Welcome to "Geek of the Week"; here we honor one Muggle geek and one Wizard geek who embody Ravenclaw spirit...
when they succeed, they soar, and when they fail, they fail spectacularly!
Alan Turing (1912 - 1954)
"We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done."
This year Alan Turing would have been 100 years old, and
geeky folks are celebrating the life of a man widely considered to be the father of both computer science and artificial intelligence.
Turing showed a talent for math and science at an early age; he began working with Einstein's theories at the age of 16. While at Cambridge, Turing developed the
concept of a machine that is considered the basis for the modern theory of computation.
During World War II, Turing worked as a cryptoanalyst, breaking codes with a self-designed machine. Later, his
Turing test determined a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior on par with that of a human being (xkcd extra credit
here). Though he was a victim of prejudice during his lifetime, the scientific contributions of Alan Turing have secured his place as one of the most important people of the 20th century.
Find out more about Alan Turing on Wikipedia.
Newton Scamander (1897 - 1991)
Famed Magizoologist Newton Scamander was sorted into Hufflepuff during his time at Hogwarts, but his accomplishments have benefitted the whole of the wizarding world. Ravenclaws over the years have marveled at his tireless research in compiling the comprehensive text
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written prior to his appointment as Headmaster of Hogwarts; he was awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class for this and other contributions to his field.
Find out more about Newton Scamander on the Harry Potter Wiki.
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