by African Americans in Science Visions to Inventions by African Americans in Science By: Joshua Seals, Michelle Jones, Ariassa Wilson, and Noli James 1 1

Percy Lavon Julian Born April 11th, 1899 Montgomery Alabama(1899-1975) African American Chemist Isolated and experimented simple compounds in natural products that changed into chemicals of importance to life Synthesized progesterone and testosterone 2 2

Education Graduated from the State Normal School for Negroes in 1916 Graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was valedictorian of the 1920 class of DePauw University In 1923, he received a master's degree in chemistry at Harvard University Earned a Ph. D. in organic chemistry in 1931 from the University of Vienna 3 3

Accomplishments Was named “Chicago's Man of the Year” (1950) by the Jaycees and Chicago Sun-Times Artificially created physostigmine Became director of chemicals development of the Glidden Company in Chicago Refined a soya protein (became Aero-Foam) 4 4

Otis Boykin ~1920-1982~ Inventor & Engineer EDUCATION WORK Fisk University- (graduated 1941) Institute of Technology (Chicago, Illinois) 1946- 1947. Laboratory Assistant Testing automatic controls for aircraft with the Majestic Radio and TV Corporation in Chicago. Research engineer with the P.J. Nilsen Research Laboratories. Develop his own business a founded Boykin-Fruth, Incorporated.

Inventions The Resistor Pacemaker What is a pacemaker? What it did- Improved computers, radios, and televisions used in guided missiles. What is a resistor?- An electronic component used to slow the flow of an electrical A chemical air filter A burglarproof cash register Resistor of all resistors! Cheaper to build made, able to hold up against extreme changes in temperature Control unit for the pacemaker that stimulate s the heart and create a steady heartbeat What is a pacemaker? The device uses electrical impulses to maintain a steady heartbeat (black inventors) Used all over the world, helping keep people alive such as Lance Armstrong Unfortunately Otis died of heart complications

Accomplishments Received a patent for a wire precision resistor on June 16, 1959.- used for televisions and radios Received orders from consumer electronics manufacturers, the United States military and electronics behemoth IBM. 1964, Boykin lived in Paris, inventing electronic innovations for a new crowd of customers. Most famous for pace maker component. He among others are proof that hard work makes dreams come true!

George Washington Carver 1860– 1943 US agricultural chemist Advocated the diversification of crops Promoted peanut production Pioneer in the field of plastics 8

Education George Washington Carver 1890 - Enrolled at Simpson College to study piano and art 1891 - Transferred to State Agricultural College, Ames, IA 1894 - Earned Bachelor of Agriculture Degree at Ames 1894 - Appointed member of faculty, Iowa State College 1896 - Earned Master of Agriculture Degree, Iowa State College 1896 - Went to Tuskegee Institute and became Agriculture Director 9

Research George Washington Carver soil analysis, crop management, control of plant diseases promoted soil diversification and adoption of peanuts, soybeans, and other soil-enriching crops developed 108 products using sweet potatoes, 325 products using peanuts, and 75 products using pecans came up with a process for creating a plastic material from soybeans responsible for the invention in 1927 of a process for producing paints and stains from soybeans 10

Born in Charleston, South Carolina into poor family 1883 – 1941 Born in Charleston, South Carolina into poor family American biologist, zoologist, & physiologist Performed pioneering research in fertilization, experimental parthenogenesis, and cell physiology Made many discoveries relating to cell behavior 11

Education & Achievements 1907: Graduated from Dartmouth University with a B.A. in Biology and minored in Greek and history. Graduated Magna cum lade. 1909: Began teaching at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Conducted research at Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hill, Massachusetts. 1915: First recipient of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Spingarn Medal. 1916: First African American to receive Ph. D degree in experimental embryology at University of Chicago. Graduated magna cum lade. 1938: Just was invited to the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin. Due to the time, struggled with racism, funding, discrimination due to being an black scientist. 12

Accomplishments Made leeway in research of fundamental problems in cell biology, specifically parthenogenesis. Studied Morphology, and how living cells reproduce themselves Successfully challenged Jacques Loeb's theory of artificial parthenogenesis. Just came to the conclusions: Cells performing asexual fertilization do so naturally; the ectoplasm of the cell contains all tools needed. Lab factors for egg experimentation should be as close as possible to those found in nature. Further led to his conclusion, that in any species the eggs’ structure was just as important as any external factor for development. Published his work Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals. This work created new scientific area: ecological developmental biology. His research on marine invertebrates was well respected, and he was considered an authority . 1939: Published The Biology of the Cell Surface, which argues how life is derived from complex organic structure. 13

References Internet: www.biography.com/articles/Percy- Julian-9359018 Retrieved- January 22, 2010 Internet: http://www.bookrags.com/biography/pe rcy-lavon-julian-woi/ Retrieved- January 22, 2010 14 14

References (pt.2) Internet:http://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/Portraits/ images/julianc.jpg Retrieved- January 26, 2010 Internet:http://www.depauw.edu/acad/chemistry/i mages/DrPercyJulian01.jpg Retrieved- January 26, 2010 Internet:http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/pssc/images /hand_diploma.jpg Retrieved- February 1, 2010 15

References (pt.3) http://www.blackhistorypages.net/pages/obo ykin.php- http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/otisboyk in.html - http://personal.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/H.M /UGLabs/images/resistor_packages.jpg http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/files/image cache/news/files/20080313_pacemaker.jpg

References (pt.4) Library Digital Collections - http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/gwc/bio.html "The Plant World - What Were Some Of The Accomplishments Of George Washington Carver?." Science Fact Finder. Ed. Phillis Engelbert. UXL-Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. 2006. 24 Jan, 2010 <http://www.enotes.com/science-fact-finder/ plant-world/what-were-some-accomplishments-george-washington> Tuskegee University - http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1106545&nav= menu200_2 Website of The Shroder Group www.biologie.uni- freiburg.de/data/bio2/schroe…. 27, Feb. 2008. 17

References (pt.5) Bianco, D. (2010). Answers.com. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from Answers Corporation: http://www.answers.com/topic/ernest-everett- just-1 Grey, M. (2007, February). Black History Month. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from Time, Inc. : http://www.time.com/time/2007/blackhistmth/bios/08.html How Stuff Works. (2010). Retrieved February 10, 2010, from How Stuff Works, Inc.: http://science.howstuffworks.com/american- biologists/ernest-everett-just-info.htm   http://www.ls.cc.al.us/blackhistory/Ernest_Everett_Just.jpg http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/westwing/images/b/b6/Dartmouth. gif http://events.stanford.edu/events/172/17231/NAACP-logo-sq.jpg http://www.biologyreference.com/images/biol_02_img0136.jpg http://www5.pbrc.hawaii.edu/mbl/membio/cartoon2.gif 18