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My person is Mae Jemison. She was born on October 17th, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama. She was inspired by an African American actress named Nichelle Nichols.

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She graduated from Morgan Park Highschool in Chicago in 1973. In September of 1992, she became the first african-american woman in space as a mission specialist on space shuttle endeavour (STS-47). In 2012, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. In 2019, she contributed to the book “The Chemistry of Soils” as part of the “RSC Paperbacks” series.

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Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut, best known for becoming the first African-American woman to travel in space. She was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama.

Jemison's early passion for science led her to study at Stanford University, where she earned dual degrees in Chemical Engineering and African and African-American Studies in 1977. She went on to earn a medical degree from Cornell University in 1981.

After practicing medicine for a few years, Jemison was selected by NASA in 1985 as an astronaut candidate, breaking barriers as the first African-American woman to join the program.

In 1992, she made history by flying aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-47 mission, becoming the first African-American woman in space. During the mission, she conducted scientific experiments and contributed to research in various fields.

Following her time at NASA, Jemison established The Jemison Group, a technology consulting company, and also remained active in education and science outreach.
Also Read: Mae Jemison Accomplishments
She served as a professor, founded the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence to promote science education, and contributed to educational materials.

Mae Jemison's legacy extends beyond her pioneering spaceflight. She's an advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, and her story serves as an inspiration to individuals, particularly women and minorities, pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

1956

Mae Carol Jemison is born in Decatur, Alabama, USA.

1973

Graduates from Morgan Park High School in Chicago.

1977

Receives B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and African and African-American Studies from Stanford University.

1981

Earns her M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College.

1983-1985

Works as a General Practitioner in Los Angeles and volunteers as a medical officer in a Cambodian refugee camp.

1985

Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA.

September 1992

First African-American woman in space as a Mission Specialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-47).

1993

Establishes The Jemison Group, a technology consulting company.

1993-1995

Serves as a professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College.

1999

Founds the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, focusing on science literacy and education.

2012

Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

2019

Contributes to the book "The Chemistry of Soils" as part of the "RSC Paperbacks" series.

Timeline of Mae Jemison

1956 - Born in Decatur, Alabama, USA

Mae Carol Jemison is born on October 17th in Decatur, Alabama, USA. She grows up with a strong interest in science, space, and exploration.

1973 - Graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago

After completing her high school education at Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Mae Jemison goes on to pursue her higher education, setting the stage for her future accomplishments.

1977 - Received B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and African and African-American Studies from Stanford University
Also Read: Mae Jemison Facts
Jemison's academic pursuits lead her to Stanford University. She not only excels in her studies but also demonstrates her versatility by earning two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Chemical Engineering and another in African and African-American Studies.

This unique combination of disciplines showcases her dedication to both technical and cultural understanding.

1981 - Earned her M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College

Building upon her academic achievements, Mae Jemison's journey takes her to Cornell University Medical College, where she embarks on a path towards becoming a medical doctor.

In 1981, she completes her medical degree, earning her M.D. This achievement reflects her commitment to pursuing careers that challenge and inspire her, while also contributing to society's well-being.

1983-1985 - Worked as a General Practitioner and volunteered as a medical officer in a Cambodian refugee camp

Following her medical training, Mae Jemison practices as a General Practitioner in Los Angeles. During this time, she gains practical experience in the medical field, working with patients and contributing to healthcare.

Her desire to make a positive impact extends beyond her medical practice, as she volunteers her medical expertise in a Cambodian refugee camp. This experience underscores her compassion and commitment to helping underserved communities on a global scale.

1985 - Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA

Mae Jemison's trajectory takes a remarkable turn when she's selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. Her selection marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first African-American woman admitted into NASA's astronaut training program.

This achievement not only showcases her exceptional capabilities but also breaks down barriers for women and minorities in the field of space exploration.

September 1992 - Became the first African-American woman in space as a Mission Specialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-47)

Jemison's dedication and training culminate in a historic achievement. On the Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-47 mission, she becomes the first African-American woman to travel in space.

Serving as a Mission Specialist, she participates in scientific experiments that contribute to our understanding of various fields, including material science, life sciences, and human adaptation to weightlessness.

Her presence in space inspires generations and exemplifies the potential for diversity and innovation in STEM fields.

1993 - Established The Jemison Group, a technology consulting company

Following her space mission, Mae Jemison makes another notable contribution by establishing The Jemison Group. This technology consulting company reflects her belief in the importance of fostering innovation and scientific advancements.

Through her company, she continues to promote the integration of science and technology in various industries.

1993-1995 - Served as a professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College

Jemison's commitment to education and knowledge dissemination leads her to Dartmouth College. Here, she serves as a professor of Environmental Studies, sharing her expertise and inspiring students to engage with scientific and environmental issues.

This role highlights her dedication to nurturing the next generation of scientists and thinkers.

1999 - Founded the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, focusing on science literacy and education

Mae Jemison's commitment to education takes a broader scope as she establishes the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.

Named in honor of her mother, this foundation focuses on promoting science literacy and educational initiatives, particularly targeting underserved communities.

Through this foundation, she continues to advocate for equitable access to education and the empowerment of individuals through knowledge.

2012 - Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame

Mae Jemison's impactful journey is recognized as she is inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor underscores her significant contributions to science, education, and breaking gender and racial barriers.

Her induction serves as a testament to her enduring influence on society and her role as a trailblazer for women, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

2019 - Contributed to the book "The Chemistry of Soils" as part of the "RSC Paperbacks" series

Jemison's commitment to science and education continues to shine as she contributes to the book "The Chemistry of Soils," part of the "RSC Paperbacks" series.

This contribution showcases her expertise in scientific exploration and her dedication to sharing knowledge with the broader public. By contributing to educational resources, she furthers her mission to promote scientific literacy and engage people in the wonders of the natural world.

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Mae Jemison Timeline - Have Fun With History

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Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut, best known for becoming the first African-American woman to travel in space. She was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. Jemison's early passion for science led her to study at Stanford University, where she earned dual degrees in Chemical Engineering and African ...

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She had a big fear of heights. She overcame this fear from the drive to push through and complete her training. This is pretty much the only major setback in her career.

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This week, the spotlight is on former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to be selected as an astronaut and fly into space!

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How Is Your Chosen Person Still Changing the World or What Did They Want Everyone to Remember About Them?

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How Is Your Chosen Person Still Changing the World or What Did They Want Everyone to Remember About Them?

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She wants to be remembered as the first african american woman to ever travel into space.

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Mae Carol Jemison (born October 17, 1956) is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African-American woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Jemison joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1987 and was selected to serve for the STS-47 mission, during which the Endeavour orbited the Earth for nearly eight days on September 12-20, 1992.

Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, Jemison graduated from Stanford University with degrees in chemical engineering as well as African and African-American studies. She then earned her medical degree from Cornell University. Jemison was a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 until 1985 and worked as a general practitioner. In pursuit of becoming an astronaut, she applied to NASA.

Jemison left NASA in 1993 and founded a technology research company. She later formed a non-profit educational foundation and through the foundation is the principal of the 100 Year Starship project funded by DARPA. Jemison also wrote several books for children and appeared on television several times, including in a 1993 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She holds several honorary doctorates and has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Mae Carol Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956, the youngest of three children of Charlie Jemison and Dorothy Jemison (). Her father was a maintenance supervisor for a charity organization, and her mother worked most of her career as an elementary school teacher of English and math at the Ludwig van Beethoven Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. The family first lived in Woodlawn and later the Morgan Park neighborhoods. Jemison knew from a young age that she wanted to study science and someday go into space. The television show and, in particular, African-American actress Nichelle Nichols' portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura further stoked her interest in space.

Jemison enjoyed studying nature and human physiology, using her observations to learn more about science. Although her mother encouraged her curiosity and both her parents were supportive of her interest in science, she did not always see the same support from her teachers. When Jemison told a kindergarten teacher she wanted to be a scientist when she grew up, the teacher assumed she meant she wanted to be a nurse. Seeing a lack of female astronauts during the Apollo missions also frustrated Jemison. She later recalled, "everybody was thrilled about space, but I remember being really really irritated that there were no women astronauts."

Jemison began studying ballet at the age of 8 or 9 and entered high school at 12 years old, where she joined the cheerleading team and the Modern Dance Club. Jemison had a great love for dance from a young age. She learned several styles of dance, including African and Japanese, as well as ballet, jazz, and modern dance. As a child, Jemison had aspirations of becoming a professional dancer. At the age of 14, she auditioned for the leading role of Maria in West Side Story. She did not get the leading role but was selected as a background dancer.

After graduating from Chicago's Morgan Park High School in 1973, Jemison entered Stanford University at the age of 16. Although she was young to be leaving home for college, Jemison later said it did not faze her because she was "naive and stubborn enough". There were very few other African-American students in Jemison's classes and she continued to experience discrimination from her teachers. In an interview with The Des Moines Register in 2008, Jemison said that it was difficult to go to Stanford at 16 but that her youthful arrogance may have helped her; she asserted that some arrogance is necessary for women and minorities to be successful in a white male dominated society.

At Stanford, Jemison served as head of the Black Students Union. She also choreographed a musical and dance production called Out of the Shadows. During her senior year in college, she struggled with the choice between going to medical school or pursuing a career as a professional dancer after graduation; she graduated from Stanford in 1977, receiving a B.S. degree in chemical engineering. and B.A. degree in African and African-American studies. While at Stanford, she also pursued studies related to her childhood interest in space and first considered applying to NASA.

Medical career

Jemison attended Cornell Medical School and during her training, traveled to Cuba, to conduct a study funded by American Medical Student Association and to Thailand, where she worked at a Cambodian refugee camp. She also worked for Flying Doctors stationed in East Africa. During her years at Cornell, Jemison continued to study dance by enrolling in classes at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. After graduating with an M.D. degree in 1981, she interned at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in 1982, and worked as a general practitioner for Ross-Loos Medical Group.

Jemison joined the staff of the Peace Corps in 1983 and served as a medical officer until 1985. She was responsible for the health of Peace Corps volunteers serving in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Jemison supervised the Peace Corps' pharmacy, laboratory, medical staff as well as providing medical care, writing self-care manuals, and developing and implementing guidelines for health and safety issues. She also worked with the Centers for Disease Control helping with research for various vaccines.

Mae Jemison being fitted for a spacesuit and doing an experiment in space.

NASA career

Jemison at the Kennedy Space Center in 1992

Upon returning to the United States after serving in the Peace Corps, Jemison settled in Los Angeles, California. In Los Angeles, she entered into private practice and took graduate-level engineering courses. Inspired by the flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford in 1983, Jemison applied to the astronaut program in October 1985. After NASA postponed selection of new candidates after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, Jemison reapplied in 1987. She was chosen out of roughly 2,000 applicants for 15 slots in NASA Astronaut Group 12, the first selected after The Associated Press covered her as the "first black woman astronaut" in 1987. CBS featured Jemison as one of the country's "most eligible singles" on Best Catches, a television special hosted by Phylicia Rashad and Robb Weller in 1989.

Jemison's work with NASA before her shuttle launch included launch support activities at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and verification of Shuttle computer software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL). On September 28, 1989, she was selected to join the STS-47 crew as Mission Specialist 4 and was also designated Science Mission Specialist, a new astronaut role being tested by NASA to focus on scientific experiments.

Jemison during Space Shuttle mission STS-47

Jemison flew her only space mission from September 12 to 20, 1992, as one of the seven-member crew aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, on mission STS-47, a cooperative mission between the United States and Japan, as well as the 50th shuttle mission. Jemison logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds in space and orbited the earth 127 times. The crew was split into two shifts with Jemison assigned to the Blue Shift. Throughout the eight-day mission, she began communications on her shift with the salute "Hailing frequencies open", a quote from Star Trek. Jemison took a poster from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater along with her on the flight. She also took a West African statuette and a photo of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman, the first African American with an international pilot license.

STS-47 carried the Spacelab Japan module, a cooperative mission between the United States and Japan that included 43 Japanese and United States life science and materials processing experiments. Jemison and Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri were trained to use the Autogenic Feedback Training Exercise (AFTE), a technique developed by Patricia S. Cowings that uses biofeedback and autogenic training to help patients monitor and control their physiology as a possible treatment for motion sickness, anxiety and stress-related disorders.

Jemison aboard the Spacelab Japan module on Endeavour

Aboard the Spacelab Japan module, Jemison tested NASA's Fluid Therapy System, a set of procedures and equipment to produce water for injection, developed by Sterimatics Corporation. She then used IV bags and a mixing method, developed by Baxter Healthcare, to use the water from the previous step to produce saline solution in space. Jemison was also a co-investigator of two bone cell research experiments. Another experiment she participated in was to induce female frogs to ovulate, fertilize the eggs, and then see how tadpoles developed in zero gravity.

Resignation from NASA

Jemison resigned from NASA in March 1993 to start a company. NASA training manager and author Homer Hickam, who had trained Jemison for her flight, later expressed some regret that she had departed.

Post-NASA career

Jemison in 2013

Jemison served on the board of directors of the World Sickle Cell Foundation from 1990 to 1992. In 1993, she founded The Jemison Group Inc., a consulting firm which considers the sociocultural impact of technological advancements and design. Jemison also founded the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence and named the foundation in honor of her mother. One of the projects of the foundation is The Earth We Share, a science camp for students aged 12 to 16. Founded in 1994, camps have been held at Dartmouth College, Colorado School of Mines, Choate Rosemary Hall and other sites in the United States, as well as internationally in South Africa, Tunisia, and Switzerland. The Dorothy Jemison Foundation also sponsors other events and programs, including the Shaping the World essay competition, Listening to the Future (a survey program that targets obtaining opinions from students), Earth Online (an online chatroom that allows students to safely communicate and discuss ideas on space and science), and the Reality Leads Fantasy Gala.

Jemison was a professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth College from 1995 to 2002 where she directed the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries. In 1999, she also became an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University. Jemison continues to advocate strongly in favor of science education and getting minority students interested in science. She is a member of various scientific organizations, such as the American Medical Association, the American Chemical Society, the Association of Space Explorers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

In 1999, Jemison founded BioSentient Corp and obtained the license to commercialize AFTE, the technique she and Mohri tested on themselves during STS-47.

In 2012, Jemison made the winning bid for the DARPA 100 Year Starship project through the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence. The Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence was awarded a $500,000 grant for further work. The new organization maintained the organizational name 100 Year Starship. Jemison is the current principal of the 100 Year Starship.

In 2018, she collaborated with Bayer Crop Science and National 4-H Council for the initiative named Science Matters which was aimed at encouraging young children to understand and pursue agricultural sciences.

Jemison's first book, Find Where the Wind Goes (2001), is a memoir of her life written for children. She describes her childhood, her time at Stanford, in the Peace Corps and as an astronaut. School Library Journal found the stories about her earlier life to be the most appealing. Book Report found that the autobiography gave a realistic view into her interactions with her professors, whose treatment of her was not based on her intelligence but on stereotypes of woman of color.

Her A True Book series of four children's books published in 2013 is co-authored with Dana Meachen Rau. Each book in the series has a "Find the Truth" challenge, true or false questions answers to which are revealed at the end of the story. School Library Journal found the series to be "properly tantalizing surveys" of the Solar System but criticized the inclusion of a few outdated theories in physics and astronomy.

Public profile

Jemison at a symposium in 2009

LeVar Burton learned that Jemison was an avid Star Trek fan and asked her if she would be interested in being on the show. In 1993, Jemison appeared as Lieutenant Palmer in " Second Chances", an episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, becoming the first real-life astronaut to appear on .

From 1999 to 2005, Jemison was appointed an Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.

Jemison is an active public speaker who appears before private and public groups promoting science and technology. "Having been an astronaut gives me a platform," says Jemison, "but I'd blow it if I just talked about the Shuttle." Jemison uses her platform to speak out on the gap in the quality of health-care between the United States and the Third World, saying that "Martin Luther King [Jr.]... didn't just have a dream, he got things done." Jemison has also appeared as host and technical consultant of the science series World of Wonder which aired on the Discovery Channel from 1994 to 1998.

In 2006, Jemison participated in African American Lives, a PBS television miniseries hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., that traces the family history of eight famous African Americans using historical research and genetic techniques. Jemison found to her surprise that she is 13% East Asian in her genetic makeup. She also learned that some of her paternal ancestors were slaves at a plantation in Talladega County, Alabama.

Jemison participated in the Red Dress Heart Truth fashion show, wearing Lyn Devon, during the 2007 New York Fashion Week to help raise money to fight heart disease. In May of the same year, she was the graduation commencement speaker and only the 11th person in the 52-year history of Harvey Mudd College to be awarded an honorary D.Eng. degree.

On February 17, 2008, Jemison was the featured speaker for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first sorority established by African-American college women. Jemison paid tribute to Alpha Kappa Alpha by carrying the sorority's banner with her on her shuttle flight. Her space suit is a part of the sorority's national traveling Centennial Exhibit. Jemison is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Jemison participated with First Lady Michelle Obama in a forum for promising girls in the Washington, D.C. public schools in March 2009.

In 2014, Jemison also appeared at Wayne State University for their annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Luncheon. In 2016, she partnered with Bayer Corporation to promote and advance science literacy in schools, emphasizing hands-on experimentation.

She took part in the Michigan State University's lecture series, "Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey", in February 2017. In May 2017, Jemison gave the commencement speech at Rice University. She discussed the 100 Year Plan, science and education and other topics at Western Michigan University also in May 2017.

In 2017, LEGO released the "Women of NASA" set, with minifigures of Jemison, Margaret Hamilton, Sally Ride, and Nancy Grace Roman. The Google Doodle on March 8, 2019 ( International Women's Day) featured a quote from Jemison: "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."

Personal life

Jemison built a dance studio in her home and has choreographed and produced several shows of modern jazz and African dance.

In the spring of 1996, Jemison filed a complaint against a Texas police officer, accusing him of police brutality during a traffic stop that ended in her arrest. She was pulled over by Nassau Bay police officer Henry Hughes for allegedly making an illegal U-turn and arrested after Hughes learned of an outstanding warrant on Jemison for a speeding ticket. In the process of arresting her, the officer twisted her wrist and forced her to the ground, as well as having her walk barefooted from the patrol car into the police station. In her complaint, Jemison said the officer physically and emotionally mistreated her. Jemison's attorney said she believed she had already paid the speeding ticket years ago. She spent several hours in jail and was treated at an area hospital after release for deep bruises and a head injury. The Nassau Bay officer was suspended with pay pending an investigation, but the police investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. She filed a lawsuit against the city of Nassau Bay and the officer.

Honors and awards

Jemison on 1996 Azeri postage stamp

Institutions

Honorary doctorates

Filmography

Publications

Jemison, Mae (2001). Find where the wind goes: moments from my life. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-439-13196-4. OCLC 44548911.

Jemison, Mae (2001). S.E.E.ing the Future: Science, Engineering and Education (PDF). Hanover, NH: Dartmouth College. p. 56. ERIC ED464816.

She contributed the piece "Outer Space: The Worldly Frontier" to the 2003 anthology Sisterhood Is Forever: The Women's Anthology for a New Millennium, edited by Robin Morgan.

Jemison, Mae; Rau, Dana Meachen (2013). Journey Through Our Solar System (True Books: Dr. Mae Jemison and 100 Year Starship). Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-531-24061-8.

Jemison, Mae; Rau, Dana Meachen (2013). Discovering New Planets (True Books: Dr. Mae Jemison and 100 Year Starship). Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-531-24063-2.

Jemison, Mae; Rau, Dana Meachen (2013). Exploring Our Sun (True Books: Dr. Mae Jemison and 100 Year Starship). Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-531-24062-5.

Jemison, Mae; Rau, Dana Meachen (2013). The 100 Year Starship (True Books: Dr. Mae Jemison and 100 Year Starship). Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-531-24060-1.

References

Further reading

Ceaser, Ebraska D. Mae C. Jemison: 1st Black Female Astronaut, New Day Press, 1992.

External links

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Mae Carol Jemison (born October 17, 1956) is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African-American woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.

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Using your chosen person, research and explain an inspirational quote this person has said

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Using your chosen person, research and explain an inspirational quote this person has said

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"Never be limited by other people's imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." - Mae Jemison

She is trying to express that you shouldn't be limited by what others BELIEVE you can do, and rather what YOU BELIEVE you can do.