Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau ( 1801 - 1883 )

Birth: Brussels, Belgium (14 October 1801) Death: Ghent, Belgium (15 September 1883) Research Field: Physics, visual perception Career: Professor of Physics, Ghent (1835); studied physiological optics and molecular forces; went blind, having damaged his eyes by staring at the sun in 1829 (1843); continued his work with the help of his wife, his son, and his son-in-law Membership: Foreign Member Election Date: 24/11/1870.