CHARLES DARWIN (1809 1882)

Charles Darwin, a biologist/scientist best known for his work as a naturalist

and his theory of evolution to explain biological change.
Other naturalists believed that all species either came into being at the
beginning of the world, or were created over the course of natural history.
In either case, the species were believed to remain much the same
throughout time. However, Darwin noticed similarities among species all
over the globe (in 1831, Darwin set foot on a five-year survey trip around
the globe with the HMS Beagle, observing Mother Nature as well as
collecting a wide variety of natural specimens), along with variations
based on specific locations, leading him to conclude that they had
gradually evolved from common ancestors. He came to believe that
species survived through a process called natural selection, where
species that successfully adapted to meet the changing requirements of
their natural habitat have a higher chance of survival and thrived, whereas
those who failed to evolve and reproduce died off.
Although Darwins theory of evolution remains controversial till this very
day as it conflicts with the popular ideology of Creationism- the religious
view that all of nature was created by God- it still abounds.
Source of reference: http://www.biography.com/people/charles-darwin9266433#death-and-legacy
ARISTOTLE (384-322 BC)
Aristotle is an accomplished Greek philosopher who is often credited with
forming the foundation of many Western philosophical ideas as well as his
theories, writings and journals which are still highly regarded in the field of
social science.
Aristotle was attracted to dissecting marine life while he was at his school
in Athens, which eventually led to many of his field journals that were
surprisingly accurate for the time. He observed much of the marine life on
Lesbos and was able to come to a conclusion that sea mammals were
different than fish. Aristotles writings gave descriptions of catfish,
octopus, and etc, his study of marine biology allowing the anatomy of
many sea creatures to be studied in more precise details than they ever
had before.
Although nearly 2 millenniums have passed, yet Aristotles influence on
the field of biology has remained a stronghold on Western sciences.
Source of reference: http://famousbiologists.org/aristotle/

CARL LINNAUES (1707-1778)

One of the most influential scientists of his time, Carl Linnaeus dedicated
his lifes work to develop and refine a way to classify and name all life on
Earth. His theory of classification allowed for clear and easy descriptions of
plants, animals and minerals, as well as being so straightforward with his
naming system that it is still used by scientists today.
Linnaeus identified ecology as a distinct area of investigation, emphasizing
the interrelationships in nature as the economy of nature. He was also
one of the pioneer naturalists to describe food chains.
Source of reference: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-ofnatural-history/biographies/linnaeus/
RACHEL LOUISE CARSON (1907-1964)
Rachel Carson, writer, scientist and ecologist whose books (such as Silent
Spring, etc.) are credited with advancing the global environmental
movement.
Carson began her career as an aquatic biologist and became a full-time
writer later on. She was recognized as a gifted writer and published
multiple bestsellers such as the sea trilogy-The Sea Around Us, The Edge
of the Sea and Under the Sea Wind, all of which allow her readers to
explore the whole of ocean life from the shores to the depths.
Late in the 1950s, Carson turned her attention to conservation, especially
certain environmental issues that she believed to have been caused by
synthetic pesticides. Hence, she published Silent Spring in 1962, which
since brought environmental concerns to an unprecedented share of the
Americans. Although met with fierce oppositions and criticisms by
chemical companies, it induced a reversal in national pesticide policy,
which then led to a nationwide ban on certain pesticides, as well as
inspiring a grassroots environmental movement that impacted the nation
on a large scale.
Source of reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Carson
ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE (1823-1913)

Alfred Russel Wallace was one of the most remarkable intellectuals of the
nineteenth century. Not only was he the co-founder of Darwins theory of
evolution by natural selection, but he also made very many other
significant contributions, not just to biology, but also to subjects as diverse
as glaciology, land reform, so on and so forth. His pioneering work on
evolutionary biogeography-which is the study of how plants and animals
are distributed) led him to become recognized as the subjects father.
Wallace is also regarded as the pre=eminent collector and field biologist of
tropical regions of the nineteenth century.
Source of reference: http://wallacefund.info/