Highlighting Hidden STEM Figures for Black History Month

Frost STEAM Labs was launched to help diversify the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related industries. Black Americans make up 12% of the country's population and Hispanics 18%. However, combined, they make up less than 10% of engineering jobs at top tech companies and 4% at Google (Read, "It's not just Google"). These numbers are even smaller at the leadership levels.

To celebrate Black History Month, we'd like to highlight black scientists and engineers that have made significant achievements in their fields.

Dr. Gladys West

Have you ever used Google or Apple Maps? Tagged a photo location on social media? If so, thank Dr. Gladys West who invented GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. She was an Air Force mathematician who started out as a "Human Computer", similar to the Black women computers at NASA's Langley featured in the movie "Hidden Figures" which portrays the life of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson. Later, Dr. West learned computer programming and wrote software. Read an interview of Dr. West from Gaurdian.

Mark E. Dean

We owe Mark Dean a thank you for co-inventing the personal computer! Mark E. Dean is an inventor and computer scientist. He was an IBM employee and holds three of nine PC (personal computer) patents as a co-inventor. He created the technology that allowed for keyboard and mice to communicate to the computer as well as the color monitor. Read more about Mark Dean on Biography.

Valorie Thomas

Have you ever watched a 3D game or movie? Valorie Thomas is a scientist and inventor who holds the patent for the illusion transmitter that produces 3D image technology. This science is used by NASA, TV producers, and even surgeons. She also led a team that developed Landsat, an image processing system that sent the first images from satellites to Earth and allowed scientists to collect data on the Earth's forests, farms, urban areas, and oceans. Her contributions have helped us better understand space. Read more about Valorie Thomas.