Post on 29-Nov-2014
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Catholic ScientistsA Collection of Religious Catholic Scientists
- Part 1 -
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Hermann Contractus1013 - 1054MonkBorn a crippleTheology, mathematics, astronomy, music, Latin, Greek and ArabicPoet and chroniclerBuilt astronomical and musical instruments
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Robert Grossteste
1175 - 1253Bishop of LincolnHead of Oxford UniversityInsisted on use of original authorities and experiment in scienceWrote a commentary on the ‘Physics’ of AristotleInvestigated meteorology, light, colour, cosmogony and opticsOpposed papal abuses of the time
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Albertus Magnus
1200’sAuthority on physics, geography, astronomy, mineralogy, chemistry, zoology, and physiology“The aim of natural science is not simply to accept the statements of others, but to investigate the causes that are at work in nature”He understood that the Church is not opposed to study of naturePatron Saint of Scientists
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Roger Bacon1214 - 1294Great scientist but not a prudent oneWrote on reflection of light, mirages, celestial bodies, eclipses and conjunctions.Tried to explain tides, proved Julian calendar wrong, discussed gunpowder possibility of steam vessels, microscopes and telescopes and many others things which eventually came to pass
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Nicolas of Cusa
1400 - 1464Cardinal, mathematician and canon lawyerWrote on law, philosophy, theology and scienceAstronomical views were completely independent of the time - he did not support them with observationStated that celestial bodies were not strictly spherical, nor are their orbits circular
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Christopher Sheiner
1575 - 1650Astronomer and priestProfessor of mathematicsInvested the pantograph - a copying instrumentUndertook a systematic study of the sun for 16 yearsStudied the eye and confirmed retina as ‘seat’ of vision
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Nicoaus Steno
1638 - 1686Danish pioneer in both anatomy and geologyStudied the brain, heart & nerve system, and discovered the parotid salivary gland (named ‘Stensen’s Duct’ after Steno) The father of geology and stratiography, proposing theory of Convert to Catholicism from Lutheranism and became BishopDedicated his religious life to helping the poorBeatified by Pope John Paul II in 1987 © The Catholic Laboratory
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Roger Joseph Boscovish
1711 - 1787Mathematician, astronomer, physicist, poet, diplomat, priestInvestigated the shape of the earth, gravitation, and orbit of cometsPope’s advisor on engineering and mapped the Papal StatesInstrumental in getting decree against Copernicus dropped
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Pierre-Andre Latreille
1762 - 1833Zoologist and priestFather of entomologyMember of French Academy of SciencesMember of Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesAssigned many of the insect taxa still in use today
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Angelo Secchi
1818 - 1878Italian astronomer and JesuitDirector of the observatory at the Pontifical Gregorian UniversityPioneered astronomical spectroscopy and is a founding father of astrophysicsAchievements include discovery of 3 comets, cataloguing double stars, and developing a system of stellar classification.
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Gregor Mendel
1822 - 1884Father of GeneticsTeacher until 1851, he studied mathematics, physics, and natural sciencesHis experiments on sweet peas are the foundation for our understanding of genetics and inheritanceDarwin had read Mendel - according to Darwin’s cousin
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Georges Lemaitre
1896 - 1965Physicist and priestFather of cosmologyHe united Einstein’s equations of general relativity and Hubble’s observationsProposed the ‘primeval atom theory’ of the universe - a precursor to the ‘The Big Bang’ theory
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You - maybe?Over 1000 years of Catholic ScienceOver 200 ‘noted’ Catholic Scientists, many of whom were and are priestsThe Catholic Church is credited with the birth of science during the 11th CenturyProof that it is possible to be a Scientist and be Catholic!
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