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In all, Dean holds 20 patents, and was honored as one of the "50 Most Important African Americans in Technology" by the California African-American Museum in 2000. Dean wants to help increase awareness of the contributions of Black engineers to both the engineering industry and the African-American community.
- And Some Free Classroom Resources For Your Instruction
- George Washington Carver
- Percy Julian
- Mae Carol Jemison
- Katherine Johnson
- Gladys West
- Marie M. Daly
- Edward Bouchet
- Annie Easley
- Walter Lincoln Hawkins
Helping your students see the possibilities of careers in STEM fields means providing them with diverse role models. Black History Month provides teachers with an opportunity to feature the stories and voices of black scientists, engineers and mathematicians in the context of their science instruction. We have made a list of some of the top Black s...
1860s – January 5, 1943 Field: Botanist, Inventor and Teacher Known for: Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a foremost botanist, inventor and teacher. He invented over 300 uses for the peanut and developed methods to prevent soil depletion. He was made a member British Royal Society of Arts — a rare honor for an American – and advis...
1899–1975 Field: Civil Rights Activist, Medical Professional, Scientist, Chemist, Academic Known for: Percy Julian was a research chemist and pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants, such as cortisone, steroids and birth control pills. He was inducted into the National Academy of the Sciences, National Inventors Hall of Fam...
October 17, 1956 -- Field: Engineer, Physician and NASA astronaut Known for: American engineer, physician and NASA astronaut, Mae Carol Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992. Resource: The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers | Mae Jemiso...
August 26, 1918 – Field: Mathematician Known for: Katherine Johnson is best known for her major contributions to the United States' aeronautics and space programs with the early application of digital electronic computers. Her work was recently recognized and featured in the movie Hidden Figures. Resource: Katherine Johnson | NASA Computer | Video ...
1930 -- Field: Mathematician Known for:Born and raised in Virginia, Gladys West leveraged her mathematical and programming expertise to invent an accurate model of the Earth which was used as the foundation for the creation of the Global Positioning System (GPS). She was the second black woman ever to be employed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center...
1921–2003 Field: Chemist, Researcher and Activist Known for: Marie Daly was the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States. She worked closely with scientist Dr. Quentin B. Deming and their work opened up a new understanding of how foods and diet can affect the health of the heart and the circulatory system. R...
September 15, 1852 – October 28, 1918 Field: physicist and educator Known for: The first African-American to earn a Ph.D. from any American university and the sixth person of any race to receive a Ph.D. in physics from an American university. He taught science at the Institute for Colored Youth for 26 years. Resource: Historical Detective: Edward A...
April 23, 1933 – June 25, 2011 Field: computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist Known for: Annie Easley worked at NASA as a “human computer,” performing complex mathematical calculations. She evolved with the technology -- becoming an adept computer programmer and helped develop and implement code for numerous projects. Resource: Biog...
March 21, 1911 – August 20, 1992 Field: polymer chemists, scientist and inventor Known for: Walter Hawkins is best known for inventing a plastic coating for telephone wires that made universal service possible. He is a recipient of the National Medal of Technology and an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Resource: Biography: W. Linco...
- Sherri Mcgee Mccovey
- 1 min
- George Washington Carver: The Agricultural Scientist (1864-1943) Born into slavery in Diamond, Missouri, the year before it was outlawed, George Washington Carver was a prominent scientist of the early 20th century.
- Garrett Morgan: The Traffic King (1877-1963) Born in Paris, Kentucky in 1877, Garrett Morgan witnessed many accidents at traffic lights that only had "stop" and "go" signals.
- Marie Van Brittan Brown: The Security Pro (1922-1999) Marie Van Brittan Brown was born in Queens, New York, and worked there as a full-time nurse. Her husband, Albert, was an electronics technician.
- Frederick McKinley Jones: The Cooling Expert (1893-1961) Frederick McKinley Jones was awarded 61 patents during his lifetime—including 40 for refrigeration equipment.
Feb 5, 2024 · 1969–. Computer scientist. Awarded the first Presidential Endowed Chair at Clemson University in honor of his accomplishments. Grant, George F. 1846–1910. Dentist, professor. The first African-American professor at Harvard, Boston dentist, and inventor of a wooden golf tee. Graves, Joseph L.
- George Washington Carver. Popularized peanut butter, and invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, soybeans, pecans, and sweet potatoes such as: soaps and shampoos.
- Dr. Patricia Bath. Dr. Bath was an ophthalmologist (medical doctor specializing in eye care), found that Blacks were twice as likely to suffer from blindness as the general population, and eight times more likely to suffer blindness as a result of glaucoma than whites.
- Lewis Howard Latimer. Born to parents who escaped slavery, Lewis Howard Latimer fought in the US Navy during the Civil War. While working at a patent law office, he designed a number of his own inventions, such as an improved railroad car bathroom and an early version of an air conditioning unit.
- Sarah E. Goode. In the early years of the United States, it was very difficult for a woman to get a patent in her own name. A patent is considered a kind of property, and in most states until the late 1800s, it was forbidden for women to own property in their own name.
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This post has been updated for 2024 to include additional African American scientists and engineers. In honor of Black History Month, we highlight 38 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!
Madam C.J Walker –. Cosmetics, Entrepreneur first Female African American Millionaire. Madam C.J Walker was an inventor, entrepreneur and first African American woman to become a millionaire. She was born Sarah Breedlove on 12/23/1867 in Delta Louisiana. Most Americans at that time did not have indoor plumbing, central heating and electricity.
