February is Black History Month, a time dedicated to celebrating and calling attention to Black contributions in arts, culture, science, sports, and history, all while honoring the legacy of the community!
This is a time to raise awareness, and we here at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada are taking this opportunity to discuss a few inspirational and historic Black individuals in STEM!
Dr. Roger Arliner Young
Dr. Young was a marine biologist and the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in zoology. She committed years of research to understanding the structures that control salt concentration in marine Paramecium (single-celled organisms).
In 1924, she had her research published and became the first Black woman in zoology to have her work showcased in a major journal. Dr. Young assisted multiple studies; however, she was overlooked and rarely credited as a co-author.
She eventually did have more work published under her name on research regarding sea urchin eggs being affected by radiation. She also became an Assistant Professor at Howard University. Although she experienced years of racial and gender-based discrimination during her career, she remained resilient and continued with immense dedication to her scientific research, receiving her Ph.D. in 1940.
Nearly 40 years after her death, she was recognized with a Congressional Resolution in 2005 for her accomplishments as someone who has “broken through barriers to achieve greatness in science.”
Dr. Ernest Everett Just
Dr. Just made history as the first Black marine biologist and is best known for his work on cell physiology, development, and fertilization.
He enrolled at Dartmouth College as a member of the class of 1907, and during his years of education, he took an interest in biology.
Dr. Just was the first Black man to study and work at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts and assisted as an editor for multiple scholarly journals. He was awarded by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) as a revolutionary scientist and in 1915 received the first-ever NAACP Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by a Black American.
This was followed by Dr. Just earning his Ph.D. in experimental embryology at the University of Chicago. Later becoming the editor of the Physiological Zoology journal in 1929, Dr. Just had been elected to the editorial board of the Marine Biological Laboratory journal and the vice president of the American Society of Zoologists in 1930.
Hazel Johnson
Hazel Johnson was born in 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana, a region we now refer to as “Cancer Alley” because of the frequent negative impacts on the local community’s health from the chemical industry.
After moving to Chicago in a Black public housing complex called Altgeld Gardens, Johnson founded the People for Community Recovery (PCR) to address tenant issues. She began investigating her neighbourhood's high cancer rates, foul odours, and high rates of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. Discovering that the polluted air, water, and land of Altgeld Gardens were a result of being built on a landfill and the surrounding toxicity from dumpsites, chemical incinerators, and sewage facilities.
Johnson then shifted the focus of PCR’s efforts to reducing or eliminating the environmental hazards surrounding their home. As a team, they educated residents on toxic waste and empowered people to play a positive role in their community. Johnson began mentoring college students and young activists who would form the next generation of the Environmental Justice movement. This included helping Barack Obama (being a community organizer at this time) in a fight to remove asbestos from Altgeld Gardens. She went on to be a featured presenter at the first National People of Colour Environmental Leadership summit in 1991. Thereafter, building up organizations across the USA to create the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice.
Dr. Emmett W. Chappelle
Dr. Emmett W. Chappelle was a biochemist in the 1960s and the first person to identify the chemical composition of bioluminescence, the specific combination of chemicals that produce and emit light in living organisms. He studied biology at the University of Washington and went on to continue his research with NASA.
Dr. Chappelle realized which chemicals could give measurable light when mixed with living cells and used this to study how we could detect life on other planets, such as Mars. He then designed a test to study extraterrestrial soils for the presence of microbial life. Dr. Chappelle applied his work to the medical field and used a similar detection to locate bacteria within human blood, urine, and spinal fluid.
This allowed medical staff to diagnose infections more quickly and scientific laboratories to test bacterial strains for antibiotic susceptibility—ultimately providing faster and more effective treatments.
Dr. Joan Murrell Owens
Dr. Joan Murrell Owens was a marine biologist who specialized in button corals in the 1950s. She experienced many obstacles throughout her career as a Black woman in a scientific field, paired with the fact that marine biology positions require a willingness to drive and travel.
Dr. Owens was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease that affects the oxygen in her blood, which halted any chance of her driving. She didn't let this get in the way of her work; thankfully, she had a great relationship with the Smithsonian that allowed her to continue her research. Utilizing the museum’s collections to classify the genus of button corals, Rhombopsammia , and discover three new species! Dr. Owens was the first Black woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in geology and paired this with her minor in zoology to construct her own marine biology degree. She went on to teach her program at Howard University until her retirement.
History Worth Celebrating
We hope the stories of these five incredible individuals spark curiosity and inspire you to share their achievements not just during Black History Month, but all year long.
By exploring the past, we open the door to a brighter future, and it’s our responsibility to celebrate the brilliance, innovation, and lasting impact of the Black community in STEM both in our world and beneath the surface.