By Amy Cowen
on October 27, 2021 8:00 AM
Commemorate National Native American Heritage Month by discovering more about some of the many Native American researchers and engineers who have actually made crucial contributions to science history.
Native American Heritage Month: Scientists to find out more about!
Variety in STEM
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we highlight stories of a few Native American researchers and engineers who made (and are making) crucial contributions to science, innovation, math, and engineering (STEM). The list listed below is just a sampling of noted scientists through history and operating in STEM fields today.
To assist trainees see themselves with a future in STEM and to expand understanding of science history, it is very important for trainees to learn about a varied range of researchers and engineers. This includes commemorating the stories of females in science, African American researchers and engineers, Hispanic and LatinX scientists, Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander scientists, researchers with disabilities, and other scientists from all over the world.
Find out more about these Native American Scientists and Engineers
Keep in mind: Educators can utilize this profession worksheet to direct student expedition and reflection about STEM careers.
To motivate your trainees to find out more about these researchers and to check out related science tasks and careers for scientists they find fascinating, for each scientist, we have consisted of a short biographical summary, links to 1-2 hands-on science projects related to the scientists area of study, links to pertinent science profession profiles, and a link to a biography.
2. Ella Cara Deloria (Aŋpétu Wašté Wiŋ, Beautiful Day Woman), Anthropologist
Ella Cara Deloria (Yankton Dakota) was an anthropologist, author, ethnographer, and linguist. Deloria worked to maintain Native American history by taping oral history. Working with anthropologists like Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict, Deloria assisted with Sioux linguistics and the translation of Native American languages and materials.
( Biography).
Interested in ethnography and linguistics? Find out more with science projects like:.
The Bouba-Kiki Effect.
Find out more about associated careers:.
Anthropologist.
5. Bertha Parker, Archaeologist.
Find out more about associated professions:.
Anthropologist.
Bertha Parker (Abenaki and Seneca) became part of an archaeological exploration at Gypsum Cave (Las Vegas, NV), where she discovered the skull of a Nothrotherium shastense, an extinct types of giant ground sloth. This discovery, where human artifacts were likewise being recuperated, helped more date the look of people in North America. Parker is associated with other historical sites, too, like the Scorpion Hill Pueblo site and the Corn Creek website.
( Biography).
Intrigued in anthropology? Find out more with science tasks like:.
Wonderful Fossilization! Discover the Conditions For Creating the very best Cast Fossils.
6. Mary Golda Ross, Aerospace Engineer.
Note: Individual researcher pictures utilized in this post remain in the public domain with exception of:.
Robin Wall Kimmerer (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry).
Bertha Parker (Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 90-105, Science Service Records, Image No. SIA2009-0779).
Mary G. Ross (Wikipedia, fair use).
Aaron Yazzie (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Mary Golda Ross (Cherokee Nation) was an engineer who worked at Lockheed Martin on the design of aircrafts and spacecraft, including the P-38 Lightning fighter plane and the Agena rocket, which assisted pave the method for NASAs Apollo objective. Ross was an original member of Lockheeds top-secret Skunk Works team.
( Biography).
Find out more about associated careers:.
Aerospace Engineer.
Interested in aerospace engineering? Discover more with science projects like:.
Why Winglets? and.
Stealthy Shapes: How to Make an Aircraft Invisible to Radar.
Ella Cara Deloria (Yankton Dakota) was an anthropologist, ethnographer, author, and linguist. Deloria worked to preserve Native American history by taping oral history. Working with anthropologists like Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict, Deloria assisted with Sioux linguistics and the translation of Native American languages and products.
Bertha Parker (Abenaki and Seneca) was part of a historical exploration at Gypsum Cave (Las Vegas, NV), where she found the skull of a Nothrotherium shastense, an extinct species of giant ground sloth. Parker is associated with other historical websites, too, like the Scorpion Hill Pueblo site and the Corn Creek site.
STEM Career Worksheet.
To motivate trainees to read more about these scientists and to explore related careers in science, engineering, math, and innovation, utilize our totally free STEM Career Worksheet along with this post.
If you use the “8 Inspiring Native American Scientists and Engineers to Know!” post and career worksheet with trainees, we would like to hear your feedback. Email us at [email protected] with your comments or story.
