A short presentation about the life and works of several Religious Catholic Scientists for use by schools, colleges, universities and church groups.

1. Catholic Scientists
A Collection of Religious Catholic Scientists
- Part 1 -
© The Catholic Laboratory
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2. Hermann
Contractus
1013 - 1054
Monk
Born a cripple
Theology, mathematics,
astronomy, music, Latin,
Greek and Arabic
Poet and chronicler
Built astronomical and musical
instruments
© The Catholic Laboratory
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3. Robert Grossteste
1175 - 1253
Bishop of Lincoln
Head of Oxford University
Insisted on use of original
authorities and experiment in
science
Wrote a commentary on the
‘Physics’ of Aristotle
Investigated meteorology, light,
colour, cosmogony and optics
Opposed papal abuses of the time
© The Catholic Laboratory
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4. Albertus Magnus
1200’s
Authority on physics, geography,
astronomy, mineralogy,
chemistry, zoology, and
physiology
“The aim of natural science is not
simply to accept the statements of
others, but to investigate the
causes that are at work in nature”
He understood that the Church
is not opposed to study of nature
Patron Saint of Scientists
© The Catholic Laboratory
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5. Roger Bacon
1214 - 1294
Great scientist but not a prudent
one
Wrote on reflection of light,
mirages, celestial bodies, eclipses
and conjunctions.
T to explain tides, proved
ried
Julian calendar wrong, discussed
gunpowder possibility of steam
vessels, microscopes and telescopes
and many others things which
eventually came to pass
© The Catholic Laboratory
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6. Nicolas of Cusa
1400 - 1464
Cardinal, mathematician and
canon lawyer
W on law, philosophy,
rote
theology and science
Astronomical views were
completely independent of the
time - he did not support them
with observation
Stated that celestial bodies were
not strictly spherical, nor are
their orbits circular
© The Catholic Laboratory
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7. Christopher Sheiner
1575 - 1650
Astronomer and priest
Professor of mathematics
Invested the pantograph - a
copying instrument
Undertook a systematic study
of the sun for 16 years
Studied the eye and confirmed
retina as ‘seat’ of vision
© The Catholic Laboratory
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8. Nicoaus Steno
1638 - 1686
Danish pioneer in both anatomy and
geology
Studied the brain, heart & nerve
system, and discovered the parotid
salivary gland (named ‘Stensen’s
Duct’ after Steno)
The father of geology and
stratiography, proposing theory of
Convert to Catholicism from
Lutheranism and became Bishop
Dedicated his religious life to helping
the poor
Beatified by Pope John Paul II in
1987 © The Catholic Laboratory
www.catholiclab.net

9. Roger Joseph
Boscovish
1711 - 1787
Mathematician, astronomer,
physicist, poet, diplomat, priest
Investigated the shape of the
earth, gravitation, and orbit of
comets
Pope’s advisor on engineering
and mapped the Papal States
Instrumental in getting decree
against Copernicus dropped
© The Catholic Laboratory
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10. Pierre-Andre Latreille
1762 - 1833
Zoologist and priest
Father of entomology
Member of French
Academy of Sciences
Member of Royal Swedish
Academy of Sciences
Assigned many of the
insect taxa still in use today
© The Catholic Laboratory
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11. Angelo Secchi
1818 - 1878
Italian astronomer and Jesuit
Director of the observatory at the
Pontifical Gregorian University
Pioneered astronomical
spectroscopy and is a founding
father of astrophysics
Achievements include discovery
of 3 comets, cataloguing double
stars, and developing a system of
stellar classification.
© The Catholic Laboratory
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12. Gregor Mendel
1822 - 1884
Father of Genetics
Teacher until 1851, he studied
mathematics, physics, and
natural sciences
His experiments on sweet
peas are the foundation for
our understanding of genetics
and inheritance
Darwin had read Mendel -
according to Darwin’s cousin
© The Catholic Laboratory
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13. Georges Lemaitre
1896 - 1965
Physicist and priest
Father of cosmology
He united Einstein’s
equations of general relativity
and Hubble’s observations
Proposed the ‘primeval atom
theory’ of the universe - a
precursor to the ‘The Big
Bang’ theory
© The Catholic Laboratory
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14. You - maybe?
Over 1000 years of Catholic
Science
Over 200 ‘noted’ Catholic
Scientists, many of whom
were and are priests
The Catholic Church is
credited with the birth of
science during the 11th
Century
Proof that it is possible to be
a Scientist and be Catholic!
© The Catholic Laboratory
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