• Question: Who is your favourite scientist and why

    Asked by TJ to Lisa, Mark, Rachel, Sammie, Stephen, Tim on 12 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Tim Duckenfield

      Tim Duckenfield answered on 12 Mar 2018:


      My favourite scientist was a German mathematician called Emmy Noether. She did some quite abstract work that takes a while to understand, but when you do, wow! She explained using maths how conservation laws, such as the conservation of momentum or conservation of energy, come about because of symmetry. When I saw her work, it was the most profound and awesome thing I have ever seen!

    • Photo: Sammie Buzzard

      Sammie Buzzard answered on 12 Mar 2018:


      I think Katherine Johnson is a real inspiration and she’s only recently getting the recognition she deserves- she worked for NASA and did loads of super important calculations such as for the moon landing. The first American to orbit the Earth trusted her calculations more than that of the computer. Being a women and black during that time it must have been really difficult but she still achieved so much, you can learn more about her in the film Hidden Figures I’d really recommend it!

      I also think Emmy Noether was pretty cool too, good choice Tim!

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