Afro-STEM with Project LEDO
Throughout history, Black women have made groundbreaking contributions to science, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. From Patricia Bath’s life-changing advancements in ophthalmology to Jedidah Isler’s exploration of the universe’s most extreme phenomena, these pioneers have shaped the world in extraordinary ways. Marian Croak revolutionized modern communication through her work in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). While Francisca Nneka Okeke’s research on the ionosphere has deepened our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere. This Science at Home article celebrates these remarkable women, showcasing their achievements and inspiring the next generation of scientists to dream big and break barriers.
Having The Vision
Patricia Bath, MD was a pioneering ophthalmologist, inventor, and academic who dedicated her life to preventing and treating blindness. Born in Harlem, New York, she demonstrated an early aptitude for science, eventually earning her medical degree from Howard University in 1968.
What’s the Science?
Bath completed her ophthalmology residency at New York University, becoming the first African American resident in that field. Driven by the disproportionate rate of blindness among African Americans, Bath championed community ophthalmology, establishing a program to provide eye care in underserved areas. Her research focused on laser technology and its applications in ophthalmology.
In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe, a groundbreaking device for cataract surgery. A cataract is a clouded mass of proteins that naturally build up over time that is on the lens of the eye. Removing it means that the original eye lens is removed and an artificial lens is inserted. This innovative tool used laser energy to painlessly and precisely dissolve cataracts, revolutionizing the procedure and making it less invasive. Bath became the first African American female doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. Her contributions to laser photoablative cataract surgery significantly improved the lives of countless individuals and solidified her legacy as a visionary in ophthalmology.
The Great Communicator
Marian R. Croak, PhD, is a distinguished technology executive and inventor whose work has
significantly shaped modern telecommunications. Born in New York City, she pursued her
passion for technology, earning a PhD in Social Psychology and Statistics from the University of Michigan.
What’s the Science?
Croak joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1982, embarking on a career marked by innovation.
Recognizing the potential of the internet for voice communication, she pioneered the
development of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies. Her work was instrumental in enabling the transition from traditional circuit-switched telephone networks to the packet-switched internet, revolutionizing how we communicate.
VoIP is a technology that allows people to make voice calls using the internet rather than traditional telephone lines. By converting sound into digital data packets that can be sent over the internet, VoIP has revolutionized the way we communicate, enabling calls to be made anywhere in the world as long as there’s an internet connection. This technology is widely used today in applications such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Zoom, which have made international communication more affordable and accessible than ever before.
Croak holds over 200 patents, many related to VoIP and other advanced communication
technologies. Her contributions have earned her widespread recognition, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer in telecommunications.
Head Above The Clouds
Francisca Nneka Okeke is a distinguished Nigerian physicist renowned for her significant
contributions to ionospheric research, particularly concerning the equatorial electrojet (EEJ).
She earned her PhD in Ionospheric Physics from the University of Nagoya, Japan, and later
became the first female professor of physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
What’s the Science?
Okeke’s research focuses on understanding the complex dynamics of the ionosphere, a region of Earth’s upper atmosphere crucial for radio wave propagation. Her work has significantly advanced the understanding of the EEJ, a narrow, intense current flowing in the equatorial ionosphere. By analyzing magnetic field variations and using data from ground-based magnetometers and satellites, she has investigated the EEJ’s behavior under various solar and geomagnetic conditions.
Her research has provided valuable insights into the EEJ’s influence on space weather and its
potential impact on communication and navigation systems. Okeke’s dedication to scientific
research and education has made her a leading figure in African physics and a role model for
aspiring female scientists.
A True Trailblazar
Jedidah Isler, PhD, is an American astrophysicist, educator, and advocate for STEM diversity.
Her research focuses on supermassive black holes, particularly blazars – active galactic nuclei with relativistic jets pointed directly at Earth. Isler studies the variability of these jets across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays, seeking to understand the physical processes occurring within them.
Isler earned her PhD in Astrophysics from Yale University in 2014, making her the first African
American woman to receive a PhD in astrophysics from that institution. Her dissertation
explored the multi-wavelength behavior of blazars, contributing to our understanding of how
these powerful objects accelerate particles to near light speed.
What’s the Science?
Astrophysics is a branch of science that helps us understand the universe. It’s all about using the laws of physics to learn about stars, planets, galaxies, and even the mysterious parts of space like black holes and dark matter. Astrophysicists ask big questions: How did the universe begin? What are stars made of? What happens inside a black hole? They use telescopes, satellites, and math to find answers to these mysteries.
Dr. Isler’s research focuses on a type of galaxy called a “blazar.” A blazar is a galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center that shoots out powerful jets of energy. These jets can travel across space at nearly the speed of light, making blazars one of the brightest objects in the universe. By studying them, Dr. Isler and other astrophysicists can learn about how black holes affect their galaxies and what happens in these extreme environments.
Through her work, Dr. Isler helps us better understand how galaxies work, how black holes shape the universe, and how we can encourage more diverse voices in science. She is not only making important discoveries in astrophysics, but she is also helping to create a more inclusive and inspiring scientific community for the future.
Shoot for the Stars
Follow the video to make your own spinning galaxy toy based on the research of Jedidah Isler, PhD. See how both quasars and blazars are just a matter of perspective.
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- String
- Marker
- Picture of Galaxy
- Pin for poking hole in cardboard.
Matter of Perspective
Quasars and blazars are both fascinating, powerful objects in space, and while they might sound different, they are essentially the same thing, just seen from different angles. Both are powered by supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, pulling in huge amounts of gas and dust, which release enormous amounts of energy as they spiral in.
A quasar (short for “quasi-stellar radio source”) is a very bright and distant object in space. It looks like a star through a telescope, but it’s actually the glowing region around a supermassive black hole. This bright light comes from the hot gas swirling around the black hole, creating huge amounts of energy, including radio waves, visible light, and even X-rays. Quasars are seen when we are looking at them from an angle where the black hole’s “jet” (a stream of particles moving at nearly the speed of light) isn’t pointed directly at us.
Blazars are very similar to quasars, but with one big difference: in a blazar, the black hole’s jet is pointed right at Earth. This makes the blazar look brighter and more active because we are seeing the full force of the jet’s energy. The powerful radiation from the jet makes blazars appear much more intense and can cause them to change brightness quickly.
So, the key difference between quasars and blazars isn’t the type of object, but where the observer is located. When we see a quasar, the jet is pointed away from us, but when we see a blazar, the jet is aimed directly at us. They are both the same kind of object, just with different names depending on how we view them.
Glossary
ophthalmologist
a specialist in the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.
Supermassive Black Hole
a black hole more than one hundred thousand times the mass of the Sun. Nearly every large galaxy has a supermassive black hole in the middle.
Galactic Nucleus
An extremely bright central region of a galaxy that is dominated by the light emitted by dust and gas as it falls into a black hole.
Relativistic Jets
A beam of plasma that is ejected from a black hole at nearly the speed of light.
Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ)
An intense electric current flowing along the magnetic equator in the E-region of the ionosphere
Thanks to our partner
About Project LEDO
Project LEDO is a Portland based, BIPOC led organization who’s mission is to get Black and Brown Youth into the sciences. They believe “that every child should have the opportunity to learn and explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs (STEM for short!) in a fun and engaging way, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.”
Vision:
To create a world where every young mind, regardless of systemic barriers, has access to transformative robotics and
technology education, inspiring a new generation of diverse leaders who innovate with purpose and shape a more
inclusive, sustainable, and globally connected future.
Mission:
Empower the next generation of STEAM leaders with culturally
responsive robotics and tech programs designed for youth
who face systemic barriers to achieving their full potential,
equipping them to create a global impact