“The true laboratory is the mind, where behind illusions we uncover the laws of truth.” - Jagadish Chandra Bose, Indian plant physiologist and physicist, responsible for the invention of the crescograph.
As the stereotypes go, Asians are pressured to be scientists, doctors, and engineers, etc. It makes sense, in school (most of the time) Asians are at the top of the class, working their hats off with extracurriculars. Yet, many of us can’t name more than a few of them. Let’s have a look at a few of them!
1.) Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman: The Father of Raman Spectroscopy
Our first scientist was born in late 19th century Tamilnadu, India. He discovered that when light transverses through a transparent material, some of the deflected light undergoes a change in wavelength and amplitude. This phenomenon for the scattering of light after traversing was termed as the Raman Effect. Raman was the first person from Asia to receive a Nobel prize in any branch of science. Additionally, he completed his Masters of Arts from the University of Madras. Throughout his lifetime he received many awards and accomplishments for his contribution in the field. For example, the Fellow of the Royal Society in 1924, Bharat Ratna in 1954, Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 etc.
2.) Julian Banzon: A Biochemist Who Developed Alternative Fuels From Coconut and Sugarcane
He was a Filipino biochemist and national scientist. Born in the early 20th century in the city of Balanga, Banzon is attributed for his research in alternative fuels. His research in the production of ethyl esters fuels derived from coconuts and sugarcane and method of extraction of residual coconut oil through chemical means has helped immensely in this generation of alternative fuel. The award National scientists of Philippines was won by him in the year 1988, and he passed away in the same year.
3.) Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie: The President Engineer
Habibie was an engineer, an aviation industrialist and a politician. He was born on 25th June 1936 in the Dutch East Indies. During his presidency Indonesia was seen as a landmark and transition to the Reformation era. This all-rounder is known for developing theories on various domains like thermodynamics, construction, and aerodynamics known as the Habibie Theorem and Habibie Method respectively. Also, Habibie worked for the development of the Airbus A-300B aircraft for Messerschmitt. Of course, he was also the third president of Indonesia from 1998 and 1999.
4.) Asha Ve Vos: Blue Whale Project
She is an international award winning marine biologist, ocean educator and a pioneer of blue whale research in the northern part of the Indian ocean. Additionally, Vos is a senior TED fellow, chosen for BBC 100 women award in 2018. Also, she was entitled the Sea Hero of the year 2020. Born in Sri Lanka 1971, Vos completed her bachelor's degree from the university of St. Andrews, a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and a doctorate from the University of Western Australia. She has expertise in the topics like conservation of natural resources, geography, oceans and seas etc.
5.) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: The Missile Man of India
Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabeen Abdul Kalam, the ‘Missile Man of India’, was born late 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Kalam was an Indian aerospace scientist and also the 11th President of India. He is known for his unforgettable contributions in the Indian space program and to his country. Of these, he directed India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), and worked in making healthcare facilities accessible to all. He also headed multiple nuclear tests at Pokhran which declared India as a nuclear-armed state and put him among the best nuclear scientists at that time.
6.) Edgardo Dizon Gomez: The Marine Biologist Who Protected Coral Reefs and Giant Clams
He was born in the Philippines in 1938, and was a biologist who was given the award for the National Scientist of the Philippines. Additionally, he was the founding director of the Marine National Science Institute (in his home country. His research was mainly based on corals and Tricdanca, and completed his Ph.D in Marine Biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
7.) Gloria Lim: The Pioneer of Fungi in Singapore
She was born in 1930 in Singapore and currently she is 91 years old and a retired mycologist. Lim is known for her research on tropical fungi, appointed as the Dean of the faculty of Science in the University of Singapore twice. In fact, she is the first woman dean of the faculty of science in University of Singapore and the first woman Commissioner of the Public.
These amazing people are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to incredible inventions and achievements made by the Asian community.
They tend to be overlooked internationally despite their advances in scientific fields locally and worldwide, so by shining a spotlight on their accomplishments, we hope they no longer go unrecognised.
Will you be the next great Asian scientist?
Writer: Vaishnavi
Designer: Johnny Lau
Editor: Huan Huan, Yukan
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