Dr. Mae Jemison’s contributions to science, medicine, humanitarian, and education initiatives are inspiring. She fought against stereotypes and racism to become the first female African American astronaut. She is a physician, engineer, educator, and entrepreneur. Mae followed her dreams and they have taken her to space, humanitarian missions, and business ventures that educate and inspire other young people to follow their own dreams.
Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mae attended college at Standrod University where she studied chemical engineering and African American Studies. She also served as the head of the Black Students Union. She studied medicine at Cornell University, graduating in 1981, then joined the Peace Corps serving as a doctor from 1983-1985 in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Mae then set her sights on becoming an astronaut. From a young age she knew she wanted to study science and go to space. At age 31, Mae applied to NASA’s astronaut training program, inspired by the flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford. She was chosen as one of fifteen out of nearly 2,000 applicants in the class of 1985 and the first black women astronaut. In 1992, Mae logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds in space, orbiting the earth 127 times aboard space shuttle Endeavor. She conducted experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness on herself and the other six crew members and herself. She took on board with her a photograph of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman.
Next, turned her attention to supporting educational opportunities for young people and innovative technologies. She founded The Earth We Share international camp for middle and high school students in 1994 with the goal of increasing science literacy, critical thinking skills, and problem solving. She also taught at environmental studies Dartmouth College from 1995-2002.
Her scientific work continued in 1999 with the establishment of BioSentient Corporation with the goal of helping people who suffer from anxiety, nausea, migraines, or chronic pain. Maae used the technology while in space to control physiology and stress levels and could help millions who suffer with chronic conditions.
And, Mae is also an accomplished dancer who toyed with dancing professionally in her youth. She holds another distinction as well. She’s the only astronaut to appear on the television show Star Trek. She played the role of Ensign Palmer in the “Second Chances” episode on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
In 2001, Mae was honored with the Pioneering Achievement Award from the Amelia Earhart Festival and in 2012, her foundation won the DARPA 100 Year Starship grant, fostering the development of technology for interstellar travel. Over the years, she has received honors and awards from the Ebony Black Achievement Award, Gamma Sigma Gamma Woman of the Year, the 1988 Essence Science and Technology Awards. And in 1992, a Detroit Alternative School was named Mae C. Jemison Academy in her honor.
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