Here are some notable scientists associated with Guadeloupe, spanning history and contemporary research, who have significantly contributed to fields such as medicine, botany, ecology, and microbial research:
Historical Pioneers
Louis‑Daniel Beauperthuy (1808–1871)
Physician born in Basse‑Terre who was among the first to propose that yellow fever and malaria were transmitted by mosquitoes, well ahead of his time in medical science
Ferdinand Joseph L’Herminier (1802–1866)
Guadeloupe-born botanist and zoologist. His work focused on pteridophytes, bryophytes, and regional bird species, with genus Herminiera named in his honor
Jean‑Baptiste Du Tertre (1610–1687)
Dominican friar and naturalist who documented Guadeloupe’s flora, fauna, and indigenous peoples in the 17th century, and was among the first to describe yellows fever outbreaks in the Antilles
Ecologists & Agricultural Scientists
Henri Stehlé (1909–1983)
Founded the INRA Antilles-Guyane research center in Guadeloupe in 1949. He pioneered an ecological approach to tropical agriculture, linking botany, soil protection, and sustainable land management in the Caribbean region
Contemporary Researchers
Olivier Gros & Silvina Gonzalez‑Rizzo
Based at the Université des Antilles, they co-discovered “Ca. Thiomargarita magnifica”, a giant sulfur-oxidizing bacterium in Guadeloupe mangroves. Their work challenges traditional boundaries in microbial biology
Batantou Mabandza and colleagues
Conducted a 2024 study on antibiotic resistance genes in bathing water around Guadeloupe, showing the presence of resistant microbial strains and raising public health concerns
Narcisse Zahibo
Physics professor at Université des Antilles, leads research on oceanic long waves and natural hazard modeling (e.g., tsunami risk), combining fluid mechanics and geoscience approaches
Summary Table
| Name | Field | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Louis‑Daniel Beauperthuy | Medicine / Tropical Disease | Early theory of mosquito-borne disease |
| Ferdinand J. L’Herminier | Botany / Zoology | Pioneering taxonomic work on plants and birds |
| Jean‑Baptiste Du Tertre | Natural History | 17th‑century observations of Antillean flora, fauna & disease |
| Henri Stehlé | Agronomy / Ecology | Founded INRA research center; ecological approach to farming |
| Olivier Gros & Silvina Gonzalez‑Rizzo | Microbiology | Discovered giant bacterium T. magnifica |
| Batantou Mabandza et al. | Public Health / Microbiology | Studied antibiotic‑resistant microbes in bathing water |
| Narcisse Zahibo | Geophysics / Fluid Mechanics | Modeling ocean hazard waves and energy in tropical region |
