Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau (14.10.1801 —15.10.1883) — a Belgian physicist, a member of the Belgian Academy of Sciences (1836). He was born in Brussels. He graduated from the law faculty of the University of Liège (1824), and in 1829 received the degree of Doctor of Science. In 1835 —72 he was professor at the University of Ghent. In 1843 he lost his sight but did not give up scientific work.
His research concerned optics, in particular physiological optics, the theory of vision and the theory of colours, as well as molecular physics, magnetism and vibrations. He developed the stroboscopic method of studying vibrations, putting forward (1833) the idea of the stroboscope. In 1843 he carried out an experiment proving the action of surface-tension forces on the shape of the surface of a liquid (the Plateau experiment).
A member of a number of academies of sciences.