Sisters in Science

Author Diann Jordan took a journey to find out what inspired and daunted black women in their desire to become scientists in America. Letting 18 prominent black women scientists talk for themselves <i>Sisters in Science</i> becomes an oral history stretching across decades and disciplines and desires. From Yvonne Clark the first black woman to be awarded a B.S. in mechanical engineering to Georgia Dunston a microbiologist who is researching the genetic code for her race to Shirley Jackson whose aspiration led to the presidency of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Jordan has created a significant record of women who persevered to become firsts in many of their fields. It all began for Jordan when she was asked to give a presentation on black women scientists. She found little information and little help. After almost nine years of work the stories of black women scientists can finally be told.