In Science and Technology
Nzingha Nommo
President Afri-Ware Books & Gifts
www.afriware.net
The comments for this presentation are dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives so that
we may live.
Dedication to the countless who
donated their bodies to Science….
involuntarily
“Medical Apartheid” – Harriet
Washington
“Immortal Life of Henrietta
Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Check the Stats
 From 1923 to 1947, 12 Blacks earned a Ph.D. in
Mathematics.
 1925 The first african american to earn a Ph.D. in
Mathematics (Cornell University) was Elbert Frank Cox.
There were 28 Ph.D.'s awarded in the United States that
year. However, nearly 20 years would pass before the
first african american Women would earn a Ph.D.
 Less than 1% of all mathematicians are Black. 25% of
these are women.
Ref: http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/madhist.html
Check the Texts
Title:
Groundbreaking Scientific
Experiments, Inventions &
Scientific Experiments,
Inventions & Discoveries of
the Ancient World
By Robert E. Krebs and Carolyn A.
Krebs
Copyright 2003
“Although the archaeological history of
Egypt dates back 5,000 years, there are no
technical records or writings dealing with
Egyptian astronomy until the first
millennium B.C.E., Egypt’s conquest by
Persia.
The Egyptians used simple
astronomical methods to measure time
and to develop accurate calendars as well
as to align their buildings with the stars.
…Egyptian
astronomers
charted
…different from Western astronomers. …
They were also able to observe the planets
of Venus, Mars, Saturn, J upiter, and
perhaps
even
Mercury….Egyptian
astronomy began to flourish after Egypt’s
conquest by Alexander the Great in 332
B.C.E. Many of the Egyptian astronomers
were in fact of Greek heritage, and
Egyptian astronomy during this period
was, in actuality, Hellenistic in character.”
Egyptian Astronomers of Greek Heritage?
Since the beginning of time….
 The Black Woman was an integral part of
the
Science used to chart the motion of the celestial
bodies of the universe as shown in Ancient Egyptian
hieroglyphics (1,500 B.C.) found in the tombs.
Circa 1500 BC, Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
Circa 1500 BC, Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
Brochure states:
Dendara Temple is
famous for it's
astronomy scenes
and zodiac signs on
the ceilings. The
Temple is of the
Greek/Roman period
and is the only
temple to have a
calendar on the
ceiling.
http://luxuryluxortrips.com/Full-DayDendara---Abydos.html
HYPATHIA of
ALEXANDRIA
Professor of Mathematics,
Philosophy, Astronomy,
Inventor
Pictured: Astrolabe instrument
HYPATHIA
Circa 350AD – 415 AD
• “Only female Scientist of the Ancient World”
• Professor of Philosophy, Mathematics and Astronomy
•Invented the Astrolabe - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiUgBeb2vtk
•Invented the Hydrometer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCSrvU0X8b8
•Her contributions to science are reputed to include the charting of celestial
bodies
There was a woman at Alexandria named Hypatia, daughter of the philosopher Theon,
who made such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpass all the
philosophers of her own time. Having succeeded to the school of Plato and Plotinus,
she explained the principles of philosophy to her auditors, many of whom came from a
distance to receive her instructions. On account of the self-possession and ease of
manner, which she had acquired in consequence of the cultivation of her mind, she not
unfrequently appeared in public in presence of the magistrates. Neither did she feel
abashed in going to an assembly of men. For all men on account of her extraordinary
dignity and virtue admired her the more.
—Socrates Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History
Comprehensive Ref:
http://www.polyamory.org/~howard/Hypatia/books.html
Dr. Christine Darden
Aeronautical
Engineer
Dr. Christine Darden
1942- ) American Aeronautical Engineer
Christine Darden conducts research for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) on the effects of the sonic booms created by supersonic
aircraft, such as their contribution to noise pollution and their potential
depletion of the ozone layer. She also investigates means of reducing, if not
altogether eliminating, these negative effects. In order to facilitate her research,
she wrote a computer software program that simulates a sonic boom under
experimental conditions in a wind tunnel.
Duties - started with routine calculations, then she began to write computer
programs for the engineers. NASA promoted her to the rank of aerospace
engineer in 1973.
Darden then took advantage of NASA’s incentives to continue her education by
conducting doctoral study in mathematics and engineering science with George
Washington University in Washington, D.C. She earned her Ph.D. in 1983 and
further continued her education by attending management classes conducted by
NASA to promote employees into research administration positions.
Dr. Christine Darden,
cont’d
1989 promotion to lead the Sonic Boom Team.
Darden led her team in designing and testing new wing designs and nose-cone
shapes in attempts to improve aerodynamics and decrease the effects of sonic
booms. She published her findings in more than 40 journal articles. Two of her
better-known publications were “The Importance of Sonic Boom Research in the
Development of Future High Speed Aircraft,” in the winter 1992 issue of the Journal
of the National Technical Association, and “Study of the Limitations of Linear
Theory Methods As Applied to Sonic Boom Pressure Signatures,” in the NovemberDecember 1993 issue of the Journal of Aircraft. Darden also generated several
mathematical algorithms specifically oriented toward sonic boom research.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d9A2oq1N38 Sonic Booms to 2:05
Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb
Biologist
Biology revisited
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV822HfqT44&feature=list_related&
playnext=1&list=SPB4DB6D21004EBD00
Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb cont’d
Scientist, Educator
•Education: Talladega College, BA, in biology 1944;New York University, MS,
1947, PhD, 1950. master’s degree in cell physiology in 1947 and her doctorate in
the same field)
• New York Univ., instructor, 1955-56, assistant professor, 1956-60; Hunter
College, visiting lecturer, 1956-57; Sarah Lawrence College, biology professor,
1960-69; Connecticut College, zoology professor, dean, 1969-76; Rutgers Univ.,
Douglass College, biology professor, dean, 1976-81; California State Univ.
Fullerton, president, 1981-90, president emerita, 1990•Awards: Research grant, American Cancer Society, 1969-74, 1971-73, 1974-77;
Natl Academy of Science, Lifetime Achievement Award, 1993; Ronald Wilson
Award, American Council on Education, 2001; 21 honorary doctorates
Including: Wheaton College, 1971; Lowell Technical Institute, 1972;
Pennsylvania Medical College, 1975; City College of the City Univ, of New York;
St. Lawrence Univ., College of New Rochelle; Tuskegee Univ,; Fairleigh
Dickinson Univ.
Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb cont’d
Accomplishments
In the lab Cobb focused on cellular biology, which observes the action and
interaction of living cells, instead of molecular biology, which observes mainly
atoms and molecules that make up cells. At the National Cancer Institute she
studied the effects of chemotherapy drugs on human cells infected with cancer,
producing research that is still used today in creating new and more effective
tools to fight cancer.
Cultural Connection
•Between 1976 and 1981, Cobb became dean and professor of biological sciences
at Douglass College ( a school within Rutgers University), as dean and professor
of biological sciences. It was here that she continued to push for students of
color in science fields, both by creating new programs and sharing with the
community the need to increase the number represented.
•Paper in 1979 entitled “Filters for Women in Science,” was published in the
book Expanding the Role of Women in Sciences, and reprinted in the Annals of
New York Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson
Theoretical
Physicist
Theoretical Physicist
•She was the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. in 1973 from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in physics
•Dr. Jackson studied and conducted research in subatomic particles at the
Fermi National Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois where she studied hadrons and
AT&T Bell Laboratories examining the fundamental properties of various
materials. She also conducted research at the European Center for Nuclear
Research (CERN) in Switzerland where she explored theories of strongly
interacting elementary particles.
•She was appointed as the chair of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in
1995. She is current president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was
inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1998 for her significant
contributions as a distinguished scientist and advocate for science education.
•Dr. Jackson is author of over 100 published scientific papers on solid state
physics, semiconductor systems and related topics during her 20 years as a
research physicist at Bell Laboratories. In 1999 she became president of
Rensselaer Polytechnic institute where one of her goals was to increase the
representation of African Americans among science students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vVH3OujAWU&feature=related
Meet Shirley Ann Jackson
Dr. Patricia Suzanne Cowings
Psychophysiologist
Patricia Suzanne Cowings
Psychophysiologist –
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orzOkc-IxAk or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ47SGM7gDA&playnext=1&list=PLAAAC4A151A1F57F2
Inventor of biofeedback system called the autogenic-Feedback Training Exercise Systems and
Methods (U.S. Patent 5,694,939), originally developed to faciliaate human adaptation to space.
http://www.eiu.edu/~wism/about_biographies.php - Bio
Dr. Patricia Suzanne Cowings cont’d
Doesn't matter where you are from or what you look
like. Doesn't matter if you're poor. A human being can
learn and can achieve whatever they set out to do (or
come near to it). I've spent my life studying human
potential—and stretching my own.
Don't give up. No matter how bad or scary it gets. Not
even when you ask yourself "What am I doing here?"
—Dr. Patricia S. Cowings
Mae Carol Jemison
Physician, Astronaut
Dr. Mae Carol Jemison
Physician, Astronaut
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=XJ47SGM7gDAs
Dr. Donna May G. Sakura
Ph. D, Civil Engineering
Dr. Donna May G. Sakura cont’d
Dr. Donna-May G. Sakura-Lemessy joined Albany State University as a
research scientist in the Flint River Water Planning and Policy Center and a
professor of engineering in the Department of Natural Sciences in the Fall
of 2005.
Her research expertise is in hydrologic modeling, with particular emphasis
on simulation of physical, chemical and biological processes in aquatic
environments, urban runoff, the fate and transport of environmental
pollutants, TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) analyses, Geographic
Information System (GIS) and remote sensing analysis and irrigation.
Over the last 10 years, Dr. Sakura-Lemessy has conducted water resources
Advice/Inspiration - I was inspired by the challenges of conservation and
sustainability issues and the environmental degradation precipitated by
decades of environmentally irresponsible oil exploration in the country of
my birth – Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, the degradation to US
watersheds brought about by non-point source pollutants from urban runoff
and industrial waste have also be sources of concern for me pursuing this
professional pathway.
Dr. Donna May G. Sakura
cont’d
Parents should encourage their girls to be equally interested and develop
competence in math and science and not fall victim to common misconceptions
that girls, particularly African-American girls are incapable of excelling in these
subject areas.
Publications:
Sakura-Lemessy, D. (with others) 2010. “Enhanced Estimation of Terrestrial
Loadings for TMDLs: Normalization Approach”. Journal of Water Resources
Planning and Management. 136(3)357-365.
Sakura-Lemessy, D. with others (2009). “Watershed scale fate and transport of
bacteria.” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological
Engineers, Volume 52(1): 145 - 154.
Sakura-Lemessy, D. and M. Masters (2007) “Incidental recharge in the Lower Flint
River Basin: agricultural irrigation and consumptive use.” Proceedings of the 2007
Georgia Water Resources Conference, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
Dr. Mary Spio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne7mN0Am38o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-JTxskPgDM - interview
"Deep Space Engineer" is the title the Syracuse and Georgia Tech alumna gave
Mary Spio at Ultra Corp before moving on to PanAmSat Corporation as a
Senior Satellite Applications Engineer. Spio began gaining notoriety in her
field when she joined Boeing in 2001 as the head of Satellite Communications
Systems at just age 26. A “Rocket Scientist” to the bone.
Dr. Mary Spio cont’d
Mary Spio Interview -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-JTxskPgDM
Dr. Antoinette Jackson
Ph.D., Anthropology,
University of Florida
– Gainesville
MBA, Xavier
University Cincinnati, Ohio
B.A., Computer and
Information Science,
Ohio State
University Columbus
Dr. Antoinette Jackson cont’d
Selected Articles (online access)
Imagining Jehossee Island Rice
Plantation Todayhttp://www.informaworld.com/smpp/
content~content=a790566994~db=all
~jumptype=rss
Changing Ideas about Heritage and
Heritage Resource Management in
Historically Segregated Communitieshttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1
111/j.1548-7466.2010.01075.x/abstract
Kingsley Plantation Study
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/o
nline_books/timu/timu_ethno.pdf
Dr. Antoinette Jackson
photojournal:
http://news.usf.edu/article/tem
plates/?a=2986&z=38