Throughout our nation’s history, African Americans have made enormous contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)—usually without the credit or recognition they deserve.
Dive into discovery with hands-on exploration
Help your students discover how African American mathematicians, scientists, and engineers shaped our world. From groundbreaking inventions to space exploration, these pioneers’ contributions continue to inspire future generations to dream big and achieve more. Using hands-on ExploreLearning Gizmos, students can explore concepts and discoveries that wouldn’t exist without these influential leaders. Discover more below!
Charles Henry Turner (1907)
Charles Henry Turner, a zoologist and scholar, was the first person to discover that insects can hear and alter behavior based on previous experience. He was a pioneering African American scientist and scholar. Among his most notable achievements, Turner was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Chicago. Explore our animal behavior Gizmo!
Photo credit: https://www.biography.com/scientist/charles-henry-turner
Mary Elliott Hill (1941)
Mary Elliott Hill was an organic and analytical chemist born in North Carolina. She attended the Virginia State College for Negroes, now Virginia State University (VSU) from 1925-1929. Hill was one of the earliest African American women to acquire her master’s degree in chemistry (1941). Her work focused on ultraviolet light and using that to develop analytic methodology. Dive into chemistry with Gizmos!
Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Elliott_Hill
Dr. Dorothy Lavinia Brown (1948)
Dr. Dorothy Lavinia Brown became the first African American woman surgeon in the South, eventually being made chief of surgery at Nashville's Riverside Hospital. She was also the first African American woman to be made a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Learn more about the science of health with Gizmos.
Photo credit: https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_46.html
Margaret S. Collins (1949)
Margaret S. Collins was an African American child prodigy who became the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in entomology, the study of insects. A voracious reader with endless curiosity, Collins entered West Virginia State College at age 14.
She completed her Ph.D. in zoology in 1949 with a thesis on termites, making her the first African American female entomologist and the third African American female zoologist in the U.S. Learn more about bug populations and evolution with Gizmos.
Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_S._Collins
Mary Jackson (1958)
Mary Jackson was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer who, in 1958, became the first African American female engineer to work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Much of her work centered on the airflow around aircraft. Bring engineering to your classroom with Gizmos.
Photo credit: https://www.nasa.gov/content/mary-w-jackson-biography
Guion S. Bluford, Jr. (1964)
Guion S. Bluford, Jr., is an astronaut who was the first African American to be launched into space. Bluford received an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1964 and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he trained as a fighter pilot. Explore space with Gizmos!
Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guion_Bluford
Shirley Ann Jackson (1973)
Shirley Ann Jackson was the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT, where she studied nuclear physics. She is currently the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technological research university in the United States. Jackson has been a trailblazer throughout her career, including becoming the first African American woman to lead a top-ranked research university. Explore physics with Gizmos!
Photo credit: www.blackhistory.mit.edu/archive/shirley-jackson-1973
Mae C. Jemison (1992)
Mae C. Jemison is an American astronaut and physician who, on June 4, 1987, became the first African American woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program. On September 12, 1992, Jemison finally flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the Endeavour on mission STS-47, becoming the first African American woman in space. In recognition of her accomplishments, Jemison has received several awards and honorary doctorates. Explore space with Gizmos!
Photo credit: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mae-jemison
Neil deGrasse Tyson (1996)
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist renowned for making complex scientific topics accessible to the public. He made history when he was appointed the director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium in 1996, where he revitalized the institution and inspired a new generation's interest in astronomy. Known for his engaging approach to science, he played a key role in the debate that led to Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet in 2006. Get students excited about space with Gizmos!
Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014_Neil_deGrasse_Tyson.jpg
Dr. Aprille Ericsson-Jackson (2016)
Dr. Aprille Ericsson-Jackson was the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in Engineering from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She’s held many roles after more than 27 years at NASA, including Instrument Project Manager and Project Engineer for the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter project. In 2016, Dr. Ericsson-Jackson won the Washington Award for her accomplishments in engineering. Bring engineering to your classroom with Gizmos.
Photo credit: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasa-engineer-receives-ralph-coats-roe-medal-for-education-mentorship/
Dr. Ayanna Howard (2020)
Dr. Ayanna Howard is an American roboticist and a trailblazer in the field of artificial intelligence. Her work in robotics includes 12 years at NASA, where she contributed to the next generation of Mars rovers and developed assistive technologies for children with disabilities. In 2021, she made history as the first Black woman to lead the Ohio State University College of Engineering. Explore our Programmable Rover Gizmo!
Photo credit: https://engineering.osu.edu/about/office-dean/about-dean-ayanna-howard
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire (2020)
American viral immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire used her expertise to play a key role in the development of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccination. Her groundbreaking work won her recognition as one of TIME magazine’s most influential people due to her contribution to science and public health in 2021. Dr. Corenett-Helaire currently serves as Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Bring public health to your classroom with Gizmos!
Photo credit: https://dms.hms.harvard.edu/people/kizzmekia-corbett
Victor Glover, Jr. (2021)
In 2021, Victor Glover became the first African American to live abroad the International Space Station (ISS) during a long-lasting mission. Glover worked in space for 168 days as a member of Crew-1 on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, Resilience, where he served as the pilot and second-in-command. Glover was also the Flight Engineer on the ISS for Expedition 64. Explore space with your classroom!
Photo credit: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/victor-j-glover/biography
