1. What Makes a Scientist? Aaron Haeberle

2. What are some scientists you know?

3. What about these people?

4. Bessie Blount Griffin Inventor Mother Physical Therapist Scientist

5. Brief Childhood Born Nov. 24, 1914 in Hickory, Virginia Went to Diggs Chapel Elementary – Hit for writing with left hand Began writing with right, teeth and feet. – Forced to stop education in sixth grade Self taught to attain GED

6. Education Expanded Nursing Training at Community Kennedy Memorial Hospital (Newark, NJ) – First African American owned and integrated hospital Union Junior College & Panzer College – Physical therapist Went to Chicago to finish training

7. Found a need Volunteered at Base 81 During WWII through Korean War – Worked with veterans – Taught others with missing limbs how to compensate Eating being their biggest challenge

8. Solved the Need Invented a tube that delivered food one bite at a time to patients – Donated to France in 1951 Also invented the portable receptacle support – Patent No: 2,550,554 Patent No: 2,550,554

10. Wait a second! How is this science? – Well the Nature of Science would say that science is simply the use of creativity to solve a problem with experimental trails and evidence.

11. Now back to Bessie After her inventions became popular, she was invited to “The Big Idea” in 1953 – She was not only the first woman to appear on the show but also the first African American “A black woman can invent something for the benefit of man kind.” -Bessie Blount Griffin

12. One more benefit for man kind. Worked with Theodore M. Edison – While caring for Edison’s mother-in-law, came up with disposable cardboard emesis basin Newspaper Flour Water Once again it was ignored by the states – Now used all over Belgium

13. After all the inventions In 1969, began a career in forensic science – Became chief examiner of Portsmith P.D. until 1972 At the age of 63, she became the first African American woman to join Scotland Yard. – Forensic science lab – “Mom Bessie”

14. Only the tip of the iceberg Bessie Blount Griffin died Dec. 30 th, 2009 at the age of 95 – Had many other outstanding achievements in her life. Some that don’t involve science

15. What does this mean for you? Homework!

16. Resources Biographies http://causes.goldenmoon.org/legends/bblount.html http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?pid=138290058#fbLo ggedOut http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/blount.html Patent http://www.google.com/patents/US2550554?printsec=abstract#v=onepage& q&f=true Video Assignment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k33ZNmpJSoA