Thomas Young: The last man who knew everything February 19, 2007

"The Whipple Museum's series of talks by popular science authors continues... with author Andrew Robinson discussing the life of Thomas Young, who is celebrated for his work in physics, languages and Egyptology.

Thomas Young was the experimenter who first proved that light is a wave and the physician who showed how the eye focuses. He carried out crucial detective work on deciphering the Rosetta Stone. Often ridiculed and rejected during his lifetime, Young's discoveries were celebrated after his death.

In the modern age, where scientists' work is increasingly specialised, what can the diversity of Young's genius reveal to us? Is such insatiable curiosity for knowledge in so many areas a virtue or a vice?

Andrew Robinson holds degrees from Oxford University (in chemistry) and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He is the author of more than a dozen books on science and the history of science, archaeology and scripts, and Indian history and culture. Andrew was literary editor of The Times Higher Education Supplement from 1994-2006. He is a visiting fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge."

Official Website: http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/whipple/events/thomasyoung/