction of a Rational Heat Motor"), 1893
Spouse: Martha Flasche (m. 1883)
Children: Rudolf Jr. (b. 1883), Heddy (b. 1885), and Eugen (b. 1889)
Notable Quote: "I am firmly convinced that the automobile engine will come, and then I consider
my life’s work complete."

4. ALEXANDER FLEMING (1881 – 1955)

Alexander Fleming, in full Sir Alexander Fleming, (born
August 6, 1881, Lochfield Farm, Darvel, Ayrshire, Scotland—died
March 11, 1955, London, England), Scottish bacteriologist best
known for his discovery of penicillin. Fleming had a genius for
technical ingenuity and original observation. His work on wound
infection and lysozyme, an antibacterial enzyme found in tears and
saliva, guaranteed him a place in the history of bacteriology. But it
was his discovery of penicillin in 1928, which started the antibiotic
revolution, that sealed his lasting reputation. Fleming was
recognized for that achievement in 1945, when he received the
Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, along with Australian
pathologist Howard Walter Florey and German-born British
biochemist Ernst Boris Chain, both of whom isolated and purified
penicillin.

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5. LOUIS PASTEUR (1822 – 1895)
Louis Pasteur, (born December 27, 1822, Dole, France—
died September 28, 1895, Saint-Cloud), French chemist and
microbiologist who was one of the most important founders of
medical microbiology. Pasteur’s contributions to science,
technology, and medicine are nearly without precedent. He
pioneered the study of molecular asymmetry; discovered that
microorganisms cause fermentation and disease; originated the
process of pasteurization; saved the beer, wine, and silk
industries in France; and developed vaccines against anthrax and
rabies.

WELL - KNOWN FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

1. ANGEL G. ALCALA
Born March 1, 1929 is a Filipino biologist who was named
a National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014. Alcala is known for
his fieldwork to build sanctuaries and to promote biodiversity in
the aquatic ecosystems of the Philippines. He was chairman of
the Board of Advisers at the Angelo King Center for Research and
Environmental Management located in Silliman University.
Responsible for publishing more than 200 peer-reviewed articles
and books, his biological contributions to the environment and
ecosystems have made him a renowned hero for natural sciences
in the Philippines.

2. FE DEL MUNDO
Fe Villanueva del Mundo, (born Fé Primitiva del Mundo y
Villanueva; 27 November 1911 – 6 August 2011) was a Filipina
pediatrician, the founder of the first pediatric hospital in the
Philippines. Her pioneering work in pediatrics in the Philippines
while in active medical practice spanned eight decades. She
gained international recognition, including the Ramon Magsaysay
Award for Public Service in 1977. In 1980, she was conferred the
rank and title of National Scientist of the Philippines, and in 2010,
she was conferred the Order of Lakandula. She was the first
female president of the Philippine Pediatric Society and the first
woman to be named National Scientist of the Philippines in 1980.
She was also the founder and the first president of the Philippine
Pediatric Society, the first Asian to be elected president of the Philippine Medical Association in
its 65-years existence, and the first Asian to be voted president of the Medical Woman's
International Association.

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3. EDUARDO A. QUISUMBING
November 11, 1895, Santa Cruz, Laguna – August 23,
1986 was a Filipino biologist, a leading authority of plants in the
Philippines. He earned his BSA in biology University of the
Philippines Los Baños in 1918, his MS in botany at the same
university in 1921, and PhD in plant taxonomy, systematics and
morphology at the University of Chicago in 1923.
From 1920 to 1926 he was attached to the College of Agriculture
in U.P., and from 1926 to 1928 to the University of California; in
1928 appointed systematic botanist and since February 1934
acting chief of the Natural Museum Division of the Bureau of
Science, Manila, now director of the National Museum. When
assigned to the U.S. Navy in Guiuan, at the southern tip of Samar,
made collections in that region. He retired as director in November
1961, and was for some following years attached to the Araneta University. Quisumbing
undertook restoration of the Herbarium, which was completely destroyed during the war.
Quisumbing was author of taxonomic and morphological papers, many of which deal with
orchids, including ‘Medicinal plants in the Philippines’ (Manila 1951). Saccolabium quisumbingii
has been named in his honour. He was recipient of the Distinguished Service Star (1954) for
outstanding contribution to the field of systematic botany; Diploma of Merit on Orchidology and
Fellow Gold Medal, Malaysian Orchid Society (1966); Gold Medal, American Orchid Society (1969),
and 1975 PhilAAS Most Outstanding Award.

4. CARMEN C. VELASQUEZ
Dr. Velasquez's contributions to science include thirty-
two new species and one new genus of digenetic trematodes
from Philippine food fishes, two from birds and five from
mammals; nine life cycles of trematodes of the family
Transversotrematidae, Echinostromatidae, Notocotylidae (2),
Plagiorchidae, Heterophyidae (2), Microphallidae and
Philophtalmidae. In addition, two new species of nematodes
from Philippine fishes and a new species of Capillaria from the
intestine of man. Also, a new species of parasitic copepod in
Glossogobius giurus (Goby). Most of these works are published in
international journals and cited in a number of journals abroad.

The Thirty-two new species and one new genus of digenetic trematodes from Philippine
food fishes, 2 from birds and 5 from mammals represented as follows:
Family Bucephalidae - 12 new species - 1 new species from the U.S. National Museum,
Helminthological collection which was misidentified by Linton, Family Transversotre atidae - 1
new species - only world representative with a complete record, Abbreviated life cycle elucidated,
Family Prosogonotrematidae - 1 new species, Family Monodhelminthidae - 1 new species, Family
Cryptogonimidae - 4 new species and 1 new genus, Family Hemiuridae - 2 new species, Family

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 Echinostomatidae - 2 new species, Family Plagiorchidae - 1 new species, Family Notocotylidae - 1
new species, Family Philopthalmidae 1 new species, Family Heterophyidoe - 1 new species, Family
Didymozoiclae - 1 species, Family Microphallidae - 1 new species, Monogenea - 1 new species

Birthdate: 07 August 1913

Died: 16 October 1994

Educational Background:
Ph. D. Parasitology - University of the Philippines 1954
M.S. Zoology - University of Michigan 1937
B.S. Zoology - University of the Philippines 1934

5. PEDRO B. ESCURO
Dr. Pedro Escuro graduated magna cum laude from the
University of the Philippines College of Agriculture in 1952 and
obtained his doctorate degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding
at the University of Minnesota in 1959.
Considered as the “Father of the Philippine Rice Breeding
Program”, Dr. Escuro made significant contributions to rice
breeding, and led the development, isolation and release of
nine Seed Board rice varieties.
Among his 18 awards and honors received are the two
Presidential awards, Presidential Plaque of Merit for
outstanding accomplishments in rice improvement (1967) and
Rizal Pro Patria award for outstanding contribution to rice breeding and genetics; he was
proclaimed a National Scientist in the year 1994.

Guide Questions.

2.4 identify ten Foreign and Filipino scientists and their achievements that made them famous.

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