Marie Maynard Daly
Marie Maynard Daly was an American biochemist. She was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Columbia University and the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. In addition to her research of cholesterol, sugars, and protein, Daly was committed to developing programs to increase the enrollment of minority students in medical school and graduate science programs.
Read more about Marie Daly here: https://www.sciencehistory.org/education/scientific-biographies/marie-maynard-daly/
Frank S. Greene
Frank Greene was an Electronics Officer in the United States Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, he “helped develop high performance computers for the National Security Agency.” After the Air Force, Greene developed a high-speed computer memory system. He received a patent for the fastest memory chip (at the time). He then continued to share his expertise by teaching electrical engineering and computer science classes at multiple universities.
Read more about Frank Greene here: https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/frank-greene-jr
Bessie Blout Griffin
Bessie Blount was one of very few Black physical therapists in the late 1940’s. She used interpretive dance to help with her clients advance in therapy. After WWII, many veterans needed physical therapy, and many were amputees. Blount used more innovative ways to help these patients by teaching them to use their feet. Another major accomplishment of hers was getting a patent for her invention the “Portable Receptacle Support.”
Read more about Bessie Griffin here: https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/bessie-blount
George Washington Carver
George Washing Carver, one of the most known African American inventors, was born into slavery but later became the first Black student at Iowa State Agricultural College. He is best known for coming up with about 300 uses for the peanut. Some of these included flour, paste, paper, soap, shaving cream, and even medicines.
Read more about George Carver here: https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Washington-Carver
Who is your favorite POC that has influenced STEM? Let us know in the comments!
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