May 2, 2024

Native American Scientists and Engineers–Native American Heritage Month in Science Class

By Amy Cowen
on October 31, 2022 8:00 AM

Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month by discovering more about a few of the lots of Native American scientists and engineers who have actually made important contributions to science history.

Find out more about these Native American Scientists and Engineers

To motivate your trainees to discover more about these scientists and to explore associated science projects and professions for researchers they discover intriguing, for each scientist, we have consisted of a brief biographical summary, links to 1-2 hands-on science projects associated with the researchers area of study, links to pertinent science profession profiles, and a link to a biography.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we highlight Native American scientists and engineers who made (and are making) essential contributions to science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM). The list listed below is just a sampling of motivating scientists through history and operating in STEM fields today.

Note: Educators can use this career worksheet to guide trainee exploration and reflection about STEM careers.

2. Bertha “Birdie” Parker Cody, Archaeologist

Bertha Parker Cody (Abenaki and Seneca) belonged to 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 recovered, assisted more date the appearance of people in North America. Parker is associated with other historical sites, too, like the Scorpion Hill Pueblo site and the Corn Creek site.
( Biography )

Discover more about associated professions:
Anthropologist

Interested in sociology? Find out more with science jobs like:
Great Fossilization! Discover the Conditions For Creating the very best Cast Fossils

3. Ella Cara Deloria (Aŋpétu Wašté Wiŋ, Beautiful Day Woman), Anthropologist

Find out more about associated careers:.
Anthropologist.

Ella Cara Deloria (Yankton Dakota) was an anthropologist, author, linguist, and ethnographer. Deloria worked to protect Native American history by recording narrative 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 jobs like:.
The Bouba-Kiki Effect.

7. Mary Golda Ross, Aerospace Engineer.

If you use the “9 Inspiring Native American Scientists and Engineers to Know!” post and profession worksheet with students, we would like to hear your feedback. Email us at [email protected] with your comments or story.

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Mary Golda Ross (Cherokee Nation) was an engineer who operated at Lockheed Martin on the design of airplanes and spacecraft, including the P-38 Lightning fighter airplane and the Agena rocket, which helped pave the method for NASAs Apollo objective. Ross was an initial member of Lockheeds top-secret Skunk Works team.
( Biography).

Variety in STEM.
To help trainees see themselves with a future in STEM and to widen understanding of science history, it is essential for trainees to learn more about a varied series of researchers and engineers. This consists of celebrating the stories of.

Bertha Parker Cody (Abenaki and Seneca) was part of an archaeological expedition at Gypsum Cave (Las Vegas, NV), where she discovered the skull of a Nothrotherium shastense, an extinct species of giant ground sloth. Parker is associated with other archaeological sites, too, like the Scorpion Hill Pueblo site and the Corn Creek website.
Ella Cara Deloria (Yankton Dakota) was an anthropologist, author, ethnographer, and linguist. Deloria worked to protect Native American history by recording oral history. Working with anthropologists like Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict, Deloria helped with Sioux linguistics and the translation of Native American languages and materials.

STEM Career Worksheet.
To encourage students to read more about these researchers and to explore associated careers in science, engineering, math, and technology, utilize our totally free STEM Career Worksheet together with this post.

and other scientists from all over the world.

Note: Individual scientist pictures used in this post remain in the general public domain with exception of:.
Bertha Cody (Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 90-105, Science Service Records, Image No. SIA2009-0779.
Jerry C. Elliott– High Eagle (NASA/MSFC/Emmett Given).
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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Find out more about related careers:.
Aerospace Engineer.

Interested in aerospace engineering? Find out more with science projects like:.
Why Winglets? and.
Stealthy Shapes: How to Make an Aircraft Invisible to Radar.