By Amy Cowen
on April 28, 2022 10:00 AM
May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Discover more about inspiring AANHPI engineers and scientists!
How to Use this Resource
For each scientist, we have included a short biographical note, a link to a hands-on science project or activity related to the researchers area of research study, a link to a pertinent science profession profile, and a link to a bio to help students find out more about private researchers. Educators can utilize this career worksheet to assist student expedition and reflection about STEM careers.
Might is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. As part of our continuous work to introduce trainees to a vast array of scientists and engineers and to continue to represent diversity in STEM, our list of AANHPI individuals joins our other lists devoted to Black History Month, Womens History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Update! This post has been upgraded for 2022 to include additional researchers and engineers.
This list contains just a few of the numerous inspiring AANHPI scientists and engineers who have made (and are making) important contributions to science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM). Lists like these help broaden awareness and inspire trainees to find out more about these researchers and to check out related science tasks, careers, and activities.
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, & & Pacific Islanders in Science and Engineering
1. Isabella Aiona Abbott, ethnobotanist
Isabella Aiona Abbott, from Hawaii, was an ethnobotanist who studied Pacific marine algae. Abbott is particularly known for her research study on edible seaweed (limu), of which there are more than 70 types, and has actually been called the “First Lady of Limu.” (Fun reality! Seaweed is a kind of algae, so limu is edible algae.).
( Biography).
Experiment with the Too Much of a Good Thing? Research study the Effect of Fertilizers on Algal Growth ecological science job.
Career connection: Plant Scientist.
2. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, astrophysicist.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics for research on the structure and evolution of stars. Among his numerous findings is the Chandra limit, which discusses what occurs when white dwarf stars die. (They take off or form black holes.) NASAs Chandra X-Ray Observatory is named in his honor.
( Biography).
Usage information from the Change X-Ray Observatory in the X-Ray Vision: Seeing Into Space job.
Career connection: Astronomer.
3. Min Chueh Chang, biologist.
Minutes Chueh Chang was a Chinese American biologist whose research focused on mammalian reproduction. His research on in vitro fertilization added to the very first “test tube baby.” Chang was also involved in advancement of the combined contraceptive pill (birth control) pill.
( Biography).
Experiment with how medications are established in the Why Arent All Medicines Pills? job.
Profession connection: Biologist.
4. Kalpana Chawla, aerospace engineer & & astronaut.
Kalpana Chawla.
was an aerospace engineer and the very first Indian American female in space on NASAs 1997 Columbia area shuttle objective (STS-87) as a robotic arm operator. When the shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry after its 16-day flight, Chawla was an objective professional on the Columbia shuttle buss STS-107 objective in 2003 and died.
( Biography).
Experiment with rocket style in the Model Rocket Aerodynamics: Stability task.
Profession connection: Aerospace Engineer.
5. Tetsuya Theodore “Ted” Fujita, meteorologist.
Ted Fujita was a Japanese American meteorologist who studied twisters and storms and went to numerous twister sites to gather data about twisters from the consequences. Fujita, who ended up being referred to as “Mr. Tornado,” developed the Fujita Scale (F-Scale), a six-point scale to measure the strength of twisters. Among his other meteorological discoveries were the ideas of microbursts and downbursts, abrupt changes in airflow that can be dangerous. (Fun fact! Although he spent much of his life investigating and studying tornadoes, he didnt see one in person till he was in his 60s!) (Note: The present EF Scale for evaluating twisters is based on the Fujita-Scale.).
( Biography).
Learn more about wind speed with the How Does a Wind Meter Work? project.
Career connection: Meteorologist.
6. Fazlur Rahman Khan, structural engineer.
Fazlur Rahman Khan was a Bangladeshi American whose work on skyscraper style and development of a style strategy referred to as the “tube concept” led him to be called “the Einstein of structural engineering.” Khan likewise designed the Sears Tower (later on relabelled the Willis Tower) in Chicago, which was the worlds tallest structure for several years.
( Biography).
Explore the style of tall structures with the Tallest Paper Tower Challenge job.
Career connection: Civil Engineers.
7. Narinder S. Kapany, physicist.
Narinder S. Kapany was an Indian American physicist whose research led him to be known as the “Father of Fiber Optics.” He is credited as first using the term optical fiber in 1960. His research on optics was very important for the advancement of modern communications.
( Biography).
Try out the Using a Laser to Measure the Speed of Light in Gelatin job.
Career connection: Photonics Engineer.
8. Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann, microbiologist.
Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann was a Filipino American whose research (with her other half) focused on cyanobacteria and microbes that live in extreme environments like the Ross Desert in the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica. NASA viewed her research as an indication that tiny life could exist on Mars. (Biography).
Check out bacteria in the context of a different type of severe exposure with the Death Rays: What Duration of Ultraviolet Exposure Kills Bacteria? job.
Profession connection: Microbiologist.
9. Ellison Onizuka, engineer and astronaut.
Ellison Onizuka was the first Japanese American in area on the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-51-C in 1985. Onizuka was an objective professional and passed away throughout the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Prior to becoming an astronaut, Onizuka was an engineer and test pilot in the United States Air Force. (Biography).
Explore the The Physics of Artificial Gravity task.
Profession connection: Aerospace Engineer.
12. Roger Tsien, biochemist.
Roger Tsien shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research on the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Tsien customized GFP to create a rainbow of colors beyond green. Utilizing this combination of GFP colors made it possible for Tsien and other researchers to tag and track multiple proteins and cells in genuine time. (Fun reality! Tsiens research study led to projects like making jellyfish glow.).
( Biography).
Try out GFP to make vibrant bacterial art with the Genetically Modified Organisms: Create Glowing Bacteria! project.
Career connection: Biochemist.
13. David T. Wong, neuroscientist.
David T. Wong was a Chinese American neuroscientist whose research study at Eli Lilly and Company consisted of the discovery of fluoxetine, typically known as Prozac. (Biography).
Explore the value of screening in pharmaceutical advancement with the Hitting the Target: The Importance of Making Sure a Drugs Aim Is True job.
Career connection: Biochemist.
15. Chien-Shiung Wu.
Her speculative physics research study on using “gaseous diffusion” to separate uranium into U235 and U238 led to large-scale screening at the K-25 Plant in Oak Ridge and was critical in the Manhattan Projects advancement of the atomic bomb. Wu likewise established improved Geiger counters to detect radiation levels. (Biography).
Explore nuclear physics with the Watching Nuclear Particles: See Background Radiation Zoom Through A Cloud Chamber job.
Career connection: Physicist.
” When you take a look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not simply from any particular piece of land, however from the solar system.” Kalpana Chawla, aerospace engineer and astronaut.
Min Chueh Chang was a Chinese American biologist whose research study focused on mammalian reproduction. Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann was a Filipino American whose research study (with her spouse) focused on cyanobacteria and microbes that live in extreme environments like the Ross Desert in the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica. Tsiens research study led to projects like making jellyfish glow.).
David T. Wong was a Chinese American neuroscientist whose research study at Eli Lilly and Company included the discovery of fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac. Her experimental physics research on utilizing “gaseous diffusion” to separate uranium into U235 and U238 led to massive screening at the K-25 Plant in Oak Ridge and was critical in the Manhattan Projects advancement of the atomic bomb.
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Images: public domain or reasonable use, with exception of: Narinder S. Kapany (Sikh Foundation).
Roy O. Greep (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikpedia).
Ted Fujita (University of Chicago, Special Collections Research Center).
Barry Paw (BIORIRON).
Roger Tsien (GFDL 1.2, Wikipedia).
Peter Tsai (University of Tennessee).
David T. Wong (Indiana Historical Society).
