Table of Contents

Introduction Peter Harman; 1. William Gilbert Stephen Pumfrey; 2. William Harvey Andrew Cunningham; 3. Isaac Newton Rupert Hall; 4. William Whewell Richard Yeo; 5. Adam Sedgwick David Oldroyd; 6. Charles Babbage Anthony Hyman; 7. Charles Darwin Peter Bowler; 8. Stokes and Kelvin David Wilson; 9. James Clerk Maxwell Simon Schaffer; 10. Russell and Whitehead Ivor Grattan-Guinness; 11. Thomson and Rutherford Brian Pippard; 12. Gowland Hopkins Harmke Kamminga; 13. Sherrington and Adrian Tilli Tansey; 14. Hardy and Littlewood Robin Wilson; 15. Arthur Eddington Malcolm Longair; 16. Paul Dirac Helge Kragh; 17. Alan Turing Andrew Hodges; 18. Crick and Watson Robert Olby; 19. Mary Cartwright Tom Körner; 20. Joseph Needham Gregory Blue; 21. Molecular biology Max Perutz; 22. Radioastronomy Antony Hewish; 23. Stephen Hawking Simon Mitton.

Promotional Information

A portrait of some of the most eminent scientists associated with the University of Cambridge.

About the Author

Peter Harman is Professor of the History of Science at Lancaster University. At Cambridge he lectured in the history of science and was a Research Fellow of Clare Hall. He has written several books published by Cambridge University Press. Simon Mitton studied physics at the University of Oxford, following which he did a PhD in radio astronomy at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. He is the Senior Fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge. This is his tenth book.

Reviews

'... a fascinating biographical compilation.' Douglas Palmer, New Scientist '... a valuable reminder of our scientific heritage and an entertaining and informative read ...' Astronomy & Geophysics '... contains many fascinating stories across a wide range of disciplines ...' George Ellis, Physics World '... a lively, balanced account that is accessible, interesting and thought-provoking to the non-specialist as well as to the historian of science or society.' Norma Emerton, Cambridge 'These selections can but tempt the prospective reader to delve deeper into the delightful insights provided by this volume. While intended to contribute to the popular consumption of the history of science, Cambridge Scientific Minds also epitomizes the best of recent developments in the history of science itself. The authors and editors are to be congratulated for a job very well done.' Isis '... strong on context ... The book can be recommended to anyone wanting to get an overview of the history of science ... this is a book that will be read with pleasure and advantage ...' Ambix