The year 1857 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed here.

Awards

• Copley Medal: Michel Eugène Chevreul
• Wollaston Medal for geology: Joachim Barrande

Births

• August 8 - Henry Fairfield Osborn (d. 1935), paleontologist.

Deaths

• May 23 - Augustin Louis Cauchy (b. 1789), mathematician.
• July 29 - Charles Lucien Bonaparte (b. 1803), naturalist.
• August 12 - William Conybeare (b. 1787), geologist.
• December 15 - George Cayley (b. 1773), naturalist and inventor.