7 Brilliant Black Scientists to Celebrate ...

Ernest Everett Just is a famous black scientist most well known for his contributions to the field of biology. Born in Charleston, SC in 1883, Ernest’s passion for biology began while he was at Dartmouth College, when he read a paper on egg fertilization and embryo development. It was in this field that Ernest demonstrated his pioneering originality. He was the editor of three periodicals and he won the NAACP’s first Spingarn Medal for Outstanding Achievement by a Black American.

Mae C. Jemison was the first black women to become an astronaut and to fly into space (in 1992). She was a highly talented child and she spent much of her younger years studying science and astronomy. She graduated in chemical engineering at the prestigious Stanford University before becoming a physician at Cornell. Before she entered the astronaut training program she worked as a general practitioner and was heavily involved in humanitarian and peacekeeping work. Recognized with lots of honors and awards, Mae is an all-around American hero!

Throughout his life Percy Julian faced a great deal of racial prejudice, though like many famous black scientists he rose above the adversity, making many important contributions to biomedicine. He obtained Phi Beta Kappa honors at his high school, and he earned a Harvard scholarship to complete his Master’s (though the university would not allow him to pursue his PhD). He gained much acclaim when he invented a way to treat glaucoma, and while working in the industry he worked extensively in chemistry and biomedicine.

From a very early age it was clear that George Carruthers was a special talent with a clear interest in optics and astronomy. After he earned his PhD from the University of Illinois in 1964 he went on to work at the US Naval Research Laboratory. George invented a number of new astronomical instruments. With his creation of a telescope and image converter which gave the first proof of the existence of molecular hydrogen in space, he is truly one of the top famous black scientists.

Born as a slave around 1864 in Diamond, Missouri, George Washington Carver ‘The Plant Doctor’ became one of the most famous black scientists and inventors of his day. He had a turbulent youth that was shaped by the closing years of the US Civil War. He went to Iowa State Agricultural College, before starting a career of teaching and research at the African-American Tuskegee Institute’s agricultural department. George’s work at this institute was groundbreaking and led to many new agricultural methods and technologies.

Guion Bluford was the first African American to reach space in 1983. Joining NASA in 1979, he was a mission specialist onboard Challenger, and after this first run he took part in three other space missions in the early '90s. Before his time as an astronaut Guion was a pilot in the US Air Force. In the Vietnam War he flew 144 missions. He earned a Master’s and a PhD in aerospace engineering between 1974 and 1978.

Charles Drew’s research into blood plasma storage was highly important for the US and the UK in the Second World War. He directed blood plasma programs during this time, but resigned following a ruling that African-American blood would be separated from Caucasian blood. He went to Amherst, taught at Morgan State and was a top student at McGill University.

Do these famous black scientists inspire you to achieve your career dreams?