My Science School

Dr Vikram Sarabhai is widely known as the ‘father of the Indian space programme’. He helped establish the Indian space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and led it as chairman. 

Son of Ambalal Sarabhai, he came from the famous Sarabhai family of India who were major industrialists committed to the Indian independence movement. Vikram Sarabhai married the classical dancer Mrinalini in 1942. The couple had two children. His daughter Mallika gained prominence as an actress and activist, and his son Kartikeya too became an active person in science. During his lifetime, he practiced Jainism. He attended Gujarat College, Ahmedabad, but later moved to the University of Cambridge, England, where he took his tripos in natural sciences in 1940. In 1945 he returned to Cambridge to pursue a doctorate and wrote a thesis, “Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical Latitudes,” in 1947.

He led the Sarabhai family-owned business conglomerate. His interests varied from science to sports to statistics. He set up the Operations Research Group (ORG), the first market research organization in the country. Most notable among the many institutes he helped set up are the Nehru Foundation for Development in Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA) and the (CEPT). Along with his wife Mrinalini Sarabhai, he founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Other projects and institutions initiated or established by him include the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) in Kalpakkam, Variable Energy Cyclotron Project in Calcutta, Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) in Hyderabad and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in Jaduguda, Jharkhand.

Picture Credit : Google 

Educated at a coeducational, state-funded secondary school in the small town of Beccles, Suffolk, Dorothy fought to be allowed to study science along with the boys. She succeeded and was accepted in 1928 to read for a degree in chemistry at Somerville College, University of Oxford. As an undergraduate, she was one of the first to study the structure of an organic compound by using X-ray crystallography.

Crowfoot moved to the University of Cambridge in 1932 to carry out doctoral research with British physicist John Desmond Bernal, who was to be a lifelong influence. In his laboratory, she extended work that he had begun on biological molecules, including sterols (the subject of her thesis), and helped him to make the first X-ray diffraction studies of pepsin, a crystalline protein. She was also highly receptive to his strongly pro-Soviet views and belief in the social function of science. 

In April 1953, together with Sydney Brenner, Jack Dunitz, Leslie Orgel, and Beryl M. Oughton, Hodgkin was one of the first people to travel from Oxford to Cambridge to see the model of the double helix structure of DNA, constructed by Francis Crick and James Watson, which was based on data and technique acquired by Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin. According to the late Dr Beryl Oughton (married name, Rimmer), they drove to Cambridge in two cars after Hodgkin announced that they were off to see the model of the structure of DNA.

Hodgkin became a Reader at Oxford in 1957 and she was given a fully modern laboratory the following year. In 1960, Hodgkin was appointed the Royal Society's Wolfson Research Professor, a position she held until 1970. This provided her salary, research expenses and research assistance to continue her work at the University of Oxford. She was a Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford from 1977 to 1983.

Picture Credit : Google

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin's life as a researcher began when she received a chemistry book containing experiments with crystals as a child. After studying at Oxford University and despite graduating with good grades, as a woman, she had difficulty finding work. Finally, J.D. Bernal of Cambridge University, a pioneer of modern molecular biology, gave her a chance. After receiving her PhD from Cambridge University, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin returned to Oxford University in 1934 where she remained for the rest of her career, achieving a host of brilliant discoveries in the field of molecular biology.

When X-rays pass through a crystalline structure, the patterns formed can be captured as photographic images, which are then used to determine the crystal's structure. During the 1930s, this method was used to map increasingly large and complex molecules. A mass of X-ray diffraction images, extensive calculations, and astute analysis helped Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin to successfully determine the structure of penicillin in 1946 and, in 1956, also the structure of vitamin B12, which has the most complex structure of all vitamins.

Picture Credit : Google

Dorothy Hodgkin was an English chemist who determined the structure of penicillin and vitamin B12, for which she won the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. She also t elucidated the structure of insulin in 1969 after 35 years of work. Her work helped save millions of lives from infection, diabetes and anaemia.

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1910. to John and Molly Crowfoot who worked in North Africa and the Middle East in colonial administration and later as archaeologists. She studied chemistry at Somerville College. University of Oxford, She was among the first to study the structure of an organic compound by using X-ray crystallography. She went on to do her doctorate under British physicist John Desmond Bemal at the University of Cambridge. She discovered how x-ray crystallography can be used to determine the structure of vitamin D and stomach enzyme pepsin. Dorothy began teaching at Somerville, one of Oxford's few colleges for women. There she established an X-ray laboratory and began working on X-ray photographs of insulin. Working with Australian pathologist Howard Florey and his colleagues at Oxford, Dorothy determined the structure of penicillin, describing the arrangement of its atoms in three dimensions. In the mid1950s Hodgkin discovered the structure of vitamin B12. Her structural studies helped scientists understand how molecules carry out their tasks in living systems.

Hodgkin devoted the latter part of her life to the cause of scientists in developing countries such as India and China. She strived for improved East-West relations and disarmament. She served as the president of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Aairs, an organisation that brings together scientists from around the world to discuss peaceful progress towards international security and development.

Picture Credit : Google

John Dalton, English meteorologist and chemist, a pioneer in the development of modern atomic theory.

The most important of all Dalton's investigations are concerned with the atomic theory in chemistry. While his name is inseparably associated with this theory, the origin of Dalton's atomic theory is not fully understood. The theory may have been suggested to him either by researches on ethylene (olefiant gas) and methane (carburetted hydrogen) or by analysis of nitrous oxide (protoxide of azote) and nitrogen dioxide (deutoxide of azote), both views resting on the authority of Thomas Thomson.

From 1814 to 1819, Irish chemist William Higgins claimed that Dalton had plagiarised his ideas, but Higgins' theory did not address relative atomic mass. However, recent evidence suggests that Dalton's development of thought may have been influenced by the ideas of another Irish chemist Bryan Higgins, who was William's uncle. Bryan believed that an atom was a heavy central particle surrounded by an atmosphere of caloric, the supposed substance of heat at the time. The size of the atom was determined by the diameter of the caloric atmosphere. Based on the evidence, Dalton was aware of Bryan's theory and adopted very similar ideas and language, but he never acknowledged Bryan's anticipation of his caloric model. However, the essential novelty of Dalton's atomic theory is that he provided a method of calculating relative atomic weights for the chemical elements, something that neither Bryan nor William Higgins did; his priority for that crucial step is uncontested.

Picture Credit : Google

Hawking had a rare early-onset, slow-progressing form of motor neurone disease (MND; also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord, which gradually paralysed him over decades.

Hawking had experienced increasing clumsiness during his final year at Oxford, including a fall on some stairs and difficulties when rowing. The problems worsened, and his speech became slightly slurred. His family noticed the changes when he returned home for Christmas, and medical investigations were begun. The MND diagnosis came when Hawking was 21, in 1963. At the time, doctors gave him a life expectancy of two years.

When Hawking first began using a wheelchair in the late 1970s he was using standard motorised models. The earliest surviving example of these chairs was made by BEC Mobility and sold by Christie's in November 2018 for £296,750. Hawking continued to use this type of chair until the early 1990s, at which time his ability to use his hands to drive a wheelchair deteriorated. Hawking used a variety of different chairs from that time, including a DragonMobility Dragon elevating powerchair from 2007, as shown in the April 2008 photo of Hawking attending NASA's 50th anniversary; a Permobil C350 from 2014; and then a Permobil F3 from 2016.

Hawking's speech deteriorated, and by the late 1970s he could be understood by only his family and closest friends. To communicate with others, someone who knew him well would interpret his speech into intelligible speech. Spurred by a dispute with the university over who would pay for the ramp needed for him to enter his workplace, Hawking and his wife campaigned for improved access and support for those with disabilities in Cambridge, including adapted student housing at the university. In general, Hawking had ambivalent feelings about his role as a disability rights champion: while wanting to help others, he also sought to detach himself from his illness and its challenges. His lack of engagement in this area led to some criticism.

Picture Credit : Google

Florence Seibert, in full Florence Barbara Seibert, American scientist, best known for her contributions to the tuberculin test and to safety measures for intravenous drug therapy.

Seibert contracted polio at age three, but became an outstanding student, graduating at the top of her high-school class and winning a scholarship to Goucher College, Towson, Maryland, from which she graduated in 1918. 

While working for the Phipps Institute, Seibert traveled widely, working with such institutions as the University of Uppsala in Sweden. In the mid-1930s her work culminated with her development of the purified protein derivative, or PPD, that would become the basis for what is today known as the Standard TB Test. 

Tuberculosis is a relatively rare bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It can infect and become dormant for months or years, but once detected, it is treatable with a course of antibiotics over several months. Active TB is highly contagious, however and affects less than one percent of the U.S. population. About 500 people die from tuberculosis every year in the U.S. 

Seibert’s breakthrough procedure was readily accepted by the medical community. In 1938 she was awarded the Trudeau Medal from the National Tuberculosis Association for this work. Her TB test became standard in the United States in 1941, and a year later, was adopted by the World Health Organization as well. That year, the American Chemical Society awarded her the Garvan Medal. 

Picture Credit : Google

Enrico Fermi's early research was in general relativity and quantum mechanics, but he soon focused on the newer field of nuclear physics. He won the Nobel Prize in 1938 for his work in radioactivity, allowing him to escape fascist Italy and settle in the United States. He then built the first nuclear reactor (Chicago Pile-1) and worked on the Manhattan Project. Fermi died in Chicago in 1954. Element 100, fermium, is named in his honor.

Soon, Fermi's physics career and personal life flourished. In 1928, he married Laura Capon, the daughter of a respected Jewish family in Rome. They had one son, Giulio, and a daughter named Nella. Professionally, Fermi was elected professor of theoretical physics at the University of Rome.

In 1934, Fermi began his most important work with the atom, discovering that nuclear transformation could occur in nearly every element. One of the elements' atoms he split was uranium. This work led to the discovery of slowing down neutrons, which led to nuclear fission and the production of new elements beyond the traditional Periodic Table.

Picture Credit : Google

Situated safely in the United States, in 1939, Fermi was appointed professor of physics at New York's Columbia University. While there, Fermi discovered that if uranium neutrons were emitted into fissioning uranium, they could split other uranium atoms, setting off a chain reaction that would release enormous amounts of energy. His experiments led to the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in Chicago, on December 2, 1942, under Chicago's athletic stadium.

Subsequently, during World War II, Fermi became one of the principal leaders on the Manhattan Project, which focused on the development of the atomic bomb. To further his commitment to his new country, Fermi and his wife became American citizens in 1944.

After the war, Fermi was appointed to the General Advisory Committee for the Atomic Energy Commission. In October 1949, the commission met to discuss the development of the hydrogen bomb. Fermi was appalled at the prospect, however, and later co-authored an addendum to the committee's report condemning the H-bomb in the harshest language. When President Harry S. Truman ordered the development of the bomb—ignoring Fermi's and others' warnings—Fermi returned to Los Alamos, New Mexico, to help with the calculations, hoping to prove that making a superbomb wasn't possible.

Picture Credit : Google

Neil Armstrong was a NASA astronaut most famous for being the first person to walk on the moon, on July 20, 1969. Armstrong also flew on NASA's Gemini 8 mission in 1966.

In 1962, Armstrong was selected to be part of NASA's second group of astronauts, who flew on the two-seat Gemini missions to test out space technology, and the three-seat Apollo missions that ultimately took 12 people to the surface of the moon. Armstrong's first flight was as command pilot of the Gemini 8 mission in March 1966 — the sixth crewed mission of that series. 

Armstrong and pilot David Scott completed the first orbital docking of two spacecraft, joining their Gemini 8 spacecraft to an uncrewed Agena target vehicle. However, the two-man crew experienced a serious problem when a thruster on the Gemini 8 spacecraft became stuck open. With the astronauts whipping around faster than one revolution per second, Armstrong managed to gain control again by using the re-entry system thrusters. The event was the first serious emergency in space and although the mission ultimately ended safely, the spacecraft was forced to splash down early because the re-entry system was already expended.

Armstrong also narrowly avoided a nasty accident in May 1968, this time within Earth's atmosphere, while flying the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle — a machine that could fly somewhat like a lunar module and simulate landings on the moon. Fuel for the attitude thrusters ran out and Armstrong was forced to eject just seconds before the vehicle crashed, NASA reported. Armstrong escaped unharmed.

Picture Credit : Google

Neil Armstrong and his fellow Apollo 11 crew Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins autographed hundreds of envelopes which their families could sell and make money in case they didn’t return home during the moon mission in 1969. As the astronauts could not afford life insurance, Neil came up with the idea considering the extreme danger they were about to face. Fortunately, those autographed envelopes weren’t needed, as the astronauts returned safely to Earth after the moon-landing feat.

Armstrong's envelopes have spent decades as a family heirloom. Now they're giving one away for a good cause. The family donated the envelope to be auctioned off to support the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, The money will go towards building a legacy of new firsts, whether it's the first manned mission to an asteroid, to Mars or beyond. The foundation, established by the Mercury 7 astronauts, promotes educational opportunities in the sciences.

This is the first time one of the envelopes has been offered up by the Armstrong estate, but previous envelopes have sold for thousands of dollars at auction. The minimum bid for the Armstrong envelope is $15,000. It's the crown jewel of the auction, which also features an opportunity to have dinner with Jim Lovell for a minimum bid of $4,500.

Picture Credit : Google

Nooni

I find Nooni from the "Magic of the Lost Temple" by Sudha Murthy inspiring. Nooni is a 12-year-old girl, who enjoys learning new things and going on adventures, such as climbing and hiking. The adventure starts when Nooni goes to her grandparents house in a village in Karnataka. There she hears a story about a lost temple and a stepwell. Nooni and her friends set off to explore the forest. There they find a pit, which Nooni insists they explore. Inside the pit, they find the ruins of an old temple! They go back and tell Nooni's Ajja (grandfather) about it. Ajja calls the archeological department and they start digging. After a few weeks of work, they discover the lost temple and the stepwell! The next week, Nooni goes back home, but promises to return during the holidays. Nooni inspires me because she is adventurous and is always ready to learn new things.

Joan of Arc

The story of Joan of Arc of France inspires me a lot. She fought against both the English and the Bulgarians in the 100 Years' War between England and France during 14th and 15th century. She was a French patriot, who helped the Dauphin to get the throne. After the kingdom had been established, Dauphin alias King Charles, the victorious made her the general of all his armies. Even though she was a woman she led the army. Because of her leadership, the army was able to recapture all the land they had lost, forcing the English to flee. Unfortunately, she was captured by the Bulgarians and she was proclaimed as a heretic. She courageously fought against her enemies even when her forces ran away. She also had the will to live, and even though she was captured by her enemies, she did not lose heart and tried to escape twice. It was also believed that she talked with angels and saints. Though she lived long ago, she is still a figure that I look up to.

Sudha Murty

The female author who inspired me is Sudha Murty. I started her reading novels from my second grade. I became a huge fan immediately after reading her bestselling novel "The Magic Of The Lost Temple". I also started reading her other novels and I am fascinated by her mesmerising stories. Her novels have helped me improve my vocabulary. She uses simple words which make it easier for kids like me to understand her stories. In addition to her books, I admire her simplicity. Even though she comes from a rich family she always wears simple outfits and she spreads kindness and simplicity in her messages to children. I love watching her videos as well. She connects with children quickly. Thank you for inspiring me, Sudha Murty Ajji.

Marie Curie

I learnt about Marie Curie while reading her biography "Madame Curie: A Biography of Marie Curie" written by her daughter Eve Curie. Marie was the first woman ever to win the Nobel Prize and the first person to win two Nobel prizes in different subjects. Her story is truly inspiring. Marie lost her mother at the age of 10. Five years later, she fell sick. She was not allowed to study at the university (due to Czars diktat). Despite all this, she kept on finding her way towards her studies and research, and yielded great outcomes. She got the Nobel Prize (1903) in Physics for her work in the area of radioactivity (she cointed the term herself), and Nobel Prize (1911) in Chemistry for the discovery of two strong radioactive elements "Polonium" and "Radium". Her commitment towards science and research will keep inspiring young women for the generations to come.

Erica Hale

The female protagonist who inspires me is 'Erica Hale from the series "Spy School". She is a third-year student in the CIA spy school and she is smart and strong. She is also known as Ice queen. Most of the time, she sits alone and reads a book, while no one dares to talk to her. She is extremely beautiful, kind and sweet but it is hard to catch her attention. She wishes to be a field agent when she graduates from spy school, which she probably will as even the academy knows her as a very strong, sincere, smart and competitive person. The best thing about her is that she doesn't need to be told anything, she is aware of everything that's happening around her even when she isn't a part of it. She is good at reasoning, which helps her in taking quick decisions in difficult situations. She can survive anything. Because of her photographic memory, she has read and memorised the entire CIA manual. She is also good at defusing a bomb and hand-to-hand combat skills.

Little woman, big dreams

Josephine March from "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott is the one female lead who has captivated my heart. The novel follows the lives of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy each complete with their own identities, attitudes, and ambitions. Among them, Jo is portrayed as vehement, vibrant and energetic with a strong passion for writing - much like Alcott herself. As the sisters grow up, Jo becomes more and more confused and frightened to see them leave due to marriage and even death. The events in her life lead to her emotional development. The reason she has inspired me, though, is because of the individuality she preserves throughout the book. She has taught me to be open with my opinions, and not be afraid of standing on my own. Jo March is the example of the woman I wish to be-bold, vocal and independent.

Velu Nachiyar

If we can enjoy true freedom in our country, it is because of the brave hearts, who laid down their lives for the sake of their motherland. One such great soul is Velu Nachiyar, the first queen to pick up arms against the British.

In her childhood, she was trained in many forms of martial arts and mastered several Indian and foreign languages. When the British killed her husband

(Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiya Thevar), she escaped with her daughter and lived outside her kingdom for 8 years. In this period, she strengthened her army. At the right opportunity, she arranged an attack and destroyed all the British's ammunitions. She captured the traitors and regained her kingdom. The Sivagangai region was successfully ruled by her for another 10 years. Reading her story always inspires me to respect and love my motherland.

Brains over brawn

I have read numerous books with female protagonists. Among all of them, I find the character of Matilda Wormwood from Roald Dahl's book "Matilda" to be the most inspiring and motivating. Matilda is a genius, but her father is a mean crook and her mother is not too bright. Her horrible headmistress, Miss Trunchbull thinks that Matilda is the source of all the mischief in class. Matilda has a few clever and extraordinary tricks up her sleeve. Along with her lovely teacher, Miss Honey, she discovers that she has a special power to move things with her eyes alone. She helps Miss Honey get her house and wages back from Miss Trunchbull. I am inspired by Matilda's will to gain knowledge and overcome the criticism from her parents.

A team player

One of the many female characters or protagonists who inspired me is Hermione Granger from the "Harry Potter' series. I know a lot of people will write about her, but she is worth all the praise. She is a team player and the only person who stays with Harry throughout his quest. She is the only person who believes Harry did not put his name in the goblet of fire. She stays with Harry even when his best mate Ron leaves him. Hermione considers Harry as a brother and supports him. She is often teased by Ron as an emotion less creature and Draco calls her a mud blood (a magical child born from unmagical parents), but she doesn't pay attention to it. She inspires me to be a team player and to stay strong outside even when you are feeling sad.

Carol Danvers

"I am not going to fight your war, I am going to end it." Captain Marvel. Carol Danvers also known as Captain Marvel, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She is portrayed as a former U.S. air force pilot who develops superpowers when she is exposed to the energy of the tesseract. Danvers has a troubled childhood, but she clears all the obstacles which came in her way. She is a brave female protagonist who inspired me a lot. I like that Carol falls down a lot of time in her life, but she manages to get back up again. When she loses all of her old memories, she turns into a Kree's weapon and a member of Starforce. As Captain Marvel with superpowers, she stops the Kree invasion, which t was being led by Ronan the accuser. Captain Marvel's motto is never to give up in any situation.

Picture Credit : Google

Mark Twain worked as an apprentice pilot on a steamboat named Pennsylvania, on the Mississippi River. He got his pilot license in 1859.

Twain's pen name comes from a nautical phrase that means 'two fathoms deep,' which is safe depth for a steamboat to ply.

This part of Mark Twain’s life had a huge impact on his greatest writing, and it was in this time that he obtained the material he needed to write Life on the Mississippi.  Reading through the book, it is obvious how much respect Twain has for the river itself.  This is evident through the ways in which he describes its incredible size, and at the same time its minute complexities.  His detailed descriptions and picturesque use of language within Life on the Mississippi serve to prove to Twain’s audience that he is indeed a serious and well spoken author.  It is obvious that Twain affinity for the river itself is the source and backbone of this book, while Twain also manages to bring out the eccentricities of not only the river, but also of the people who populate it.  These stories of workers, farmers, and steamboat captains serve to bring the novel alive for the audience. 

Twain earned a great deal of money from his writings and lectures, but he invested in ventures that lost most of it—such as the Paige Compositor, a mechanical typesetter that failed because of its complexity and imprecision. He filed for bankruptcy in the wake of these financial setbacks, but in time overcame his financial troubles with the help of Henry Huttleston Rogers. He eventually paid all his creditors in full, even though his bankruptcy relieved him of having to do so. Twain was born shortly after an appearance of Halley's Comet, and he predicted that he would "go out with it" as well; he died the day after the comet made its closest approach to the Earth.

Picture Credit : Google

In Kaun Banega Crorepati 11 finale episode, Sudha Murthy shared the story of how she became the first woman engineer of her village Shiggaon and went on to become the first female engineer at TELCO.  

Her appointment in TELCO is an interesting tale in itself. There was a time when women were not employed by India's largest auto manufacturer company TELCO. However, Murthy changed that and became the first woman engineer in the company. When the author, philanthropist appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati 11 finale episode, she shared amazing life stories wherein she revealed this story as well and then went on to win Rs 25,00,000.

In the show, Murthy shared the story of how she became the first woman engineer of her village Shiggaon and went on to become the first female engineer at TELCO.  Talking about the incident, Murthy said, "When I was in college in 1974, I got a scholarship to study in America and I was preparing to go there. However, one day I came across a TELCO job vacancy advertisement but the advertisement mentioned that only men can apply."

Picture Credit : Google

The youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize for literature is Rudyard Kipling (UK, b. 30 December 1865, d. 18 January 1936) who won the prize in 1907. Rudyard Kipling was also the first English language author to win the prize.

Kipling's experiences during this time formed the backbone for a series of stories he began to write and publish. They were eventually assembled into a collection of 40 short stories called Plain Tales From the Hills, which gained wide popularity in England.

In 1889, seven years after he had left England, Kipling returned to its shores in hopes of leveraging the modest amount of celebrity his book of short stories had earned him. In London, he met Wolcott Balestier, an American agent and publisher who quickly became one of Kipling's great friends and supporters. The two men grew close and even traveled together to the United States, where Balestier introduced his fellow writer to his childhood home of Brattleboro, Vermont.

Picture Credit : Google