Template:Infobox scientist
 | The design and content of biographical infoboxes must comply with Wikipedia's verifiability policy, as well as the infobox and biographical style guidelines. All content displayed by this template must adhere to the biographies of living persons policy when applicable. Unsourced or poorly sourced contentious material must be removed, especially if it is potentially libelous. |
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| This template is a customized wrapper for {{Infobox person}}. Any field from {{Infobox person}} can work. It will also emit the same hCard and Geo microformats as {{Infobox person}}. Questions? Just ask here or over at Template talk:Infobox person. |
 | This template uses Lua: |
{{Infobox scientist}} may be used to summarize information about a person who is a scientist, medic, engineer, mathematician or (scientific) academic.
This template may also be used as a module (sub-template) of {{Infobox person}}; see Wikipedia:Infobox modules for guidance on such usage.
Usage
| {{{name}}} | |
|---|---|
| [[File:{{{image}}}|220px]] | |
| {{{caption}}} | |
| Born | {{{birth_date}}} |
| Spouse | {{{spouse}}} or {{{spouses}}} |
Blank syntax
This infobox may be added to an article by copy-pasting the code below at the start of the article, completing it (or replacing any of the commented information) and then grouping those parameters left unused together. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto;">
| Infobox scientist |
|---|
</syntaxhighlight>
Parameters
These are the most commonly-used (optional) parameters. The infobox implements all parameters from {{Infobox person}}, see here for a complete list.
If no name is provided, the infobox defaults to the article's name.
| Parameter | Explanation |
|---|---|
| honorific_prefix | To appear on the line above the person's name. This is for honorifics of serious significance that are attached to the name in formal address, such as knighthoods, "The Honourable", and "His/Her Excellency"; do not use it for routine things like "Dr." or "Ms." |
| name | Insert name of scientist, mathematician or engineer. (Defaults to article title if left blank.) Note: Do not include honorifics, icons, or other images. |
| honorific_suffix | To appear on the line below the person's name. This is for things like <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|honorific_suffix=OBE – honorifics of serious significance that are attached to the name in formal address, such as national orders and non-honorary doctorates; do not use it for routine things like "BA". It is permissible but not required to use the {{post-nominals}} template inside this parameter; doing so requires {{post-nominals|size=100%|...}}.
|
| native_name | The person's name in their own language, if different |
| native_name_lang | IETF language tag e.g. "fr" for French – If more than one, use {{lang}} in native_name= instead.
|
| image | Filename of appropriate image (without "File:" prefix) |
| image_size | Image's width (uses users' default image size if not set) |
| image_upright | Scales the image thumbnail from its default size by the given factor. Values less than 1 scale the image down (0.9 = 90%) and values greater than 1 scale the image up (1.15 = 115%). |
| landscape | Set to yes when using wide, short images. The image height (rather than width) will be limited to 200 pixels.
|
| alt | Image alt text, for visually impaired readers – See WP:ALT. |
| caption | Image caption – If known, include date the image made or creator. |
| birth_name | Birth name – Use only if different from name in header. |
| birth_date | Date of birth: {{Birth date and age}} for living people. For people who have died, use {{Birth date}}. If only a year of birth is known, or age as of a certain date, consider using {{birth year and age}} or {{birth based on age as of date}}. |
| birth_place | Place of birth (e.g. town/city, region, country) |
| death_date | Date of death: {{Death date and age}} (if birth date is known) or {{death date}} (if birth date unknown). See Template:Death date/doc for details on usage. If exact dates are unknown, consider using {{death year and age}}. |
| death_place | Place of death (e.g. town/city, region, country) |
| resting_place | Place of burial, ash-scattering, etc. |
| resting_place_coordinates | Coordinates for place of burial, ash-scattering etc. – Use {{coord}} template. |
| other_names | Former names or nicknames – Separate multiple values by using {{Plainlist}}. |
| siglum | Siglum or monogram, a text shortcut (often formed from the initials of the name, with variations) used to sign work, if relevant. |
| citizenship | Use only when necessary per WP:INFONAT |
| fields | Principal fields of work (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, &c) not occupation (physicist...engineer) |
| workplaces | Key work places, universities, companies, etc. |
| patrons | People who subsidized the scientist's education or research |
| education | Education, e.g. degree, institution, and graduation year, if relevant. |
| thesis_title | Title of the scientist's doctoral thesis |
| thesis_url | URL to the scientist's doctoral thesis |
| thesis_year | The year the thesis was defended and the scientist promoted |
| doctoral_advisor | Name of scientist's doctoral advisor, if applicable |
| academic_advisors | Names of any significant educational advisors (other than doctoral advisor) |
| doctoral_students | Names of any notable doctoral students advised by the scientist |
| notable_students | Names of any notable non-doctoral students advised by the scientist |
| known_for | Key topics/areas of study in which the scientist is notable |
| author_abbrev_bot | If a scientist is the author of a botanical species, insert their botanical author abbreviation here. |
| author_abbrev_zoo | If a scientist is the author of a zoological species, insert their zoological author abbreviation here. |
| awards | Notable awards/prizes received by the scientist |
| signature | Filename of an image of the scientist's signature (if available) |
| signature_type | Change Signature label to for example Seal |
| signature_alt | Alt text for signature |
| website | Official website |
| footnotes | For any footnotes needed to clarify entries above |
| spouse | The scientist's spouse or spouses (with date ranges of marriage) |
| children | Number of children (e.g. three or 3), or list of names if notable, in which case, separate entries using {{Plainlist}} or {{Unbulleted list}}. For privacy reasons, consider omitting the names of children of living persons, unless the children are independently notable. |
| parents | or father/mother, the scientist's parents if independently notable |
| relatives | Other notable relatives |
Guidelines
Information Note: "Lists" in the following are usually suitable for presentation using {{ublist}} (unbulleted list, one item per line) or {{hlist}} (horizontal list, item by item with linewrap).
- name
- This is the name that scientist was usually known by. Do not put the full expanded name here.
- image
- This is the portrait or photo of the scientist. If there is a choice between good images, chose the one from a period where the scientist's work flourished. Avoid photos where the scientist was a child or very elderly, unless there is nothing else available, or the scientist is still alive and elderly.
- image_size
- This should normally be left at the default image size which will let users change the size to their own preference.
- alt
- This should describe only the visual appearance of the image, for visually-impaired readers. It should not repeat the caption. See WP:ALT.
- caption
- The caption should contain the full expanded name of the scientist, year or birth and death, if available, and any relevant details about the photo or portrait.
- birth_name
- Birth name of scientist. Use only if different from name in header. This parameter will be displayed in the "born" field, before birth date and birthplace.
- birth_date
- Birth date of scientist. Use the full formatting that computes the scientist's age.
- birth_place
- Birthplace of scientist. Put town/city followed by country.
- death_date
- Death date of scientist. Use the full formatting that computes the scientists age.
- death_place
- Death place of scientist. Put town/city followed by country. Note: this is the place where the person died, which might be different from burial place.
- resting_place
- Where the scientist was buried, or their ashes scattered
- resting_place_coordinates
- WGS84 coordinates for <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />
|resting_place. Only use if known precisely (i.e. do not give generic coordinates for the cemetery). Use {{Coord}}. - pronunciation
- How to say a person's name generally written in the International Phonetic Alphabet
- siglum
- Siglum, monogram, shortcut, if relevant.
- citizenship
- List countries only. Use only when necessary per WP:INFONAT.
- fields
- List the scientist's principal field or fields of work as described in the article, e.g. Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physiology, Molecular biology, Electronic engineering etc. Avoid using occupations, e.g., Physicist, Zoologist, Surgeon, Inventor.
- workplaces
- List the key work places, universities, companies, organizations etc., at which the scientist worked. Include places where the scientist was officially appointed with a payroll. Exclude minor places at which the scientist performed collaborative visits, or had adjunct appointments.
- patrons
- List notable benefactors who financially supported the scientist's education or research.
- thesis_title
- (or thesis1_title and thesis2_title) If the scientist obtained a doctorate or doctorates, insert the thesis/theses titles, otherwise leave blank.
- thesis_url
- (or thesis1_url and thesis2_url) A link or links to e.g. abstract/s of the scientist's thesis/theses at a university library, or their homepage, etc.
- thesis_year
- (or thesis1_year and thesis2_year) The year/s in which the scientist's thesis/theses were published.
- doctoral_advisor
- (or doctoral_advisors) If the scientist obtained a doctorate, insert their doctoral advisor or advisors, otherwise leave blank.
- academic_advisors
- Insert names of significant academic teachers other than the doctoral advisor: e.g. Master's advisor, postdoctoral supervisor, significant undergraduate mentor/teacher etc. In Cambridge, before 1919, there was no doctorate and so you can insert the relevant Cambridge tutor.
- doctoral_students
- Insert names of doctoral students supervised by the scientist. If a student does not have a wiki article, then comment the name out. It can be reinstated once such an article appears. The idea is to list only those students who are significant enough to warrant their own article.
- notable_students
- Insert names of any notable non-doctoral students taught or supervised by the scientist. These can be undergraduates, postdocs, masters students etc. If a student does not have a wiki article, then comment the name out.
- known_for
- Insert the key topics/areas for which the scientist is notable, e.g. "discovering the electron". In the case of prolific scientists, preferably list the discoveries named after the scientist, e.g. "Maxwell's equations". In the case where a scientist is so prolific that a whole wiki article listing the discoveries exists, insert a link to that page under the label (in italics) "see list" (i.e. <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>see list</syntaxhighlight>).
- author_abbrev_bot
- If a scientist is the author of a botanical species, insert their botanical author abbreviation here. Otherwise leave blank.
- author_abbrev_zoo
- If a scientist is the author of a zoological species, insert their zoological author abbreviation here. Otherwise leave blank.
- spouse
- (or spouses) Name/s of / link/s to the scientist's spouse/s.
- partner
- (or partners) Name/s of / link/s to the scientist's partner/s.
- awards
- List major awards. Put year of award in brackets after name of award. Insert a line break after each award. Avoid awards that are not significant enough to withstand their own wiki article description.
- signature
- Filename of an image of the scientist's handwritten signature (if available).
- signature_type
- Change Signature label to for example Seal.
- signature_alt
- Alt text for the signature. Typically this is just the text of the signature (e.g. "Is. Newton" for File:Isaac Newton signature.svg).
- website
- Official website only. Unofficial websites should be placed under <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>==External links==</syntaxhighlight> in the body of the article. Use {{URL}} as <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline>www
.example .com</syntaxhighlight>. - footnotes
- For any footnotes needed to clarify entries above. This section is also often used to add extra notable items, typically, if the scientist is a relative of another person with a wiki article.
- Common errors to avoid
- Always copy and paste the infobox template from here, not another article, in order to guarantee the full correct version.
- If a field does not apply, leave it blank. Do not delete it. This is because is acts as a place-holder and future editors may find a field applies after all. You may put a comment in the blank field that it is not applicable if you are sure of this.
Example
| Paul Dirac | |
|---|---|
| File:Dirac 4.jpg | |
| Dirac, photographed in 1933 | |
| Born | 8 August 1902 |
| Spouse |
Margit Wigner (m. 1937) |
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" style="overflow:auto;">
| Paul Dirac | |
|---|---|
| File:Dirac 4.jpg | |
| Dirac, photographed in 1933 | |
| Born | 8 August 1902 |
| Spouse |
Margit Wigner (m. 1937) |
</syntaxhighlight>
Parameters removed
- As of 26 September 2023[update] — influences and influenced are no longer valid parameters.
- As of 9 November 2025[update] — nationality is no longer valid.
TemplateData
TemplateData documentation used by VisualEditor and other tools
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See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Infobox scientist in articles based on its TemplateData.
TemplateData for Infobox scientist <templatedata> { "description": "Infobox for a scientist", "format": "Template:\n\n", "params": { "name": { "label": "Name", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Name of scientist" }, "native_name": { "label": "Native name", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "The person's name in their own language, if different." }, "native_name_lang": { "label": "Native name lang", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Name of scientist in other language" }, "image": { "label": "Image", "type": "wiki-file-name", "required": false, "description": "Image of scientist" }, "image_size": { "label": "Image size", "type": "number", "required": false, "description": "Image's width" }, "alt": { "label": "Alternative text", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Image alt text, for visually impaired readers" }, "caption": { "label": "Caption", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Image caption if known" }, "birth_name": { "label": "Birth name", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Scientist's birth name" }, "birth_date": { "label": "Birth date", "type": "line", "required": false, "description": "Scientist's date of birth" }, "birth_place": { "label": "Birth place", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Place of birth" }, "death_date": { "label": "Death date", "type": "line", "required": false, "description": "Date of death" }, "death_place": { "label": "Death place", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Place of death" }, "resting_place": { "label": "Resting place", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Place of burial" }, "resting_place_coordinates": { "label": "Resting place coordinates", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Coordinates for place of burial" }, "other_names": { "label": "Other names", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Former- or nick- names" }, "siglum": { "label": "Siglum", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Siglum, monogram, shortcut" }, "citizenship": { "label": "Citizenship", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Scientist's citizenship." }, "fields": { "label": "Fields", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Principal fields of work not occupation " }, "workplaces": { "label": "Workplaces", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "workplace where scientist worked" }, "patrons": { "label": "Patrons", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Notable people who subsidized the scientist's education or research" }, "education": { "label": "Education", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "University or universities where scientist obtained their degree or degrees" }, "thesis_title": { "label": "Thesis title", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Title of the scientist's doctoral thesis." }, "thesis_url": { "label": "Thesis URL", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "URL to the scientist's doctoral thesis" }, "thesis_year": { "label": "Thesis year", "type": "line", "required": false, "description": "The year the thesis was defended and the scientist promoted." }, "doctoral_advisor": { "label": "Doctoral advisor", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Name of scientist's doctoral advisor, if applicable" }, "academic_advisors": { "label": "Academic advisors", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Names of any significant educational advisors" }, "doctoral_students": { "label": "Doctoral students", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Names of any notable doctoral students advised by the scientist" }, "notable_students": { "label": "Notable students", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Names of any notable non-doctoral students advised by the scientist" }, "known_for": { "label": "Known for", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Topics/areas of study in which the scientist notable" }, "author_abbrev_bot": { "label": "Botanical author abbreviation", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "If a scientist is the author of a botanical species, insert their botanical author abbreviation." }, "author_abbrev_zoo": { "label": "Zoological author abbreviation", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "If a scientist is the author of a zoological species, insert their zoological author abbreviation." }, "awards": { "label": "Awards", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Notable awards/prizes received by the scientist." }, "signature": { "label": "Signature", "type": "wiki-page-name", "required": false, "description": "Filename of an image of the scientist's signature" }, "signature_type": { "label": "Signature type", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Change Signature label to for example Seal." }, "signature_alt": { "label": "Signature alt", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Alt text for signature." }, "website": { "label": "Website", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Official website" }, "footnotes": { "label": "Footnotes", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "For any footnotes needed to clarify entries above." }, "spouse": { "label": "Spouse(s)", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "The scientist's spouse(s)", "aliases": [ "spouses" ] }, "children": { "label": "Children", "type": "string", "required": false, "description": "Number of children (e.g. three or 3), or list of names, in which case, separate entries using Template:Plainlist or Template:Unbulleted list. For privacy reasons, consider omitting the names of children of living persons, unless the children are independently notable." }, "partner": { "aliases": [ "partners" ], "label": "Partner(s)", "description": "The scientist’s partner(s)", "type": "string" } }, "paramOrder": [ "name", "native_name", "native_name_lang", "image", "image_size", "alt", "caption", "birth_name", "birth_date", "birth_place", "death_date", "death_place", "resting_place", "resting_place_coordinates", "other_names", "siglum", "citizenship", "fields", "workplaces", "patrons", "education", "thesis_title", "thesis_url", "thesis_year", "doctoral_advisor", "academic_advisors", "doctoral_students", "notable_students", "known_for", "author_abbrev_bot", "author_abbrev_zoo", "awards", "signature", "signature_type", "signature_alt", "website", "footnotes", "spouse", "partner", "children" ] } </templatedata> |
Microformats
The HTML markup produced by this template includes an hCard microformat, which makes the person's details parsable by computers, either acting automatically to catalogue articles across Wikipedia or via a browser tool operated by a reader, to (for example) add the subject to an address book or database. For more information about the use of microformats on Wikipedia, please see the microformat project.
Sub-templates
Date-of-birth ("bday") information will only be included in the microformat if {{birth date}}, or {{birth date and age}} are used in the infobox. (Do not use these if the date is before 1583). Be cautious about using these if the person is still living, per WP:DOB.
To include a URL, use Template:URL, specifying the url as the value of unnamed param 1; example:
{{URL|1=https://www.somedomain.com/foo/bar?q=weird_stuff&xyz=more_stuff}}.
Please do not remove instances of these sub-templates.
Classes
hCard uses HTML classes including:
- adr
- agent
- bday
- birthplace
- category
- country-name
- deathdate
- deathplace
- extended-address
- family-name
- fn (required)
- given-name
- honorific-prefix
- honorific-suffix
- label
- locality
- n
- nickname
- note
- org
- role
- url
- vcard
Please do not rename or remove these classes nor collapse nested elements which use them.
Category added by this template
Tracking categories
- Category:Pages using infobox scientist with unknown parameters (0)
- Category:Pages using infobox scientist with conflicting parameters (0)
- Category:No local image but image on Wikidata (19) – Used by Template:Wikidata image to track articles where an infobox has no image but Wikidata has an image name. To exclude articles from this category, add an image or <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />
|nocat_wdimage=yesto the infobox.
- Pages with script errors
- Templates calling Infobox person
- Templates tracking Wikidata
- Lua-based templates
- Pages with broken file links
- Templates using TemplateData
- Templates generating hCards
- Biographical templates usable as a module
- Infobox templates with module parameter
- Science and nature infobox templates
- Technology and applied science infobox templates
- Templates that add a category