List of Jesuit scientists
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Members of the Society of Jesus have a historical and occasionally controversial role in the history of science. This is relational to the List of Christian thinkers in science, but different in that it is not required the person be of any significance in discussing the Relationship between religion and science. Also this deals with fictional characters as well as historical people.
[edit] Real Jesuits
- François d'Aguilon-Belgian mathematician and physicist who worked on optics.
- Giuseppe Asclepi-Italian astronomer.
- Giuseppe Biancani-Astronomer and selenographer who wrote Sphaera mundi, seu cosmographia demonstrativa, ac facili methodo tradita
- Michel Benoist-Missionary to China and scientist.
- Mario Bettinus-Mathematician and astronomer.
- Jacques de Billy-He wrote on number theory and astronomy.
- Michał Boym-Missionary to China known for botanical and zoological works.
- Rudjer Boscovich-Polymath famous for his atomic theory in part. Also for devising perhaps the first geometric procedure for determining the equator of a rotating planet from three observations of a surface feature and for computing the orbit of a planet from three observations of its position.
- Tommaso Ceva-Mathematician and poet who wrote a work on geometry.
- Teilhard de Chardin-Palaeontologist and philosopher involved in the discovery of the so-called Peking Man.
- Christopher Clavius-Most noted in connection with the Gregorian calendar, but also his arithmetic books were used by many mathematicians including Leibniz and Descartes.
- Guy Consolmagno-An astronomer at the Vatican Observatory who has primarily devoted himself to planetary science.
- George V. Coyne-Astronomer whose research interests have been in polarimetric studies of various subjects including Seyfert galaxies.
- Albert Curtz-German astronomer.
- James Cullen (mathematician)-Known for the Cullen numbers.
- Johann Baptist Cysat-He did important research on comets and the Orion nebula.
- Jean-Charles de la Faille-Belgian mathematician.
- Gyula Fényi-Hungarian astronomer noted for his observations of the Sun.
- José Gabriel Funes-Argentine who currently heads the Vatican Observatory, succeeding George Coyne.
- Christoph Grienberger-Astronomer and mathematician.
- Francesco Maria Grimaldi-He coined the word 'diffraction' and used instruments to measure geological features on the Moon.
- Maximilian Hell-A director of the Vienna Observatory who wrote astronomy tables and observed the Transit of Venus.
- Athanasius Kircher-In his Scrutinium Pestis of 1658 he noted the presence of "little worms" or "animalcules" in the blood, and concluded that the disease was caused by microorganisms. This is antecedent to germ theory.
- Wenceslas Pantaleon Kirwitzer-Astronomer and missionary to China.
- Franz Xaver Kugler-Most known for his study of cuneiform tablets he was also a chemist.
- Antoine de Laloubère-Mathematician who studied the properties of the helix.
- Charles Malapert-Known for observing the stars of the southern sky and being against Copernicus.
- Paul McNally-American astronomer who was a director of the Georgetown observatory.
- Christian Mayer-Czech astronomer known for pioneering study of binary stars.
- Alexius Sylvius Polonus-Polish astronomer.
- Matteo Ricci-Mathematician, math translator, and noted for importance to the Jesuit China missions.
- Giovanni Battista Riccioli-He wrote several works on astronomy and was the first to note that Mizar was a "double star."
- Giovanni Girolamo Saccheri-A mathematician who was perhaps the first European to write about Non-Euclidean geometry.
- Christoph Scheiner-Astronomer noted for a dispute with Galileo Galilei over the discovery of Sunspots.
- Angelo Secchi-He discovered the existence of solar spicules and drew an early map of Mars
- Ignacije Szentmartony, "obtained the title of royal mathematician and astronomer" and used his astronomical knowledge in mapping parts of Brazil
- André Tacquet-His work prepared ground for the eventual discovery of calculus.
- Franz de Paula Triesnecker-Austrian astronomer.
- Theodor Wulf-Among the first experimenters to detect excess atmospheric radiation.
- Niccolo Zucchi-Italian astronomer known for his study of Jupiter and work on telescope design.
- Giovanni Battista Zupi-Italian astronomer who discovered that Mercury had orbital phases.
[edit] Fictional Jesuits
The Jesuit scientist has often been a stock character in science fiction. The purpose of such a character is to allow the, usually non-Catholic, author to explore the relationship between science and religion. Here are some memorable examples.
- Father Ramon Ruiz-Sanchez-A character in James Blish's A Case of Conscience.
- The Sparrow-Features several Jesuit scientists with the main one being the linguist Emilio Sandoz.
- The Star by Arthur C. Clarke features a Jesuit scientist in a prominent role.
