What Makes a Scientist?

What Makes a Scientist?Aaron HaeberleWhat are some scientists you know?

What about these people?

Bessie Blount GriffinInventorMotherPhysical Therapist

Scientist

Brief ChildhoodBorn Nov. 24, 1914 in Hickory, VirginiaWent to Diggs Chapel ElementaryHit for writing with left handBegan writing with right, teeth and feet.Forced to stop education in sixth gradeSelf taught to attain GED

Education ExpandedNursing Training at Community Kennedy Memorial Hospital (Newark, NJ)First African American owned and integrated hospitalUnion Junior College & Panzer CollegePhysical therapistWent to Chicago to finish training

Found a needVolunteered at Base 81 During WWII through Korean WarWorked with veteransTaught others with missing limbs how to compensateEating being their biggest challenge

Solved the NeedInvented a tube that delivered food one bite at a time to patients Donated to France in 1951Also invented the portable receptacle supportPatent No: 2,550,554

Wait a second!How is this science?

Well the Nature of Science would say that science is simply the use of creativity to solve a problem with experimental trails and evidence.

Now back to BessieAfter her inventions became popular, she was invited to The Big Idea in 1953She was not only the first woman to appear on the show but also the first African American

A black woman can invent something for the benefit of man kind. -Bessie Blount GriffinOne more benefit for man kind.Worked with Theodore M. EdisonWhile caring for Edisons mother-in-law, came up with disposable cardboard emesis basinNewspaperFlourWater

Once again it was ignored by the statesNow used all over BelgiumAfter all the inventionsIn 1969, began a career in forensic scienceBecame chief examiner of Portsmith P.D. until 1972At the age of 63, she became the first African American woman to join Scotland Yard. Forensic science labMom Bessie

Only the tip of the iceberg Bessie Blount Griffin died Dec. 30th, 2009 at the age of 95Had many other outstanding achievements in her life. Some that dont involve science

What does this mean for you?

Homework!ResourcesBiographieshttp://causes.goldenmoon.org/legends/bblount.htmlhttp://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?pid=138290058#fbLoggedOuthttp://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/blount.html

Patenthttp://www.google.com/patents/US2550554?printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=true

Video Assignmenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k33ZNmpJSoA