I would like to suggest some scientists which I did not notice in any previous messages - I think they are indeed among the greatest scientists ever and not many people actually know them.
1. Mikhail Lomonosov which is the real polymath and has made significant contributions to science and art. Everyone should know him. The story of his life is also quite interesting and motivating for students.
2. Henri Poincaré another 'universalist' - a great mathematician and physicist of the XX century and of all times.
3. Somewhat standard, I was just afraid you forgot about him by chance -
Évariste Galois - is an absolutely genius person with tragic faith, dying at the age of 20 and having at that age already contributed the foundation of the major branch of abstract algebra...
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Oh, I am sorry, Galois was already addressed.
1. Mikhail Lomonosov which is the real polymath and has made significant contributions to science and art. Everyone should know him. The story of his life is also quite interesting and motivating for students.
2. Henri Poincaré another 'universalist' - a great mathematician and physicist of the XX century and of all times.
3. Somewhat standard, I was just afraid you forgot about him by chance - Évariste Galois - is an absolutely genius person with tragic faith, dying at the age of 20 and having at that age already contributed the foundation of the major branch of abstract algebra...