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    astronauts posing for a picture on the space shuttle Endeavour in 1987, including dr mae jemison, the first black female astronaut to go to space

    Photo by Space Frontiers/Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    STEAM & STEM

    Women in STEM: Dr. Mae Jemison Facts & Discussion Questions

    The STEM field has long been an area of study filled with men. This makes it even more important to educate all students about the women in STEAM and STEM fields who have made a mark on history.

    For this activity, you’ll introduce students to Dr. Mae Jemison, an engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut who was the first African American woman to travel in space.

    Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.


    Dr. Mae Jemison

    Who is Dr. Mae Jemison?

    Dr. Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956. When her family moved to Chicago, she spent many hours reading about science and astronomy in the library.

    Her interest in science blossomed in school. After graduating high school in 1973, she became a student at Stanford University to obtain a degree in biochemical engineering. She obtained her MD in 1981 and worked as a general practitioner and Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia while performing medical research.

    NASA accepted Dr. Jemison into their astronaut training program in 1985. She was one of seven astronauts aboard the Endeavour space shuttle on mission STS47. During her time in space, she documented the effects of weightlessness and motion sickness.

    Dr. Mae Jemison’s TED Talk on teaching arts and sciences together

    5 Facts About Dr. Mae Jemison

    Here are 5 fun and interesting facts about Dr. Mae Jemison to share with your students.

    1. Dr. Jemison is passionate about dancing and almost chose to study dance instead of attending medical school.
    2. She went to Stanford University to get a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering when she was only 16 years old.
    3. She was featured in an episode of one of her favorite shows when she appeared as Lieutenant Palmer in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
    4. Despite her fear of heights, Dr. Jemison was not deterred from becoming an astronaut and going into space.
    5. After resigning from NASA, she founded the Jemison Group, a consulting company that markets advanced technologies to promote science and social change.

    3 Quick Group Discussion Questions

    After sharing this information about Dr. Mae Jemison and her career and achievements, have students break into groups and answer the following questions. Then, have the groups share their thoughts with the class.

    1. Dr. Mae Jemison was inspired by reading about science at the library and watching the show Star Trek. What inspires you to take on new challenges or learn new things?
    2. Women have long been underrepresented in STEM fields. Why do you think this is? How can we better support interest in these fields for all students?
    3. STEM often comes with an additional field: the arts. This is why it’s referred to as either STEM or STEAM. How does creativity impact our ability to do research and try new things?

    More Women in STEM

    Women in STEM: Dr. Rosalind Franklin

    Women in STEM: Dr. Dorothy Hodgkin

    Tagged With: Women in STEM

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