Robert Koch

2495 Words5 Pages

Robert Koch was a physician and a scientist. According to Blevins and Bronze (2010), his work “launched the new field of medical bacteriology,” and “ushered in a ‘golden age’ of scientific discovery and a new era of public health” (p. E744). Brock (1999) claimed Robert Koch was “one of the most important figures in medical science and was also the founder of bacteriology” (p. xxi). How did one man accomplish so much and impact the world around him in such a profound way? The three areas that must be examined in order to unveil the magnitude of influence that he possessed are as follows:
• The Life of Robert Koch
• Microscopes, Research, and Revolutionary Discoveries
• Beyond one man
These topics will dive into the history surrounding Robert Koch and show how incredible his impact was not only in his time, but continuing to this day.
The Life of Robert Koch
Robert Koch was born on December 11, 1843, in Clausthal, Germany. He was one of thirteen children, although two of them died in infancy. His father was a mining engineer and his mother had her hands full at home with all of the children. Robert’s Uncle Eduard Biewend, was very educated, devoted to studying nature, and interested in photography. He took Robert on excursions as a child and got him interested in the natural sciences. Robert attended the University at Göttinberg, where at first he was going to study to be a teacher, but after the first semester changed to study medicine. In 1866, at the age of 23, he received his medical degree and passed the state exam to practice medicine. At first he wanted to travel as a ship’s doctor, but he got engaged to Emmy Fraatz, as so he stayed to take a position as a medical assistant at the Hamburg General Hospital. The p...

... middle of paper ...

...tions and epidemiology around 1900. Studies In History & Philosophy Of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, 41(3), 232-240. doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2010.04.012
Jakobi, S. (2010). An inexpensive and safe experiment to demonstrate Koch's Postulates using citrus fruit. Journal Of Biological Education (Society Of Biology), 44(4), 190-192.
Lagerkvist, U. (2003). Pioneers of microbiology and the Nobel Prize. Riveredge, NJ: World Scientific.
Münch, R. (2003). Robert Koch. Microbes & Infection, 5(1), 69-74.
Robert Koch Institute. (2013a). Museum and Mausoleum. Retrieved from http://www.rki.de/EN/Content/Institute/History/mausoleum_node_en.html
Robert Koch Institute. (2013b). Welcome to the Robert Koch Institute. Retrieved from http://www.rki.de/EN/Home/homepage_node.html
Tyagi, F. S. (2006). The Timeless Legacy of Robert Koch. Resonance: Journal Of Science Education, 11(9), 20-28.

Open Document