Learn More About these 28 Scientists for Black History Month

Here's how.

By Amy Cowen on February 1, 2021 6:00 AM

February is Black History Month. Learn more about some of the many African American scientists and engineers who have made important contributions to science history.

Photo collage of eight African American scientists and engineers

Black History Month: 28 Scientists to learn more about!

Update! This post has been updated for 2021 to include additional African American scientists and engineers.

In honor of Black History Month, we highlight 28 African American scientists and engineers who made important contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). There are many, many scientists who could be included on this list! The list below is just a sampling of noted scientists through history.

To encourage students to learn more about these scientists and to explore related science projects and careers for scientists they find inspiring, for each scientist, we have included a short biographical highlight, links to hands-on science projects related to the scientist's area of study, links to relevant science career profiles, and a link to a biography for further reading.

Note: Educators can use this career worksheet to guide student exploration and reflection about STEM careers.

1. Alice Ball, chemist

Alice Ball was a chemist who developed an injectable treatment for leprosy. (Biography)

Interested in chemistry and medicine? Learn more with science projects like:
- Why Aren't All Medicines Pills?
- Determine the Identity of an Unknown Chemical Substance
Learn more about related careers: Chemist, Biochemist, Chemical Technician
2. Benjamin Banneker, mathematician and astronomer

Benjamin Banneker was a mathematician and astronomer. Stories about Banneker include a range of science details, including a clock he carved from wood (possibly the first clock in the U.S.), his successful prediction of the 1789 solar eclipse, and his role as a surveyor when the territory for Washington D.C. was being mapped. Banneker also wrote and published an almanac, yearly, between 1792 and 1797. (Biography)

Interested in projects that combine math and astronomy? Explore science projects like:
- Similar Triangles: Using Parallax to Measure Distance
- Correlation of Coronal Mass Ejections with the Solar Sunspot Cycle
Learn more about related careers: Astronomer, Mathematician, Statistician
3. Patricia Bath, ophthalmologist

Patricia Bath was an ophthalmologist who developed laser technology used in treating cataracts. (Biography)

Interested in eye science and vision? Learn more with science projects like:
- Now You See It, Now You Don't: A Chromatic Adaptation Project
- Discover the Science Behind Afterimages
Learn more about related careers: Optometrist, Physician
4. Guion Bluford, astronaut and aerospace engineer

Guion Bluford was the first African American in space on the Challenger's eighth (STS-8) space shuttle mission (1983). (Biography)

Interested in aeronautics and space science? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Astronomer, Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technician
5. Herman Branson, physicist

Herman Branson co-discovered the alpha helix protein structure and conducted research on sickle cell anemia. (Biography)

Interested in human biology and health? Explore science projects like:
- From Genes to Genetic Diseases: What Kinds of Mutations Matter?
- Drugs & Genetics: Why Do Some People Respond to Drugs Differently than Others?
Learn more about related careers: Physicist, Bioinformatics Scientist, Cytogenetic Technologist
6. George Carruthers, astrophysicist

George Carruthers developed the ultraviolet camera/spectrograph used during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. (Biography)

Interested in ultraviolet imaging and space science? Explore science projects like:
- Seeing Beyond the Visible: Photography with Near Infrared Illumination
- X-Ray Vision: Seeing Into Space
Learn more about related careers: Physicist, Astronomer, Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Engineer
7. Emmett Chappelle, biochemist

Emmett Chappelle used bioluminescence as a way to quantify the presence of bacteria in water and showed how fluorescence can be used to monitor plant health. At NASA, he researched an ATP-fluorescence assay as a way to detect life on other planets. (Biography)

Interested in bioluminescence or agricultural technology? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Biochemist, Chemist, Agricultural Technician
8. Margaret Collins, entomologist and zoologist

Margaret Collins was an entomologist and zoologist. Known as the "Termite Lady" for her extensive research on termites, she co-discovered the Neotermes luykxi species of termites. (Biography)

Interested in insects? Explore science projects like:
- Does Temperature Affect the Rate of Butterfly Development?
- Drawing Circles Around Ants
Learn more about related careers: Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist, Biologist
9. Marie Daly, chemist

Marie Daly was a chemist who studied the relationship between cholesterol and heart health. (Biography)

Interested in human biology and heart health? Explore science projects like:
- Modeling the Human Cardiovascular System: The Factors That Affect Blood Flow Rate
- A Day in the Life of Your Heart
Learn more about related careers: Chemist, Biochemist, Physician, Cardiovascular Technologist or Technician
10. Christine Darden, mathematician and aerospace engineer

Christine Darden was a mathematician and aerospace engineer at NASA. Once she moved from data analysis to Darden does not appear in the Hidden Figures movie, but her story is part of the Hidden Figures book. (Biography)

Interested in aerospace engineering, plane design, and math? Explore science projects like:
- Winglets in Wind Tunnels
- Why Winglets?
Learn more about related careers: Aerospace Engineer, Mathematician
11. Mark Dean, computer engineer

Mark Dean is a computer engineer who co-developed the first personal computer. Additional contributions at IBM led to color monitors, the Industry Standard Architecture bus (which allows you to connect devices like printers to computers), and the first gigahertz chip. (Biography)

Interested in computer engineering? Explore science projects like:
- Focusing Signals for a Better Wireless Network
- What Materials Can Block a Wi-Fi Signal?
Learn more about related careers: Computer Hardware Engineer, Computer Software Engineer
12. Charles Richard Drew, physician

Charles Richard Drew developed ways to use and preserve blood plasma that helped save lives during World War II and later became the model used for blood banks. Known as the "Father of the Blood Bank," Drew is also credited with the first bloodmobile. (Biography)

Interested in human biology and the science of blood? Explore science projects like:
- Blood Clotting to the Rescue
- How Are Antibodies Used for Blood Typing?
Learn more about related careers: Physician, Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician, Cytotechnologist
13. Victor J. Glover, Jr., mechanical engineer and astronaut

Victor J. Glover, Jr. has a background in mechanical engineering and is a Commander in the U.S. Navy. In 2020, Glover headed to the International Space Station (ISS) as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 mission aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience. (Biography)

Interested in engineering or the ISS? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Mechanical Engineering Technician, Mechanical Engineer
14. Bettye Washington Greene, chemist

Bettye Washington Greene, a chemist, was the first female African American chemist to work at the Dow Chemical Company. Her research at Dow focused on latex and polymers. (Biography)

Interested in polymers? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Chemical Engineer, Materials Scientist and Engineer, Commercial & Industrial Designer
15. Alma Levant Hayden, chemist

Alma Levant Hayden was a chemist. While working at the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases (now the National Institutes of Health (NIH)), Hayden explored the use of paper chromatography as a way to detect steroid substances. Later, at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Hayden used infrared spectrometry in 1963 to disprove the validity of Krebiozen as a cure for cancer. (Biography)

Interested in paper chromatography? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Chemist, Chemical Engineer, Chemical Technician
16. Mary Jackson, engineer and mathematician

Mary Jackson was NASA's first female African American engineer. Jackson was one of the women at NASA whose story was depicted in the Hidden Figures movie. At NASA, she worked on research related to the Supersonic Pressure Tunnel. (Biography)

Interested in engineering and the science of flight? Explore science projects and resources like:
Learn more about related careers: Aerospace Engineer, Computer Programmer Mathematician
17. Mae Jemison, astronaut and aerospace engineer

Mae Jemison (also a physician) was the first African American woman in space on the Endeavour space shuttle (1992). (Biography)

Interested in aeronautics and space science? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Astronomer, Aerospace Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technician
18. Katherine Johnson, mathematician

Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose work at NASA was depicted in the Hidden Figures movie. Johnson calculated the flight path for Alan Shepard (the first American in space) and later checked critical flight path calculations for Apollo 13. (Biography)

Interested in engineering, math, or the science of flight? Explore science projects and problems like:
Learn more about related careers: Mathematician, Aerospace Engineer,
19. Lonnie G. Johnson, nuclear engineer and inventor

Lonnie G. Johnson is a nuclear engineer and inventor who developed the popular Super Soaker water gun. Johnson worked on stealth technology for the U.S. Air Force and was a senior systems engineer on NASA's Galileo Project. (Biography)

Interested in stealth technology or inventing new things? Explore science projects like:
- Stealthy Shapes: How to Make an Aircraft Invisible to Radar
- Engineer a Cell Phone Stand
Learn more about related careers: Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear Monitoring Technician, Aerospace Engineer, Industrial Engineer
20. Percy Lavon Julian, chemist

Percy Lavon Julian was known as the "Soybean chemist" because he synthesized steroids and hormones from soybeans. His research also led to the development of Aer-O-Foam, also called "bean soup," used to put out oil and gasoline fires in World War II. (Biography)

Interested in chemistry? Explore science projects like:
- Cold Pack Chemistry: Where Does the Heat Go?
- The Chemistry of Clean: Make Your Own Soap to Study Soap Synthesis
Learn more about related careers: Chemist, Biochemist, Pharmacist
21. Ronald E. McNair, physicist

Ronald E. McNair was a laser physicist and a mission specialist for NASA on the STS 51-L Challenger mission that exploded shortly after takeoff in 1986. (Biography)

Interested in laser science and physics? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Photonics Engineer, Physicist, Photonics Technician
22. Raye Montague, naval engineer

Raye Montague was inspired by a childhood experience with a submarine. She was an engineer in the U.S. Navy and is credited as being the first person to design a naval ship, the USS Oliver Hazard Perry, using computer design tools. (Biography)

Interested in ship design, computer-aided design (CAD), and engineering? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Marine Architect, Ship & Boat Captain
23. Willie Hobbs Moore, physicist

Willie Hobbs Moore was a physicist whose research focused on infrared spectroscopy. She was the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in Physics. (Biography)

Interested in spectroscopy and spectrometry? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Physicist, Physics Teacher
24. Carolyn Parker, physicist

Carolyn Parker worked on the Dayton Project, part of the Manhattan Project, a U.S. government atomic weapons research project during World War II. (Biography)

Interested in physics and nuclear science? Explore science projects like:
- Watching Nuclear Particles: See Background Radiation Zoom Through A Cloud Chamber
- Particles in the Mist: See Radioactive Particles Decay with Your Own Cloud Chamber!
Learn more about related careers: Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear Monitoring Technician, Nuclear Power Reactor Operator, Mathematician
25. Charles Henry Turner, entomologist and zoologist

Charles Henry Turner was an entomologist and zoologist. Turner's research proved that insects can hear and led to the phrase "Turner's circling" to describe the way ants return to a nest. (Biography)

Interested in insects? Explore science projects like:
- Go and Stop? Ant Traffic Signals
- Drawing Circles Around Ants
Learn more about related careers: Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist, Biologist
26. Dorothy Vaughan, computer scientist and mathematician

Dorothy Vaughan was a computer scientist and mathematician. She was part of the group of "human computers" depicted in the Hidden Figures movie. As NASA adopted the use of computers, Vaughan taught herself FORTRAN and became part of NASA's Analysis and Computation Division (ACD). She also worked on the Scout Launch Vehicle Program. (Biography)

Interested in computer programming? Explore code-based science projects like:
- Computer Sleuth: Identification by Text Analysis
- How Easily Can Your Password be Hacked?
Learn more about related careers: Mathematician, Computer Programmer
27. Gladys West, mathematician

Gladys West is a mathematician who worked on the processing and analysis of satellite data that helped lead to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS). (Biography)

Interested in math and data analysis? Explore science projects like:
Learn more about related careers: Mathematician, Statistician, Data Scientist
28. J. Ernest Wilkins, Jr., mathematician and nuclear scientist

J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. was a mathematician and nuclear scientist who was involved in the Manhattan Project. His work on nuclear reactor physics led to the discovery or co-discovery of phenomena like the Wilkins effect and the Wigner-Wilkins spectrum. (Biography)

Interested in nuclear science? Explore science projects like:
- Watching Nuclear Particles: See Background Radiation Zoom Through A Cloud Chamber
- See Radioactive Particles Decay with Your Own Cloud Chamber!
Learn more about related careers: Nuclear Engineer, Nuclear Monitoring Technician, Nuclear Power Reactor Operator, Mathematician

STEM Career Worksheet

To encourage students to learn more about these scientists and to explore related careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, use our free STEM Career Worksheet along with this post.

If you use the "Learn More About these 28 Scientists for Black History Month" resource and career worksheet with students, we would love to hear your feedback. You can email us at scibuddy@sciencebuddies.org with your comments or story.

Diversity in STEM

It is important for all students to be aware of diversity in STEM. This includes celebrating stories of African American scientists and engineers, women in science, scientists with disabilities, and scientists from around the world (like Hispanic Scientists and Engineers).

Images: public domain or fair use, with exception of Bettye Greene (Science Institute), J. Ernest Wilkins, Jr. (Dan Dry, CC BY-SA 3.0), Mark Dean (Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee); Herman Branson (AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Physics Today Collection).

Links to books at Amazon.com are affiliate links.

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Learn More About these 28 Scientists for Black History Month

1. Alice Ball, chemist

2. Benjamin Banneker, mathematician and astronomer

3. Patricia Bath, ophthalmologist

4. Guion Bluford, astronaut and aerospace engineer

5. Herman Branson, physicist

6. George Carruthers, astrophysicist

7. Emmett Chappelle, biochemist

8. Margaret Collins, entomologist and zoologist

9. Marie Daly, chemist

10. Christine Darden, mathematician and aerospace engineer

11. Mark Dean, computer engineer

12. Charles Richard Drew, physician

13. Victor J. Glover, Jr., mechanical engineer and astronaut

14. Bettye Washington Greene, chemist

15. Alma Levant Hayden, chemist

16. Mary Jackson, engineer and mathematician

17. Mae Jemison, astronaut and aerospace engineer

18. Katherine Johnson, mathematician

19. Lonnie G. Johnson, nuclear engineer and inventor

20. Percy Lavon Julian, chemist

21. Ronald E. McNair, physicist

22. Raye Montague, naval engineer

23. Willie Hobbs Moore, physicist

24. Carolyn Parker, physicist

25. Charles Henry Turner, entomologist and zoologist

26. Dorothy Vaughan, computer scientist and mathematician

27. Gladys West, mathematician

28. J. Ernest Wilkins, Jr., mathematician and nuclear scientist

Further Reading

Elementary School

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High School and Adult

STEM Career Worksheet

Diversity in STEM

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