__ ____Ernst Haeckel __should be on the "scientific hero" list of more people. He is a fine example of an 19th century GeekDad. A German scholar, in the true 19th century sense - biologist/artist/philosopher/physician - he ended up a professor and great researcher who promoted Charles Darwin's work in Germany. Environmentalists would be interested to know he is attributed to being one of the first scientists to coin the word "ecology."

Despite all this, his greatest legacy has to be his art (though I'm sure biologists and others would disagree). Much of his published work contains beautiful scientific drawings. And, given the access I have to an A3 color printer and my recent discovery that a whole collection of his artwork is now available free online - many of these works now adorn my children's walls.

They make fabulous posters and spark much discussion and interest in the biological world. They are fascinating examples of detailed scientific and wildlife art that could inspire future scientists. Or, make more of us wish we'd paid a little more attention in biology.

You can view his work, or download some of these exquisite images to make your own posters at Wikipedia's public domain.