All this month, we celebrated inspirational women whose love for science changed our understanding of the world. These trailblazers fought against all odds to persevere in their respective fields and gave generations of women the power and courage to dream.
History is filled with people who dedicated their lives to making the world a better place. We had the honor of getting to know a few of them a bit better over the last four weeks. In this post, we bring them to you.
Katherine Johnson
We started our series with Katherine Johnson, a math lover, who was instrumental in helping NASA send astronauts to the Moon.
Other than a willingness to learn and an undying love for numbers, what really stood out in her life was the dedication towards her work that overshadowed all notions and prejudices that were prevalent at the time. “I don’t have a feeling of inferiority,” Mrs. Johnson said on at least one occasion. “Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.”
To help your students learn more about Mrs. Johnson, check out this informative, ready-made Quizizz Lesson created by April Kacinari.
Dr. Marie Maynard Daly
The first female African American to receive a Ph. D. in chemistry in the United States, she conducted important studies on cholesterol, sugars, and proteins. In addition to her research, she was committed to developing programs to increase the enrollment of minority students in medical school and graduate science programs.
At a time when only 2% of Black women held college degrees, Dr. Marie Daly earned a doctorate and went on to hold a number of prestigious positions throughout her career. Her life and achievements inspire medical aspirants across the world to this day.
Looking to continue teaching about Dr. Daly? Check out Michael Whalen’s Quizizz Lesson for a helpful resource!
Gladys West
Gladys West’s research led to the creation of a technology that has become such a huge part of our life that not a single day goes by without using it at least once. Her complex algorithms led us to understand that the earth is not perfectly spherical. After years of study, West built an increasingly detailed and accurate mathematical model of the actual shape of the earth, called a ‘geoid’. Her research was eventually incorporated into the creation of Global Positioning Systems or GPS.
The next time you nonchalantly tag your friends in a picture at your favorite restaurant or use your phone to find the nearest gas station, say a little thank you to Gladys West for putting the whole world in your pocket.
Test your students’ knowledge on Ms. West and other Black STEM trailblazers in this 10-question Quiz created by Courtney Leach.
Jewel Plummer Cobb
In the last and final week of #BlackHistoryMonth we celebrated Jewel Plummer Cobb, a biologist and cancer researcher who improved our understanding of how skin cells become cancerous. Her ground-breaking research provided the foundation for early chemotherapy treatments to cure melanoma and other cancers.
Learn more about Ms. Cobb’s impact and other Black History achievements in this 12-question Quiz created by Catina Cain.
There you have it! Four remarkable women who dared to dream and worked relentlessly to fulfill great accomplishments our world couldn’t live without today.
We thank them for their contributions, for their strength and perseverance in the face of adversity, and for teaching us that there is nothing stronger than the human will to succeed.💜
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