The black community has always played a vital role in shaping the scientific landscape of the world. Black scientists have made major contributions to our understanding of the world. Despite the challenges thrown their way, Black scientists have led groundbreaking research and innovations that had a huge impact on all scientific fields like medicine, physics, chemistry, and engineering. If you are someone who wants to know about the top 10 most famous black scientists, this article is for you. It honors the genius minds of the black community.
Ernest Everett Just
Ernest Everett Just, in 1916, became the very first black man to earn a doctorate degree from the University of Chicago in experimental embryology. Just was birth in 1883 in South Carolina. Just later attended Dartmouth College in Hanover studying zoology as well as cell development. He was also appointed to work at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts as a biochemist and a biology instructor at Howard’s before his PhD. Just was also awarded a biology fellowship at the National Research Council. He later shifted to Europe after facing discrimination in America. Just authored 70 research papers on various subjects like cell fertilization, division, hydration, and the effects of carcinogenic radiation on cells. These research papers became his legacy that is still cited over the years.
Patricia Bath
During this fellowship at Columbia University, Patricia discovered black people are 8 times more vulnerable to glaucoma and twice as likely to go blind from it. She then started a process to increase eye care for those who can’t afford it, now known as community ophthalmology. Patricia became the first black American to complete a residency in ophthalmology and the first woman to join the ophthalmology department at UCLA.
She invented the laser phaco probe in 1981 that helps remove cataracts to date. Patricia then became the first black female doctor who received a patent for a medical purpose.
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Marie Maynard Daly
Marie Maynard Daly is one of the most famous names in the history of medical chemistry. During her research, she discovered that compounds produced internally help in digestion. She also successfully discovered that clogged arteries are connected to high cholesterol. This helped science make major advancements in treating diseases of the heart. She also studied the effect of smoking on the lungs. Marie also established a scholarship for black students at Queens College.
David Harold Blackwell
David Harold Blackwell is famous as one of the most notable statisticians across the globe. He was offered a position at Howard University after he completed his doctorate degree. David studied game theory during his time at Howard. He also studied how the theory affected the decision-making process in the government and the private sectors. David established many theorems such as the Rao-Blackwell theorem. The theorem plays an important role in modern-day economics. He also became the first black American to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson is famous for being one of the main forces involved in the demotion of Pluto as a dwarf planet. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History. Tyson was also the host of PBS’s “Nova ScienceNow” series and produced a StarTalk Radio podcast as well as a radio program. He was also one of the driving forces resurrecting Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” television series. Tyson also hosted the “Cosmos: Possible Worlds” sequel in 2020.
Percy L. Julian
Percy L. Julian is a famous chemist who was credited for pioneering medications like synthetic versions of the female hormone progesterone and the steroid cortisone. He was also the first chemist to synthesize physostigmine which is an alkaloid used to treat glaucoma. Julian was also responsible for the production of a fire-retardant foam that was used during World War II. He faced major challenges as a black American but recovered from them all to become one of the most widely known Chemists.
Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison is famous for becoming the first African American woman to go into space. Mae participated in the mission, which was eight days long, completing 127 Earth orbits. She utilized her time doing cell bone research as well. Mae later founded the Jemison Group intending to explore products that connect technology and science. She also founded BioSentient Corp., which focuses on products related to medical technology. Mae also penned her autobiography titled “Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life.” She appeared on many space-related television shows and also established an international space camp for children.
Charles H. Turner
Charles H. Turner, who was a behavioral scientist, is widely known for his discovery that insects have hearing abilities. He was the first African American who earned a PhD degree in Zoology from the University of Chicago. Animal behavior was his main research topic and he made major discoveries in the field. He discovered that insects can change behaviors based on past experiences. Turner also found honeybees could recognize colors and patterns. He also taught in high schools all the while. His research helped reshape the way science looked at the invertebrate species.
James West
James West was another famous black scientist who is famous for his invention of the electret microphone. It helps convert sound to electrical signals. During the four decades West spent at Bell Labs, he was granted more than 200 US as well as foreign patents. He also received inductions in the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Engineering. Once he was retired, West later joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins University in 2001.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver is another one of the most famous black scientists who was once born into an enslaved family during the Civil War. He was kidnapped a week later and was orphaned. Carver is best known for his discovery of 100 uses of peanuts. He also developed various methods of crop rotation for sharecroppers. Carver mainly worked for farmers to have profitable cultivation and avoid dependency on cotton. He also became an adviser on agricultural matters to President Theodore Roosevelt. He also became one of the few black community members of the British Royal Society of Arts in 1916.
