Joseph Needham
Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham CH FRS FBA (/ˈniːdəm/; 9 December 1900 – 24 March 1995) was a British biochemist, historian of science and sinologist known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology, initiating publication of the multivolume Science and Civilisation in China. A focus of his was what has come to be called the Needham Question of why and how China had ceded its leadership in Science and Technology to Western countries.
Joseph Needham | |||||||||
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| Born | Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham 9 December 1900 London, England | ||||||||
| Died | 24 March 1995 (aged 94) Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England | ||||||||
| Alma mater | Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (BA, MA, PhD) | ||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Biochemist, historian of science, sinologist | ||||||||
| Known for | Science and Civilisation in China | ||||||||
| Spouses | |||||||||
| Awards | Leonardo da Vinci Medal (1968) Dexter Award (1979) | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 李約瑟 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 李约瑟 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | Li (surname 李) Joseph | ||||||||
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He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1941 and a fellow of the British Academy in 1971. In 1992, Queen Elizabeth II conferred on him the Order of the Companions of Honour, and the Royal Society noted he was the only living person to hold these three titles.