The Most Famous Black Female Scientist, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the black female scientist you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 28, 2024 07:03

In the world of science, the contributions of black female scientists have often been overlooked despite their groundbreaking achievements and resilience in the face of significant challenges. By ranking these influential figures, we can shed light on their accomplishments, inspiring new generations to follow in their footsteps and contribute to various scientific fields. This dynamic ranking not only celebrates their achievements but also encourages active participation and knowledge-sharing among users. Voting enables users to express admiration for specific scientists and assists in elevating the visibility of their work, ensuring that these exemplary professionals receive the recognition they deserve in the broader community.

Who Is the Most Famous Black Female Scientist?

1

65
votes
NASA · Public domain

Mae Jemison

Mae Jemison

She is the first African American woman to travel in space and has also been a physician and engineer.
Mae Jemison is an astronaut, physician, and engineer who became the first African American woman to travel into space. She is widely recognized for her contributions in promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and for breaking barriers as a woman of color in the field of space exploration.

First African American Woman in Space: Yes

Profession: Astronaut, Physician, Engineer

Promoter of STEM education: Yes

Gender: Female

Race/Ethnicity: African American
Mae Jemison in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous African-American scientist
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous black scientist alive today
- Position 5 of 10 in Most beautiful scientist
2

37
votes
NASA · Public domain

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson

She was a mathematician and was one of the key figures in the success of the early space program in the United States. She was also featured in the movie "Hidden Figures".
Katherine Johnson was a renowned mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of space exploration. She was known for her exceptional mathematical abilities and played a crucial role in calculating trajectories for numerous space missions, including the Apollo program. Johnson's work at NASA helped propel the United States into space and she was recognized as one of the most important figures in the success of early space missions.

Field: Mathematics and Physics

Contributions: Space exploration, trajectory calculations

Agency: NASA

Notable Projects: Apollo program

Achievements: Presidential Medal of Freedom, NASA Langley Research Center's Computational Research Facility named in her honor
Katherine Johnson in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous NASA scientist
- Position 9 of 10 in Most beautiful scientist
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous African-American scientist
3

13
votes

US Air Force · Public domain

Gladys West

She was a mathematician who helped develop the Global Positioning System (GPS).
4

13
votes
Smithsonian Institution from United States · No restrictions

Chien-Shiung Wu

Chien-Shiung Wu

She was a physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics.
Chien-Shiung Wu, also known as the First Lady of Physics, was a renowned scientist who made significant contributions in the field of experimental physics. She was a Chinese-American physicist and educator, born on May 31, 1912, in Liuhe, China. Wu is best known for her work on the beta decay of atomic nuclei, which helped confirm the violation of the principle of conservation of parity, earning her the recognition as the most beautiful scientist by the Chinese public.

Nationality: Chinese-American

Birth Date: May 31, 1912

Birthplace: Liuhe, China

Field: Experimental Physics

Contributions: Beta decay of atomic nuclei, violation of conservation of parity
Chien-Shiung Wu in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous female physicist
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous chemical engineer
- Position 6 of 10 in Most beautiful scientist
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous female chemist
5

18
votes

Jewel Plummer Cobb

She was a biologist and was the first black woman to lead a major academic institution, California State University, Fullerton.
6

4
votes
Shirley Ann Jackson

She was a physicist and was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT. She has also served as the president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Shirley Ann Jackson in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous black scientist alive today
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous African-American scientist
7

3
votes

U.S. Government Printing Office · Public domain

Ursula Burns

She was the CEO of Xerox from 2009-2016 and was the first black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
8

10
votes

Queens College Silhouette Yearbook · Public domain

Marie Maynard Daly

She was a biochemist and was the first black woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry.
9

5
votes

National Library of Medicine · Public domain

Patricia Bath

She was an ophthalmologist and was the first African American woman to complete a residency in ophthalmology. She also invented a device for cataract surgery.
10

10
votes
NASA on The Commons · No restrictions

Ellen Ochoa

She was a physicist and was the first Hispanic woman to travel in space. She has also served as the director of the Johnson Space Center.
Ellen Ochoa in other rankings
- Position 9 of 10 in Most famous NASA scientist

Missing your favorite black female scientist?

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Ranking factors for famous black female scientist

Scientific Contributions

The impact and significance of their research and discoveries to the scientific community.
Academic Achievements

Educational qualifications, awards, and recognition received.
Social and Cultural Impacts

How their work has influenced, inspired, or affected the lives of people, particularly for black women and other underrepresented groups.
Historical Significance

Their place in history and contributions to breaking barriers and advancing scientific knowledge and diversity.
Popularity and Visibility

Their public image, media coverage, and influence on social media and other platforms.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous black female scientist. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or scientist is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1650 views
176 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each scientist once every 24 hours. The rank of each scientist is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous black female scientist

Black female scientists have made groundbreaking contributions to the field of science throughout history. Despite facing many obstacles and barriers, these women persevered and paved the way for future generations. From Marie Daly, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry, to Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space, Black female scientists have made significant contributions to science and technology. In this poll, we aim to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these remarkable women and determine who is the most famous Black female scientist.