February 29

Born in 1528, Domingo Báñez joined the Dominican Order and studied theology at Salamanca. He became a leading proponent of Thomism and engaged in the famous debates against Luis de Molina's views on grace and free will. His commentaries on Aquinas shaped Catholic teaching on predestination and divine causality. Báñez taught at the University of Salamanca and authored numerous theological works. His scholarship influenced Jesuit and Dominican thought for centuries. He died in 1604, leaving a lasting legacy in scholastic theology.

Born in Florence in 1576, Antonio Neri was ordained as a priest but soon turned his attention to the art and science of glass. He studied at the Medici court and experimented with recipes for colored and clear glass. In 1612, he published 'L'Arte Vetraria', the first systematic guide to glassmaking techniques. Neri traveled to Venice to observe Venetian glassmakers and refined his methods. His treatise was translated into multiple languages and influenced European glass workshops. He introduced innovations such as lead glass and enameling, earning him a lasting reputation as a pioneer of modern glass technology. Neri died in 1614, just two years after his landmark publication.

Theodor Leber studied medicine at the University of Freiburg before specializing in ophthalmology. As a professor at Heidelberg and later at Leipzig, he conducted groundbreaking research on ocular blood vessels. In 1869, he first described Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, a condition causing sudden vision loss. He also characterized Leber's congenital amaurosis, a genetic disease affecting retinal development. His extensive publications laid the foundation for modern clinical ophthalmology.

Herman Hollerith studied engineering and statistics before designing a punched-card system to process the 1890 U.S. census. His machines dramatically reduced tabulation time, revolutionizing data processing. In 1896, he founded the Tabulating Machine Company, which later merged to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company in 1911. This organization ultimately evolved into International Business Machines (IBM), a leader in computing. Hollerith's innovations laid the groundwork for modern information technology and automating large-scale data analysis.

Dee Brown was an American historian and author renowned for his works on the American West. His 1970 book, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," provided a groundbreaking Native American perspective. Brown wrote novels, biographies, and non-fiction spanning topics from frontier life to botany. A librarian by training, he combined meticulous research with narrative flair. His writing challenged traditional historical views and fostered empathy for indigenous peoples. Brown's legacy endures in his vivid storytelling and advocacy for historic truth.

Vance Haynes is an American archaeologist and geologist noted for his pioneering research on Paleoindian cultures. He served as a professor at the University of Arizona where he developed advanced methods of geochronology and radiocarbon dating. His work at Clovis and Folsom sites helped shape understanding of early human migration in North America. Haynes has authored numerous books and papers on archaeological theory and field methods. He continues to influence the study of ancient human history through teaching and publications.

Seymour Papert earned his doctorate at the University of Cambridge and worked alongside Jean Piaget at the University of Geneva. In 1970, he joined MIT where he co-developed the Logo programming language to teach children computational thinking. Papert founded the Artificial Intelligence Lab (later the Media Lab) at MIT and advanced the theory of constructionism in education. He wrote influential books such as "Mindstorms" that advocated for learning through making and exploration. His work has had a lasting impact on educational technology and interdisciplinary research until his death in 2016.

Gene H. Golub earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1960 and later joined Stanford University. He co-authored the seminal text "Matrix Computations" which became a standard reference in numerical linear algebra. Golub made groundbreaking contributions to algorithms for eigenvalue problems and least squares computations. He founded the journal SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications and influenced computational science education. His research has had lasting effects on scientific computing, data analysis, and engineering applications until his death in 2007.

Nicholas Frayling (born 1944) is an English priest, theologian, and academic who served as Dean of Chichester Cathedral from 2002 to 2014. He was educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge, and ordained in the Church of England in 1968. Frayling has published scholarly works on religious history and Anglican liturgy. He has held academic posts at multiple universities and contributed to theological education. His leadership at Chichester was marked by community outreach, interfaith initiatives, and the preservation of the cathedral’s heritage.

Born in the Soviet Union and emigrating to the United States as a child, Eugene Volokh pursued a career in constitutional law. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School and joined the faculty at UCLA School of Law in 2001. Volokh's scholarship focuses on the First Amendment, free speech, and academic freedom, with influential articles published in leading law reviews. In 2002, he launched the Volokh Conspiracy, a legal blog that features analysis from top scholars and practitioners. The blog has become a key resource for legal developments and commentary on contemporary issues. Volokh is also involved in teaching and mentoring law students, offering courses on constitutional law, criminal procedure, and church-state relations. His clear writing and thoughtful analysis have made him a respected voice in both academia and public discourse.