Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, and astronaut.

Dr. Percy Lavon Julian honored at MacMurry College

Two photographs of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975) taken during a ceremony for the newly constructed chemistry building of MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, named in his honor. This event took place during a two-day symposium attended by more than 100 scientists and educators on May 12 and 13th, 1972. The first image depicts Dr. Julian standing beneath a plaque paying tribute to his contributions to chemistry, medicine, and humanity. The second shows Julian holding a framed picture of the Percy Lavon Julian Hall of Chemistry.

Julian is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in the development of cortisone, sex hormones, soybean proteins, and firefighting foam. Over the course of his career, Julian received more than 130 chemical patents and in 1973, became the second African American, following David Blackwell (1919-2010), to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Image citation: MacMurray College. “Dr. Percy Lavon Julian Honored at MacMurray College,” May 13, 1972. Science History Institute. Philadelphia.

Almost Invisible

Past social and economic pressures made it nearly impossible for women to be artists. Virginia Woolf concluded that poems signed 'anonymous' were probably written by women. In science, contributions of women and ethnic minorities have also been erased from history. Alice Ball, born on this day in 1892, was nearly forgotten. Although she died aged 24, she had a remarkable career. Likely the first Black American to publish in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, she was the first woman to earn a master’s from the University of Hawaii. Most importantly, Ball developed an injectable form of an extract from chaulmoogra tree (pictured) seeds – making it the most effective leprosy treatment for two decades. After her death, the president of the College of Hawaii claimed Ball’s research as his own. Fortunately, historians rediscovered Ball’s story in the 1970s and restored her credit. But how many more brilliant scientists have been pushed to the margins of history?

Written by Henry Stennett

Portrait of Alice Ball (unknown photographer) in the Public Domain. Chaulmoogra fruit image by Anoopmail Wikipedia

Fruit image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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As a child she read stories about Eugenie Clark, the shark lady depicted in her books, and decided that she too would study the sea. Where Clark had her sharks, Owens would have her button corals—small snowflake-like creatures that lived deep in the sea. These snowflake corals, however, were housed in the drawers of the Smithsonian’s collections, and Owens would become a meticulous cartographer, detailing every groove and branch of their skeletons through the microscope lens. It was that discipline and determination that led her to become the first Black woman marine biologist, geologist, and paleontologist. 

Triple threat scientist! Marine biology, geology, AND Paleontology!

The article is a good read, y’all should check out if you have the time!

Kept forgetting to post this, meant to write this after reblogging that post about black inventors, and while Joan Murrell Owens isn’t technically an “inventor”, she’s still a cool scientist who discovered and catalogued new button coral species!

She also had sickle cell disease:

Often, marine biology positions required some experience and willingness to dive. Owens had sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease that limited the amount of oxygen in her blood, and a diagnosis that effectively dashed all dreams of diving. Thankfully, her relationship with Stephen Cairns at the Smithsonian allowed her to continue marine research through the study of collection items.

The three button coral species she discovered were Letepsammia franki, and the other two species belonged to the Rhombopsammia genus (R. niphada and R. squiresi respectively).

By the end of her time at the Smithsonian Owen’s would discover a new genus of button coral—the Rhombopsammia— along with three new species, which she named after a snowflake, Squires, and her husband. She also published a hypothesis for why these deep-sea corals were mobile, unlike the majority of shallow water corals. She proposed that shallow water free-living mobile corals in the Cretaceous period migrated into deeper water. Then, since they were in deep water and couldn’t get enough calcium carbonate for their skeletons, they maintained a lightweight body that enabled movement.

Sweet bby

[REDACTED] if you agree

Green Arrow had a new child scientist villain. Who needs glasses?

Danny was already with the many Blob Ghosts working for him (think of them as Minions of Despicable Me). This new place is a super funny vacation place! He should think ghostwriter about it. True, his eyes were hurt by the portal, but that would be gone in a few years. But who cares about it? With just his genius and no powers as a human, he can show he is a genius! That was how Danny, without knowing it, became a wonderful child who was just having chaotic fun in the new world. It's like a game for him; it's not like he would have problems.

Batman has the Joker.

Superman has Lex Luthor.

Wonder Woman has the cheetah.

But Green Arrow! Green Arrow has a child scientist! with a tragic childhood who does musicals to explain his evil plans.

Just for the poor comedy and Oliver trying to hide it from the other heroes out of embarrassment. Of being defeated by a child and not being able to capture him. ++ Danny looked at Oliver Queen without his green Arrow mask. "An ordinary civilian with a goat?" Oliver saw as he put on his hood. Danny:"An ordinary civilian dressed up as a Green Arrow?" Oliver puts on the mask. Danny: "Ah! Green ARROW! " Green Arrow gave a tired sigh. Black Canary:" When we finally are able to capture him, The first thing we will do is send him to an ophthalmologist." Danny:" Since you are here, I wil tell you about my trash-inator!" Oliver:" So It creates trash." Danny:" NO! Man, are you evil? It collects all the trash in the whole city and teleports it away." Black Canary:" That is a pretty good indicator. You could do much goo..." Danny:" Yes, then into the Bat Cave all the trash of the Star city will go. I was paid by Red Hood to do that." Oliver:" NOO!!"

++ So because Oliver covered it up until now, Danny has now become a world-wide problem. Oliver really didn't want to say he lost a child or explain it. Danny with his Shrink Ray:" Tonight we steal the Legion of Doom HQ/The Hall of Justice!" All the Blob Ghost:" YAYY!"

And yes, Danny stole the Legion of Doom HQ/The Hall of Justice as both Heroes and Villian fought each other in a great battle.

That was the moment Oliver had to explain the problem that he had covered up.

The University of Illinois Chicago is one of six institutions that will split an $8.8 million National Science Foundation grant to develop theories, research methods and tools to help expand and tailor the field of STEM education to support Black students.

The five-year project will be led by Terrell Morton, UIC assistant professor of identity and justice in STEM education. He will serve as the principal investigator for the overall project and for UIC specifically. Other universities involved in the effort include Tennessee State University, the University of Texas at Austin, American University, Georgia State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

The title of the project is, “Collaborative Research: EHR Racial Equity: Examining Blackness in Postsecondary STEM Education through a Multidimensional-Multiplicative Lens.”

Morton, who is in the department of educational psychology in the College of Education, said that while there is a lot of desire to foster racial equity, particularly at the policy level in STEM education, the assumption is often that every Black person is homogeneous, simply because of their shared racial identity.

“We assume that every Black person needs the exact same thing because of their racial identity as Black,” Morton said. “The purpose of this project is to say that not every Black person is the same, even if they all racially identify as Black.”

The goal is to develop and tailor racial equity-focused policies and practices in STEM education and to facilitate increased access and sustained engagement in STEM for Black undergraduate students. This includes looking at what “Blackness means for individuals,” Morton said. Read more. 

pride flag in science colours

inspired by @science-bastard

(note: I've added the bars as their own images alongside trans, ace, and nb flags in this style in a reblog)