May 02

Stjepan Gradić was a Croatian philosopher and mathematician born in 1613 in Perast. He studied theology and philosophy in Rome, earning a doctorate that anchored his scholarly pursuits. Gradić authored treatises on Aristotelian logic and Euclidean geometry, seeking to integrate classical philosophy with early modern science. An active member of the intellectual circle in the Republic of Ragusa, he also held ecclesiastical positions such as archdeacon. His mathematical examinations of geometric constructions influenced subsequent scholars in Southeastern Europe. He passed away on May 2, 1683, remembered for bridging humanistic philosophy and mathematical inquiry.

James Gates Percival was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1795 and graduated from Yale University before studying medicine and serving as a surgeon in the U.S. Army. In the 1830s, he published poetry collections that blended romantic themes with American landscapes and received acclaim for his literary contributions. He was appointed Connecticut's first State Geologist and conducted pioneering surveys that laid the groundwork for systematic geological mapping in the United States. As a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Percival bridged the disciplines of literature and science and advocated for interdisciplinary study. His work influenced both the poetic and scientific communities and cemented his reputation as a multifaceted scholar. He died on May 2, 1856, leaving a lasting legacy at the intersection of poetic expression and earth science.

Clara Immerwahr was born in Polkendorf, Germany, in 1870 and became the first woman to earn a PhD in chemistry from the University of Breslau. In 1901, she married Nobel Prize-winning chemist Fritz Haber and collaborated in his laboratory while increasingly opposing the militarization of science. A vocal critic of chemical warfare, she advocated for peaceful applications of chemistry and for wider opportunities for women in academia. Immerwahr's moral stance highlighted the ethical dimensions of scientific research amid World War I. She died on May 2, 1915, in a tragic act often interpreted as a protest against the use of chemical weapons. Today, she is honored as a pioneering female scientist and a moral voice in the history of chemistry.

Born in 1848, Johann Palisa was a prolific astronomer credited with the discovery of 123 asteroids over his career. He began his work at the University Observatory in Vienna and later led the Austrian Naval Observatory in Pola. Palisa's meticulous sky surveys and precise observations advanced the study of minor planets. A popular lecturer and author, he inspired generations of astronomers. His legacy endures in the asteroid belt, where several bodies bear his name.

Born in 1866, Ernest Starling made groundbreaking contributions to physiology, including the Starling equation describing fluid exchange and Starling's law of the heart. Together with William Bayliss, he discovered the hormone secretin, coining the term 'hormone' in 1905. He held the first Chair of Physiology at University College London and later led the physiology department at Cambridge. A respected educator, he trained numerous scientists and authored seminal textbooks. His research laid the groundwork for modern cardiovascular and endocrine physiology.

Born in 1903, Natta studied chemistry at the University of Milan and earned his doctorate in 1929. He became a professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan, focusing on polymer research. Natta developed catalysts that enabled the production of stereoregular polymers such as polypropylene. His work revolutionized the plastics industry and led to widespread commercial applications. In 1963, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Karl Ziegler. Natta continued his research until his death in 1979, leaving a major legacy in polymer science.

John Carew Eccles earned his medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1926 and conducted groundbreaking research on nerve cell function. Collaborating with Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley, he elucidated the mechanisms of synaptic transmission, work that won him the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Eccles served as professor of physiology at the University of Otago and held honorary positions at institutions worldwide. His publications set the foundation for modern neuroscience and inspired generations of researchers. Eccles was knighted in 1958 and received numerous international honors. He passed away in 1997, remembered as a pioneer in understanding the brain's electrical language.

Paulo Freire was a leading figure in the development of critical pedagogy and educational philosophy. He argued that education could empower oppressed individuals by fostering critical consciousness and dialogue. His seminal work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, introduced innovative teaching methods that challenged traditional banking models of education. Freire's ideas have influenced educators, activists, and policymakers around the world. He served as Secretary of Education in São Paulo and advised international organizations on literacy programs. His legacy continues to inspire movements for social justice and democratic learning environments.

William Thomas Tutte was a brilliant mathematician who helped decrypt the German Lorenz cipher at Bletchley Park during World War II. His work on the Fish cipher significantly shortened the war by providing Allied forces with critical intelligence. After the war, Tutte moved to Canada and became a leading academic at the University of Waterloo. He developed the theory of matroids and introduced the Tutte polynomial, which has applications in combinatorics and statistical physics. Tutte received numerous honors, including membership in the Royal Society and the Order of Canada. His combination of wartime heroism and lasting mathematical breakthroughs has cemented his place in scientific history.

Izold Pustõlnik was born in Ukraine in 1938 and later became a prominent figure in Estonian astronomy. He served as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Tartu and contributed extensively to the study of solar and stellar atmospheres. Pustõlnik played a key role in developing modern astrophysical methods during the Soviet era. He published numerous papers on solar activity and spectroscopic analysis. His mentorship of young astronomers helped shape future research in Estonia. He remained active in the scientific community until his passing in 2008, leaving behind a rich legacy of scholarship.

Akira Tonomura was a Japanese physicist celebrated for groundbreaking experiments in electron holography that visualized magnetic fields at the nanoscale. He held a doctorate in physics and conducted research at institutions including IBM Research and the University of Tsukuba. His innovative use of electron microscopy provided new insights into superconductivity and magnetic domain structures. He published extensively and mentored a generation of scientists in condensed matter physics. As an author, he wrote influential textbooks on electron optics and holography. Tonomura's work earned him international recognition and awards, solidifying his legacy in modern physics.

Guy Carawan (1927–2015) was an American folk musician and musicologist whose work became synonymous with the civil rights movement. Born in Los Angeles, he earned a degree in folklore and ethnomusicology at UCLA. In 1960, at a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee conference in South Carolina, Carawan taught activists the song 'We Shall Overcome', helping transform it into the movement's anthem. He recorded albums of spirituals, protest songs, and Southern folk music, preserving vanishing traditions. Carawan also led community music workshops and served as a song leader at civil rights events across the United States. Later, he continued his scholarship as a professor, publishing research on oral traditions and community singing. His legacy endures in the power of music as a tool for social change.