While studying
Anthropology, there are many relevant sub-categories that define the true
nature of the science that is Anthropology. The field of astronomy is not only
a pure science such as physics or chemistry, but it also has an anthropological
aspect that theoretically explains earth’s origins, the human
race’s evolution, and the environments in which these were created. One
such man played a key role in revolutionizing thought in the late twentieth
century pertaining to astronomy, evolution, and even biology. Carl E Sagan
received many awards and was recognized by many people during his life.
Believed by many to be the world’s greatest populizer
of science, with his literature, research and teachings, he reached millions of
people as an author, commentator of the popular PBS television series Cosmos,
and as the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and director
of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell
University.
Born November 9, 1934, Sagan
received doctorates in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Chicago in 1960. He began his
career at Harvard University, but became a
Full Professor at Cornell in 1971. Sagan received numerous
awards throughout his career including the Pulitzer Prize, as well as several
honorary degrees from American colleges and Universities. Sagan had
direct influence on many space missions such as NASA’s Mariner, Viking
and Voyager missions, all of which involved study- of other planets within our
solar system.
Sagan also did pioneering
research in biology and evolution, both directly related to anthropology. While
studying the universe and its history, Sagan posed many theories on the origin
of the earth and mankind. Sagan published over 600 papers, wrote or co-wrote
more than 20 books, commentated a mini-series on PBS called Cosmos, which was
the most watched television show in history, generating more than 500 million
viewers in over 60 countries. Near the end of his life even co-produced a movie
based on his book Contact. Yervant Terzian, chairman of Cornell’s astronomy department
once said after Sagan’s death: "Carl was a candle in the dark. He
was, quite simply, the best science educator in the world this century. He
touched hundreds of millions of people and inspired young generations to pursue
the sciences. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues and friends at Cornell
and around the world."
Sagan was the co-founder of
The Planetary Society. 100,000 members strong, The Planetary
Society is the largest space-interest group in the world. Along with the
founding of this society, Sagan initiated a full-scale search of
extraterrestrial intelligence by revolutionizing radio satellite technology.
These efforts were Sagan’s lifelong passion. Unfortunately there has been
no response or evidence of extraterrestrial life. Sagan once said, regarding
his lifelong search for life in space, "The significance of finding that
there are other beings that share this universe with us would be absolutely
phenomenal, it would be an epochal event in human history."
Carl Sagan died on December
20, 1996 in
Biography of Carl Sagan:Former link
www.bluepoint.com.tr/sagan/bio.html(2007)
CNN
By Luke Haeg