Conversational topic: Outstanding scientists of the world
The world knows the names of many great scientists: mathematicians, physicists, chemists, biologists, linguists, historians and others. A lot of discoveries have been made by them in different fields of science and engineering. The role of science when it serves the interests of man and society is very important. It’s a great productive force which helps to develop the economy and solve social problems increasing in this way the well-being of people.
Among the names of great scientists who contributed much to different fields of science and engineering one should mention Isaac Newton, the founder of modern mathematics, physics, spectroscopy, the discoverer of the law of motion and the universal law of gravitation; Dmitri Mendeleyev, the discoverer of the Periodic System of Elements; Mikhail Lomonosov, the great Russian scientist; Alfred Nobel, the great Swedish inventor and industrialist; Igor Kurchatov, Pierre and Maria Curie, the physicists; Yuri Gagarin, the cosmonaut; I. Prigozhin, the chemist; A. Kuprevich, Nobel laureate, biologist and many others.
The list of outstanding people of the world is long. We’d like to speak about the people whose names are closely connected with the development of natural sciences. Special tribute should be paid to the famous physicists. Ernest Rutherford is one of them.
Ernest Rutherford was born in New Zealand in the family of English settlers. At the age of 19 after finishing school he entered the only New Zealand University founded in 1870. At the University Ernest Rutherford was one of the most talented students. He worked and took active part in the work of the Scientific Society of the University. He took great interest in physics and developed a magnetic detector of radio waves. However, he was absolutely uninterested in the practical applications of his discoveries.
After graduation Rutherford went to Cambridge where he continued his investigations under Thomson, the outstanding English physicist. Some years later Rutherford moved to Canada to continue his research work at the University in Montreal. Besides his successful researches he also lectured a lot at the leading Universities of the United States and England. Rutherford’s famous work «Scattering of Alpha and Beta Particles of Matter and the Structure of the Atom» dealt with the so-called «atom models». In the process of splitting the nucleus matter was converted into energy, which for the scientists of the 19th century seemed unbelievable. So, for working out the theory of radioactive disintegration of elements, for determining the nature of alpha particles, for developing the nuclear atom, Rutherford was awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
The names of Russian scientists are also well known all over the world. Almost in all branches of science and technology the Russian scientists played the leading role.
For example Vladimir Vernadsky is considered to be one of the founders of geochemistry and biogeochemistry. The son of a professor, Vernadsky graduated from St. Petersburg University in 1885 and became curator of the university’s mineralogical collection in 1886. Then he served as a professor at Moscow University from 1898 to 1911. After the revolution he was active in scientific and organizational activities. He founded and directed the biogeochemical laboratory of the Academy of Sciences at Leningrad (St. Petersburg).
Vernadsky’s initial work was in mineralogy. He was also a pioneer in geochemistry. He made a detailed study of the Earth and chemical processes going on its crust, including the migration of chemical elements.
Vernadsky was one of the first scientists to recognize the tremendous potential of radioactivity as a source of energy, and he was also one of the first to put forward the idea that radioactivity is vital to many processes of the Earth’s life. His later years were taken up with the study of the life processes in the atmosphere and in the Earth’s crust. Vernadsky is regarded the founder of the theory of the biosphere, that is the total mass of living organisms, which process and recycle the energy and the nutrients available from the environment. His name is well known today. For example, an avenue and a metro station in Moscow bear the name of Vernadsky.
Words to remember
available [ә'veilәbl] – доступный, имеющийся в распоряжении;
avenue [ævәnju:] – проспект;
chemist [kemist] – химик;
to convert [kɔnvә:t] – превращать;
cosmonaut [kɔzmәnɔ:t] – космонавт;
crust [krʌst] – земная кора;
curator [kju'reitә] – куратор, член правления;
to determine [di'tә:min] – определять, устанавливать, решать;
initial [i'niʃl] – начальный, первоначальный;
investigation [in'vesti'geiʃn] – исследование;
laureate [lɔ:riәt] – лауреат;
migration [mai'greiʃn] – миграция, переселение;
nucleus [nju:kliәs] – ядро;
nutrient [nju:triәnt] – питательное вещество;
pioneer [paiә'niә] – инициатор, новатор;
to put forward [put fɔ:wәd] – выдвигать, предлагать;
to recycle [ri:'saikl] – перерабатывать для вторичного использования;
scattering [skætriη] – рассеивание;
settler [setlә] – поселенец;
spectroscopy [spektrәskәupi] – спектроскопия;
splitting [splitiη] – распад;
tremendous [tri'mendәs] – огромный, потрясающий;
tribute [trbju:t] – дань, должное;
universal law [ju:ni'vә:sl lɔ:] – всемирный закон;
vital [vaitl] – жизненный, существенный;
well-being [wel'bi:iη] – благополучие, благосостояние
Exercises
1.Find in the text the English equivalents to the following phrases.
1) Различные области науки;
2) служить интересам человека и общества;
3) производительная сила;
4) особая дань;
5) основатель;
6) лауреат Нобелевской премии;
7) практическое применение;
8) выдающийся исследователь;
9) принимать активное участие;
10) быть абсолютно незаинтересованным;
11) ядро вещества;
12) процесс распада;
13) радиоактивное разрушение элементов;
14) играть ведущую роль;
15) научное общество;
16) громадный потенциал;
17) выдвигать идею;
18) считаться основателем;
19) подробное (детальное) изучение;
20) окружающая среда.
2.Answer the following questions.
1. Who is a scientist?
2. Do you know any outstanding scientists of the world?
3. Which of them made great discoveries?
4. Who discovered the Periodic Law of elements?
5. What famous physicists do you know?
6. What is Ernest Rutherford known for?
7. In what activities did Rutherford take part at the University?
8. What are Rutherford’s famous works devoted to?
9. Are Russian scientists well known in the world and why?
10. Why is Vladimir Vernadsky considered to be one of the founders of geochemistry and biogeochemistry?
11. What was Vernadsky’s initial work?
12. Were any scientists awarded the Noble Prize?
13. What Noble laureates in science do you know?
14. In what fields of economy are their achievements used?
3.Ask your friend:
1) What contemporary scientists does he/she consider to be the most famous ones?
2) Can he/she give any examples when the talented scientist brought more harm than good?
3) Can the inventors of nuclear weapon be considered humanists?
4) Is it possible to stop progress?
5) How he/she understands the role of a scientist in the world history?
4.Imagine the following situation.
In a new district of your town a new street has just been built. The people of the town are now discussing what name should be given to it. You believe that the street should be named after a scientist. Try to convince the jury in it. In your speech present information on:
1) the name of the scientist you would like the street to be named after;
2) where and when he/she was born and worked;
3) the field of science the scientist worked in;
4) the discovery or invention he/she made;
5) where the results of his/her work are used now;
6) why you have chosen this scientist.