8 Black STEM Trailblazers Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Innovation
Meet the STEM heroes championing diversity and driving progress in the fast-growing field of STEM
While the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is growing exponentially, for some people it’s still challenging to break in. In 2021, 24% of the general population in the US worked in STEM and it was estimated that Black people made up only 9% of that workforce. With the U.S. The Department of Labor projecting that STEM jobs will increase by nearly two times the rate of other jobs in the next decade, it’s important now, more than ever, to advocate for increased STEM funding especially in under-resourced communities that lack the programs and resources to fully engage students in these subject areas.
Where would the world be without the contributions of Black inventors, mathematicians, scientists, or engineers? The traffic light and gas mask were invented by Garrett Morgan. And for animated GIFs, we have Lisa Gelobter to thank. These are all creations that came from the curious minds of Black STEM professionals (before we were even using the term STEM)! From inventors and engineers to educators and creators, let’s take a look at some of the Black professionals who have and are still inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders – all y'all.
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Kimberly Bryant
After hearing year after year that there aren’t enough women in STEM and seeing her daughter struggle to get the same attention the boys were getting at programming camp, Kimberly Bryant decided she had enough.
Floyd Norman
Discover the enchanting world of Floyd Norman, a Disney legend whose career as a cartoonist has spanned from the 1950’s to today! As a young boy, Floyd knew it was his dream to work at the Disney Studio as a cartoonist and ultimately he got that role.
Katherine Johnson
Featured in a movie? Check! NASA Pioneer? Check! Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose calculations were of utmost importance for numerous space missions playing a key role in Project Mercury, the first human spaceflight program of the United States and Apollo 11, the moon landing.
Dr. Lonnie Johnson
Dr. Lonnie Johnson is a true innovator most known for a toy loved by children of all ages, – the Super Soaker! Dr. Johnson is president and founder of Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc. a company that develops and engineers consumer products for license and manufacture from rechargeable batteries to a device that can convert thermal energy to electrical energy.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson is an inspiration to us all! She was one of the first Black American women to receive a doctorate in physics in the U.S. and was the first Black woman to receive a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Alan Emtage
Imagine a time when the Internet lacked a unified search tool. Well, thanks to Alan Emtage's ingenious creation “ARCHIE”, that has changed. Alan was born in Barbados and then went to Quebec, Canada to attend McGill University where he received his honors B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science.
Alexis Williams
You may remember the name Alexis Williams from our Make Stem 100% campaign. While the racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd and countless other unarmed Black individuals made most people feel helpless, Alexis did what she excels at and created a web-based toolkit called Police Brutality Resources (PBR).
Joel Bervell
Amidst the turmoil of the global pandemic in 2020, while most of us were researching and trying to better understand COVID-19, Joel Bervell, a medical student at Johns Hopkins University, was researching an oversight that could save peoples lives.
When we look at the incredible impact Black professionals have in the STEM field, we can clearly see the importance of increasing diverse representation in this growing field.
Their innovations and experiences have not only improved our lives, but they have paved the way for a new crop of young people to see themselves in the STEM field and pursue their passion.
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