Natural/Physical Sciences
This category includes individuals in the following fields:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Botany
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Zoology
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Ecology
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Geology
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Biophysics
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Geophysics
Charles Henry Turner (1867-1923)
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​​Image Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica​
Born: February 3, 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: February 14, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois
About:
African-American zoologist known for his research on insect behavior, which proved that insects have complex behavioral traits.
Learn More
Online Articles:
Abramson, Charles I. "Charles Henry Turner". Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Henry-Turner.
Katsnelson, Alla. "Charles Henry Turner’s insights into animal behavior were a century ahead of their time." Knowable Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023, https://knowablemagazine.org/article/living-world/2023/rediscovering-legacy-charles-henry-turner.
"Charles Henry Turner." Biography, 3 Sept. 2020, www.biography.com/scientists/charles-henry-turner.
Lindle, Stuart. "Profile of Charles Henry Turner." University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences, 5 Feb. 2018, www.artsci.uc.edu/news/profile-Turner-bhm.html.
Video:
SciShow (Youtube). “Bugs Aren't Brainless! | Great Minds: Charles Henry Turner”. Run Time: 6 min 41 s. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwSROeIRs2A.
Books:
Harrington, Janice M., and Theodore Taylor III. Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner. Calkins Creek, 2019.
Ross, Michael E., and Laurie A. Caple. Bug Watching With Charles Henry Turner. Carolrhoda Books, 1997.
Samuel Prentiss Baldwin (1868-1938)
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​Image Source: Cleveland Historical
Born: October 26, 1868 in Cleveland, Ohio
Died: December 31, 1938
About:
Ornithologist known for his research on the house wren and being a pioneer in the practice of bird banding. Also established the Baldwin Research Laboratory in Gates Mills.
Learn More
Online Articles:
"Baldwin, Samuel Prentiss." Case Western Reserve University, https://case.edu/ech/articles/b/baldwin-samuel-prentiss.
Roy, Christopher. "Baldwin Bird Research Laboratory." Case Western Reserve University, 14 Dec. 2023, https://case.edu/ech/articles/b/baldwin-bird-research-laboratory.
Finocharo, Michael. "Baldwin Bird Research Laboratory." Cleveland Historical, https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/930.
Emma Lucy Braun (1889-1971)
Image Source: Wikipedia
Born: April 19, 1889 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: March 5, 1971 in Cincinnati, Ohio
About:
Botanist and ecologist known for research on deciduous forests and her conservation efforts. Was the first female president of the Ecological Society of America.
Learn More
Online Articles:
Rafferty, John P.. "Emma Lucy Braun". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emma-Lucy-Braun.
"Dr. E. Lucy Braun." Cincinnati Museum Center, www.cincymuseum.org/dr-e-lucy-braun/.
Yancey, Elissa. "Natural wonders." University of Cincinnati Magazine, Sept. 2017, magazine.uc.edu/issues/0917/braun-sisters.html.
Ruth Ella Moore (1903-1994)
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​Image Source: Wikipedia
Born: May 19, 1903 in Columbus, Ohio
Died: July 19, 1994
About:
Bacteriologist who was the first African-American woman to a doctorate in the natural sciences. Known for her research which included studying the blood types present in African-Americans, among other subjects.
Learn More
Online Articles:
Crane, Misti. "Proud they're ours: Ruth Ella Moore." The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 10 Jan. 2022, https://cph.osu.edu/news/2022/01/proud-theyre-ours-ruth-ella-moore.
Reschke, Melanie. "Celebrating Black History Month - Ruth Ella Moore." Yale University, 22 Feb. 2021, https://mbb.yale.edu/news/celebrating-black-history-month-ruth-ella-moore.
"Ruth Ella Moore, Natural Sciences." The Ohio State University Office of Research, 20 Nov. 2019, https://research.osu.edu/ruth-ella-moore.
Thompson, Marian J. "Ruth E. Moore: Remarkable Achievements in an Invisible Life." American Society for Microbiology, 29 Feb. 2024, https://asm.org/articles/2024/february/ruth-e-moore-remarkable-achievements-in-an-invisib.
Video:
PublicHealthBuckeyes (Youtube). “Ruth Ella Moore inducted into Office of Diversity and Inclusion Hall of Fame”. Run Time 5 min 38 s. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVhsM7fbbSk.
Carolyn Beatrice Parker (1917-1966)
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​Image Source: Atomic Heritage Foundation - Nuclear Museum
Born: November 18, 1917 in Gainesville, Florida
Died: 1966
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Connection to Ohio:
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Parker worked at the Manhattan Project's Dayton Project Division, in Dayton, Ohio, which studied the element Polonium. After WWII, she worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, also in Dayton, Ohio, as a research physicist.
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About:
First black woman to earn a graduate degree in physics. Worked as as a scientist on the Manhattan Project.
Learn More
Online Articles:
"Carolyn Beatrice Parker." Atomic Heritage Foundation, https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/carolyn-beatrice-parker/.
Powers, Anna. "The First African American Woman To Obtain A Graduate Degree In Physics Was Involved In A Top Secret US Mission." Forbes, 31 Jan. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/annapowers/2020/01/31/the-first-african-american-woman-to-obtain-a-graduate-degree-in-physics-was-involved-in-a-top-secret-us-mission/?sh=46d452dc5fc8.
Prescod-Weinstein, Chanda. "Racial and economic barriers kept Carolyn Beatrice Parker from realizing her full potential." Popular Science, 18 May 2022, www.popsci.com/science/carolyn-beatrice-parker-profile/ .
Video:
"Black History Month: Carolyn Beatrice Parker." 20 WJCB, 24 Feb. 2023, www.wcjb.com/video/2023/02/24/black-history-month-carolyn-beatrice-parker/.
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Ralph Gardner-Chavis (1922-2018)
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Image Source: Atomic Heritage Foundation - Nuclear Museum
Born: December 3, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio
Died: March 27, 2018
About:
Chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project, specifically at the University of Chicago Met Lab. He later became a professor and the head of Cleveland State University’s Chemistry Department.
Learn More
Online Articles:
"Ralph Gardner-Chavis." Atomic Heritage Foundation, https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/ralph-gardner-chavis/.
"Ralph Gardner-Chavis." The History Makers, www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/ralph-gardner-chavis-38.
Crocker, Brittany. "15 African-Americans who were hidden heroes of the Manhattan Project." Knox News, 25 Feb. 2018, www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2018/02/25/15-african-americans-who-were-hidden-heroes-manhattan-project/1039817001/.
Floyd Poruban (c. 1938-Present)
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Image Source: The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
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About:
First blind person to graduate from the Ohio State University’s science Program. Later started the Poruban Nursery, which opened in 1964 and is still open as of 2019.
Learn More
Online Articles:
Marx, Matt. "Buckeye Trailblazer." The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, 21 June 2019, cfaes.osu.edu/stories/buckeye-trailblazer.
Graves, Amy B. "Listen and learn: More than seeing is believing." Ohio Farm Bureau, 26 Apr. 2017, ofbf.org/2017/04/26/listen-learn-seeing-believing/.
Cary, Joan. "Growing in the Dark." Lion Magazine, 1 Oct. 2019, lionmagazine.org/articles/growing-in-the-dark/.
Podcast:
"Floyd Poruban Runs Successful Nursery." Amazon Music, 19 Dec. 2019, music.amazon.ca/fr-ca/podcasts/90ee428e-5440-4d52-a0db-d766266b2e0d/episodes/4e35ffdb-57f0-4080-a2e9-2d0e05cc9e2d/ood-works-floyd-poruban-runs-successful-nursery.
Run Time: 33 min