Independent scientists
An independent scientist (historically also known as gentleman scientist) is a financially independent scientist who pursues scientific study without direct affiliation to a public institution such as a university or government-run research and development body. The expression "gentleman scientist" arose in post-Renaissance Europe, but became less common in the 20th century as government and private funding increased.
4 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
CultureScienceFellows of the Royal SocietySocial philosophersPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of scienceMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyAphoristsRecipients of the Copley MedalWriters about religion and scienceAge of EnlightenmentBurials at Westminster AbbeyMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences17th-century English male writersEnglish AnglicansGerman LutheransHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican male non-fiction writersMembers of the French Academy of Sciences17th-century English writersAmerican people of English descentEnglish agnosticsEnglish travel writersPhilosophers of technologyRoyal Medal winnersSimple living advocates19th-century English writersCharles DarwinMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesPeople associated with electricityRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Rhetoric theoristsUniversity of Göttingen alumni17th-century English philosophersAlumni of the University of EdinburghAmerican political philosophersEnglish abolitionistsEnglish physicistsIrish AnglicansMembers of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesUtilitarians17th-century Anglo-Irish people18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American Enlightenment18th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century AnglicansActivists for African-American civil rightsAmerican autobiographersAmerican deistsAmerican male journalistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican philosophers of religionAmerican slave ownersDeaths from coronary thrombosisDiscoverers of chemical elementsForeign members of the Royal SocietyGerman travel writersHuman evolutionHumor researchers18th-century American politicians, Signers of the United States Constitution, American Freemasons18th-century German LGBTQ peopleAlumni of Christ's College, CambridgeCircumnavigators of the globeCreators of writing systemsEnglish alchemistsEnglish scepticsFellows of the Royal Geographical Society, 19th-century British biologists, 19th-century English naturalists, British evolutionary biologists, Fellows of the Zoological Society of London, Fellows of the Linnean Society of LondonFluid dynamicistsGay scientistsHuman geographersIndependent scholarsMasonic grand mastersMembers of the Lincean AcademyPeople educated at Eton CollegePhilosophers from MassachusettsPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaTheoretical biologistsUniversity of Jena alumniWriters from Philadelphia, Recreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston
Benjamin Franklin
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the scientist, writer, printer, diplomat and American founding father Benjamin Franklin.
1 March 2012
Featuring: Simon Middleton, Simon Newman, Patricia Fara
CultureFellows of the Royal SocietySocial philosophersPhilosophy writersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophers of literatureTheorists on Western civilizationWriters about activism and social changePhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of scienceMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyWriters about religion and scienceRecipients of the Copley MedalAphoristsAge of EnlightenmentHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesAmerican male non-fiction writersAmerican people of English descentSimple living advocatesPhilosophers of technologyPeople associated with electricityRhetoric theoristsAmerican political philosophersIndependent scientistsAmerican male journalistsHumor researchers18th-century pseudonymous writersActivists for African-American civil rightsAmerican slave ownersAmerican autobiographersAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican deistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of religionIndependent scholarsMasonic grand mastersPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaCreators of writing systemsPhilosophers from Massachusetts18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American EnlightenmentWriters from Philadelphia, Recreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston18th-century American politicians, Signers of the United States Constitution, American FreemasonsDarwin: On the Origins of Charles Darwin
Melvyn Bragg presents a series about the life and work of Charles Darwin. Darwin's early life and time at Cambridge, where his interests shifted from religion to natural science.
5 January 2009
Featuring: Jim Moore, Steve Jones, David Norman, Colin Higgins
ScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyRecipients of the Copley MedalBurials at Westminster AbbeyMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesEnglish AnglicansMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesEnglish agnosticsRoyal Medal winnersEnglish travel writers19th-century English writersRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Charles DarwinAlumni of the University of EdinburghUtilitariansEnglish abolitionistsIndependent scientists19th-century AnglicansDeaths from coronary thrombosisHuman evolutionTheoretical biologistsMembers of the Lincean AcademyCircumnavigators of the globeEnglish scepticsAlumni of Christ's College, CambridgeFellows of the Royal Geographical Society, 19th-century British biologists, 19th-century English naturalists, British evolutionary biologists, Fellows of the Zoological Society of London, Fellows of the Linnean Society of LondonHumboldt
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Prussian naturalist and explorer, Alexander Von Humboldt. A hero in South America; Charles Darwin described him as ‘the greatest scientific traveller who ever lived’.
28 September 2006
Featuring: Jason Wilson, Patricia Fara, Jim Secord
ScienceFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyRecipients of the Copley MedalMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesGerman LutheransMembers of the French Academy of SciencesMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesUniversity of Göttingen alumniMembers of the Bavarian Academy of SciencesRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Members of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and HumanitiesIndependent scientistsForeign members of the Royal SocietyGerman travel writersHuman geographersGay scientists18th-century German LGBTQ peopleUniversity of Jena alumniRobert Boyle
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Robert Boyle, a pioneering scientist and one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society.
12 June 2014
Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Michael Hunter, Anna Marie Roos
SciencePhilosophers of scienceWriters about religion and science17th-century English male writers17th-century English writers17th-century English philosophersEnglish physicistsIrish AnglicansIndependent scientistsDiscoverers of chemical elements17th-century Anglo-Irish peopleEnglish alchemistsPeople educated at Eton CollegeFluid dynamicists