Highlighting Black Achievements in STEM

It’s Black History Month here in the United States, a time to educate ourselves on our history and recognize the great contributions that African Americans have made in all facets of life. Capitol Tech is celebrating the month by shining a spotlight on some African American scientists who have left major impacts in various STEM fields and the world as a whole.

There are plenty of such scientists according to osc.org, including Dr. Stephon Alexander. Alexander is a professor at Brown University, serving as a teacher of theoretical physics. Alongside two other scientists, he was able to invent a widespread model showing the expansion at the start of our universe, known as the Horava-Lifshitz theory as a Fermionic Aether in Ashtekar Gravity. 

Alexander is also quite well known for his contributions to music, “explor[ing] interconnections between music, physics, mathematics, and technology,” going on to write a best selling novel on the relation of the subjects entitled The Jazz of Physics.

Another scientist deserving a highlight is Dr. Marie Maynard Daly, who “was a biochemist and the first Black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States.”

Daly is most well known for her studies in medicine, discovering the crucial link between cholesterol and heart disease and starting the research to show the negative effects smoking has on the body.

Daly was a natural advocate, “getting Black students enrolled in medical schools and graduate science programs, and started a scholarship for minority students to study science at Queens College in New York” while she taught biochemistry.

A prominent aerospace engineer and NASA scientist, Dr. Aprielle Ericcson-Jackson has well earned her mark among STEM engineers. Ericcson-Jackson “has made many notable contributions, including as the projector manager for the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that has been orbiting the Moon since 2009.”

Ericcson-Jackson’s work has brought her many accolades in her field, including “the NASA Goddard Honor Award for Excellence in Outreach, the Washington Award for engineering achievements that advance the welfare of mankind, and a Science Trailblazers award from the Black Engineers of the Year Award Conference.”

These are just a couple of the countless African Americans who have dedicated their lives and made amazing strides in their STEM fields, and their stories are far richer than the few details listed here. This Black History Month, take the time to learn about the many breakthroughs the black community of the United States have made to all walks of STEM.

Capitol Tech offers many opportunities in all STEM fields, where you can pursue careers in anything from aerospace to construction. To learn more about these programs, visit captechu.edu and peruse the various courses and degrees offered. Many courses are available both on campus and online. For more information, contact admissions@captechu.edu.