9781422283233

to Willie E. May who heads the National Institute of Stan- dards and Technology. Even the more modern-day chem- ists met with opposition. These scientists have arrived to job interviews only to be told that they should be applying for the position of janitor, or given the task of doing sim-

ple math, rather than the sophis- ticated science they were trained to do. Not only are these scientists notable for their scientific and ed- ucational accomplishments, but also for the social and personal obstacles they overcame in their pursuit of education and science. The chemists featured in this book came from all over the US and the world. Some gave back to society by discovering import- ant treatments for disease, or by leading government agencies to improve everyone’s health, or by inspiring groups of African- American elementary students to pursue careers in science or engi- neering. Others became teachers,

Pursuing a career in chemistry will start with learning how to work in a lab.

passing their love of science on to generations of students. Others looked beyond the borders of the US, working to establish schools and access to education in remote African villages. These chemists were, and are, more than simply

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Black Achievement in Science: Chemistry