Sorry for the obscure subject line, but I couldn't figure out how to
phrase it.
I'm writing to ask for help in a course on "Physics of the Twentieth
Century" that I will be teaching to non-majors this fall. As part of
the coursework, I'd like to ask each student to write a paper
describing the life and work of a 20th-century physicist. I'm trying
now to come up with a list of physicists who would make good subjects.
I've come up with quite a few, but of course the list is heavily
biased by my own interests. Also, at the moment there are not many
women on it. Would readers of phys-l mind sending me additional
suggestions? Subjects could be living or dead, and I'm hoping to
include at least a few people who've done physics outside traditional
academic physics departments (e.g. people working on the physics of
climate, people who've worked primarily in industry, etc.).