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Inspiration

Black women making their mark in space and science (SLIDESHOW)

by Similoluwa Ojurongbe | July 26, 2012 at 3:27 PM
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Jeanette J. Epps PH.D  recently graduated from Astronaut Candidate Training.

Jeanette J. Epps PH.D recently graduated from Astronaut Candidate Training.

Willie Hobbs Moore PH.D is the first African American woman to earn her PH.D in physics

Willie Hobbs Moore PH.D is the first African American woman to earn her PH.D in physics

Shirley Ann Jackson PH.D is the second African American woman to earn her PH.D in Physics and and the first to earn it at MIT

Shirley Ann Jackson PH.D is the second African American woman to earn her PH.D in Physics and and the first to earn it at MIT

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is currently a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at the Observational Lab in Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is currently a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at the Observational Lab in Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland

Dara Norman PH.D is a professor at the University of Washington she specializes in gravitational lensing, large scale structure and quasars.

Dara Norman PH.D is a professor at the University of Washington she specializes in gravitational lensing, large scale structure and quasars.

Reva K. Williams PH.D is the first African-American female astrophysicist.

Reva K. Williams PH.D is the first African-American female astrophysicist.

Mercedes Richards PH.D is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on binary stars.

Mercedes Richards PH.D is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on binary stars.

Jarita Holbrook PH.D is a professor of African Astronomy at the University of Arizona. She is an astrophysicist, anthropologist, author and filmmaker.

Jarita Holbrook PH.D is a professor of African Astronomy at the University of Arizona. She is an astrophysicist, anthropologist, author and filmmaker.

Beth Brown PH.D (1969-2008) was an Astrophysicist in the Sciences and Exploration Directorate at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She was the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in Astronomy from the University of Michigan.

Beth Brown PH.D (1969-2008) was an Astrophysicist in the Sciences and Exploration Directorate at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. She was the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate in Astronomy from the University of Michigan.

Yvonne Cagle M.D. is an astronaut at NASA currently assigned as the lead Ames Research Center (ARC) Astronaut Science Liason and Strategic Relationships Manager for Google and other Silicone Valley Programmatic Partnerships.

Yvonne Cagle M.D. is an astronaut at NASA currently assigned as the lead Ames Research Center (ARC) Astronaut Science Liason and Strategic Relationships Manager for Google and other Silicone Valley Programmatic Partnerships.

Stephanie Wilson is an astronaut at NASA

Stephanie Wilson is an astronaut at NASA

Nichelle Nichols, is not an astronaut, but her role in Star Trek as Lieutenant Uhura inspired many African American women to become astronauts and astrophysicists including Mae Jemison.

Nichelle Nichols, is not an astronaut, but her role in Star Trek as Lieutenant Uhura inspired many African American women to become astronauts and astrophysicists including Mae Jemison.

Mae Jemison PH.D  was the first African American woman in space.

Mae Jemison PH.D was the first African American woman in space.

Joan Higginbotham is the third African American woman to go to space

Joan Higginbotham is the third African American woman to go to space

Discovery crew 2006. On the left is Joan Higginbotham, the third African-American woman to go to space

Discovery crew 2006. On the left is Joan Higginbotham, the third African-American woman to go to space

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Stephanie Wilson born in Boston Massachusetts studied engineering science in Harvard and then received her MS in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas. Wilson has flown on three space missions. When she was officially selected and asked to join the Astronaut Corps, after her second application to the program,  Wilson had one more challenge to face, she didn’t know how to swim. Between April and August of 1996, Wilson worked hard to learn.

Yvonne Cagle M.D. is an astronaut at NASA currently assigned as the lead Ames Research Center (ARC) Astronaut Science Liason and Strategic Relationships Manager for Google and other Silicone Valley Programmatic Partnerships. Dr Cagle is a senior aviation medical examiner and certified as a flight surgeon.

Jarita Holbrook PH.D is a professor of African Astronomy at the University of Arizona. She is an astrophysicist, anthropologist, author and filmmaker.

Mercedes Richards PH.D is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University. Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Richards received her Doctoral degree at the University of Toronto. In 2010 Dr. Richards received the Fulbright Award to conduct research at the Astronomical Institute in Slovakia. research focus is on binary stars; twin stars formed at the same time.

Barbara A. Williams PH.D was the first African-American female to acquire the terminal degree in Astronomy at the University of Maryland at College Park. She is currently an Associate Professor at University of Delaware. Her research projects include astronomy and astrophysics, radio astronomy and groups of galaxies.

Reva K. Williams PH.D is the first African-American female astrophysicist. Dr. Williams was the first to prove “Penrose mechanism,” a mathematical model that uses Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity to explain how to extract energy from black holes. At a speech at Malcolm X College Dr. Williams told the class of 2001, “I began like most of you. Malcolm X College gave me the background strength I needed. It helped me become what I am today. I am here to tell you that you can be anything you want to be if you work hard toward it, have faith and never give up.”

Dara Norman PH.D is a professor at the University of Washington. Dr. Norman grew up in the south side of Chicago Illinois. She went to MIT as an Undergraduate and worked at NASA Goddard in Maryland. Dr. Norman currently specializes in gravitational lensing, large scale structure and quasars (quasi-stellar objects). This year she was honored with the University’s Timeless Award for her contributions and accomplishments to astronomy. In 2009 she was invited to the Star Party at the White House.

Shirley Ann Jackson PH.D is the second African-American woman to earn a PH.D in physics and the first from MIT. In 2009 Dr. Jackson was appointed to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. She is currently the President of the Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute.

Willie Hobbs Moore PH.D is the first African-American woman to earn a PH.D in physics in 1972. She received it at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Her thesis research involved important problems in vibrational analysis of macro molecules.

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein PH.D is currently a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at the Observational Lab in Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland. Originally from Los Angeles California Dr. Prescod-Weinstein specializes in theoretical cosmology.

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Filed in: Inspiration, Living, Slideshow | Related Topics: anthropologist, Astronomical Institute in Slovakia, Astronomy Observatory, Astrophysicist, Astrophysics, Barbara A. Williams, Beth Brown, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Dara Norman, Doctor, Einstein, Engineer, Florida Institute of Technology, Fulbright Award, Harvard, Jarita Holbrook, Jeanette J. Epps, Joan Higginbotham, Kennedy Space Center, M.D., Mae Jemison, Malcolm X College, Mercedes Richards, MIT, NASA, NASA Goddard, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Nichelle Nichols, Observational Lab, Penrose Mechanism, PH.D, Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, Reva K. Williams, Shirley Ann Jackson, Space, Star Trek, Star Wars, Stars, Stephanie Wilson, Theory of Relativity, Universe, Universeity of Michigan, University Of Arizona, University of Delaware, University Of Maryland, University Of Michigan, University Of Washington, Vibrational Analysis of Macro Molecules, Willie Hobbs Moore, Yvonne Cagle
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