These images relate to my stem professional because she is a paleontologist, and the background images so far have been fossils

Here is what I have gotten done today.

For today, I have done some of his facial features.

:)

Before you begin the rest of this passage, I want you to know, Ben Barres was a person. A generous, selfless, inviting, indiscriminatory person. I don’t mean to say he was a saint, but humanity can learn from his experiences. In fact, thousands of people go through what he did every single day. He died not long ago in 2017 of pancreatic cancer. He was only 63.

Ben Barres was born in New Jersey in 1954. He was born a woman and assigned the name Barbara A. Barres. Early on, he learned that he was gifted in math and science but was denied access to these classes because he was a woman. During the first 43 years of his life this was the story. Although he studied at MIT, Darthmouth, Cornell and Harvard, he often struggled through sexism. When Ben Barres was 43, he transitioned from Barbara to his known name, Ben. Dr. Barres once stated that, “People who don’t know I am transgendered treat me with much more respect” (Ikiz). Other than being transgender, he also had the challenge of being face blind. He had a condition called prosopagnosia, which makes it hard to tell faces apart; he often had to depend on voices or what their hair looked like to identify people. In his many seminars where he motivated the science community to do better, he frequently addressed the challenges being a woman in his field cause and some of the barriers women and underrepresented groups, like LGBTQ+ people, members of BIPOC, and disabled people, still face today (Ikiz).

Ben didn’t just create waves by being an openly transgender scientist, he also discovered information about important cells. 90% of the cells in our brain aren’t the popular neurons, they are called glial cells and are often overlooked in science. Ben Barres focused his research on these elusive cells which scientists knew next to nothing about. Before Dr. Barres’s research, scientists believed that glial cells had an inactive role in brain functions. Glia is important in the upkeep of pathways through which neurons send signals to each other, and he found that when glia does not work the way they are supposed to, it could lead to “neurodegenerative disorders” (Goldman). Dr. Barres also discovered a specific type of Glial cell that can be harmful to neurons and cause disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. During his career, Barres won many awards and served on numerous editorial boards of respected science journals like the Journal of Neuroscience. He was also elected as a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and was the first openly transgender member of the National Academy of Sciences (Goldman).

Barres was an inspiration for many people. A few weeks ago, I learned that a long-time friend of mine was a member of the LGBTQ+ community. For privacy reasons, I will not say their name. My friend has an interest in science, specifically biology. I decided when this project started that I wanted my scientist to be someone who was a beacon of hope for my friend. I wanted a scientist whose field focused on bodily systems. Most of all, I wanted a scientist that was part of the LGBTQ+ community and felt comfortable letting others know about it. Ben Barres was the perfect choice as he was transgender and face-blind, yes, but he was much more than that. He was an important neuroscientist, an amazing and inviting mentor, and an activist for underrepresented groups and his own beliefs about customs in the science community (Ikiz). During the final years of his life, he once said, “I lived life on my terms: I wanted to switch genders, and I did. I wanted to be a scientist, and I was. I wanted to study glia, and I did that too. I stood up for what I believed in, and I like to think I made an impact or at least opened the door for the impact to occur. I have zero regrets, and I am ready to die. I have truly had a great life” (Ikiz). Ben Barres was a role model for all of us.

Works Cited

Goldman, Bruce. “Neuroscientist Ben Barres, who identified crucial roles of glial cells, dies at 63” Wu Tasi Neurosciences Institute Stanford University, December 27, 2017. https://neuroscience.stanford.edu/news/neuroscientist-ben-barres-who-identified-crucial-roles-glial-cells-dies-63.

Ikiz, Burcin. “Remembering Ben Barres, the trailblazing trans neuroscientist and mentor, on his birthday” Massive Science, September 13, 2021. https://massivesci.com/articles/ben-barres-trans-birthday-neuroscience-stanford/.

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th grade ELA

14 February 2025

Paul E. Williams Research Paper

Paul E. Williams really fascinates me, and I think it’s because he represents curiosity and innovation, those qualities make flying so exciting to me. Ever since I was a kid I’ve dreamed of soaring through the sky in a helicopter, and learning about Williams made that dream feel even more real. He was one of the pioneers in helicopter design and engineering and his work has had a huge impact on the aviation world. I read that Paul E. Williams was one of the first African American engineers in the field of aviation, and that his designs improved the efficiency and safety of helicopters. For example, he developed a new rotor system that made flying more stable. This really shows how his creativity and technical skills changed the game in aviation. What I find most interesting about Williams is not just his achievements, but also how his journey as a trailblazer inspires me to chase my own dreams in engineering.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Paul E Williams. He faced a lot of challenges along the way like racial discrimination and not having enough educational opportunities. Being an African American in a mostly white field he had to deal with skepticism and prejudice to get the recognition he deserved. It was eye-opening to read that Williams often faced discrimination in the workplace which made it difficult for him to advance and that he had to fight hard to secure funding for his projects. Many times, he had to defend his ideas against people who didn’t believe in him which must have been frustrating. This shows that he was determined and tough and it encourages me to push through my own challenges. To sum it up Paul E. Williams faced a lot to achieve his goals proving that with hard work and perseverance you can succeed even when the odds are against you.

What makes Williams even more important to me is how he changed the aviation game. His contributions to helicopter design really revolutionized the industry making flying a lot safer and more efficient something I really appreciate as someone who dreams of being in the cockpit one day. As one of the first African American aeronautical engineers he helped make STEM a more inclusive space. Learning that Williams rotor system design is still used in modern helicopters along with the various awards he received including being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame really amazed me. This just shows how his legacy continues to inspire new generations of engineers. In conclusion, Paul E. Williams is important to his field not just for his groundbreaking work in helicopter design but also for encouraging diversity and inspiring future engineers like me to follow our passions.

Works Cited

blackculturenews. “meet-paul-e-williams-the-black-man-who-invented-the-helicopter” ,n blackculturenews https://blackculturenews.com/2020/05/meet-paul-e-williams-the-black-man-who-invented-the-helicopter

Ann Brown. “Fact Check: Paul E. Williams, A Black Man Invented the First Helicopter”

Moguldom https://moguldom.com/434390/fact-check-paul-e-williams-a-black-man-invented-the-first-helicopter/

Helen Taussig was a lot of things. She was the first female president of the American Heart Association, and she was the cardiologist who created the cure for cyanosis, or Blue Baby Syndrome. Taussig helped ban thalidomide in the US, before it came back with warnings about the side effects of its use. She was a major influence for women and cleared the pathway to open-heart surgery and pediatric cardiology. If you just read her accomplishments, you would never guess Taussig’s struggles. Helen Taussig was born in 1898 with dyslexia. Her mother died from tuberculosis when she was 11 years old. Later, she was denied a medical degree because she was a woman and suffered hearing loss.                                                 

The reason I chose Helen Taussig as my STEM professional is because her and her accomplishments intrigued me. While I may not be interested in pediatric cardiology, I am interested in cardiology. My father, being a doctor himself, sparked my interest in the medical field. Sometimes in the past I sat with him while he looked at patients’ descriptions and he would ask me to read out different medical terms. Taussig’s situation was similar. Her father was an economist who supported Taussig to pursue her goals, but according to nih.gov, “…her grandfather, a physician who had a strong interest in biology and zoology, may also have influenced her decision to become a doctor.” I find it fascinating how, in a time where women weren’t considered equal to men, Taussig created a cure to help babies born with heart defects survive.

Despite the achievements, Taussig had her fair share of struggles. Helen Taussig, according to nih.gov, “Despite suffering from dyslexia—a reading impairment—Taussig excelled in higher education.” Another source, The American Heart Association, (AHA), tells us, “Her mother died from tuberculosis when Taussig was just 11 years old, and her own milder case left her frail…A bout with whooping cough damaged her hearing, a problem that would grow progressively worse as she got older.” We know that Taussig combated illness and impairments, but what about the struggles concerning education? The AHA also informs us that, “After college, Taussig was determined to become a doctor, despite the fact that women were largely excluded from the field. Harvard offered to let her take classes but wouldn't confer a medical degree to a woman.” Since this took place in a time place where women were not viewed as well as men. Despite the refusal of a degree, Taussig found a solution: John Hopkins University. There, Taussig would be able to get a medical degree, and continue to change the course of cardiology. While volunteering at a children’s heart clinic, Taussig developed hearing issued which made it difficult to use a stethoscope and hear heartbeats. She ended up using her hands to feel heartbeats and diagnose conditions (AHA).

                The condition cyanosis, or Blue Baby Syndrome occurs when not enough oxygen is delivered to the lungs. According to The American Heart Association, “But Taussig figured out that the problem with ‘blue babies,’ a condition known as cyanosis, was that they weren't getting enough oxygen because there wasn't enough blood going to their lungs. She thought it might be possible to fix that by connecting an artery leading to the heart to one leading to the lungs.” The shunt was created by Taussig, Dr. Alfred Blalock, and his assistant, Vivien Thomas. Since cyanosis is caused by the lack of oxygen, it would connect the heart to the lungs via arteries to provide that air. Nih.gov states that, “On November 9, 1944, Taussig and Blalock first performed this new operation on a child with anoxemia... They later repeated it successfully on two more patients…The technique was named the Blalock-Taussig operation and was soon used worldwide.” The Blalock-Taussig operation/shunt has helped save many lives around the world and has opened more opportunities and ideas to others.

Another thing Taussig helped with that save people was the ban of thalidomide in the US, before it came back with warnings of its use. Thalidomide is a drug pregnant women took to relive morning sickness. As a result, more babies were born with deformities. To avoid this in her own country, Taussig talked to women in Europe who took thalidomide. She then shared what she learned with the Food and Drug Administration. “Along with…Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, Taussig's diligence prevented the drug from being distributed in the U.S.” (AHA). If Taussig had not spoken up against thalidomide, thousands of babies in the U.S. would have been born with birth defects. Could you imagine that? Deformity rates would be much higher than it is currently.

Works Cited

“Dr. Helen Brooke Taussig” Nih, October 14, 2003. Changing the Face of Medicine | Helen Brooke Taussig

Williamson Laura. “Dr. Helen Taussig's work saved 'blue babies' and made her the mother of pediatric cardiology” The American Heart Association, March 28, 2024. Dr. Helen Taussig's work saved 'blue babies' and made her the mother of pediatric cardiology | American Heart Association

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th grade ELA

14, February 2025

Nettie Stevens Research Paper

Nettie Stevens is a world-renowned scientist who found the Y and X chromosomes, which make us who we are. Dr. Stevens is a Geneticist who specializes in Cellular Development; she worked with somatic and germ cells which contributed to the cellular basis of male fertility. Nettie Stevens got my interest because genetics and molecular biology are in my interest to major in college. She also faced sexism in 1903, from men and her work. Nettie Stevens was necessary in the development of the world because she found out the X and Y sex chromosomes, which determined individual sex and revolutionized our understanding of inheritance and evolution.

One main struggle that Nettie Stevens had faced before her greatest accomplishment was sexism. Throughout the beginning of her life, she was one of 2 women to graduate from Westfield Normal School in Massachusetts. When she was in her 40’s, male doctors would refer to her as Miss. Stevens, and not Dr. Stevens, but through that she continued her research. The article “The Contributions of Nettie Stevens to the Field of Sex Chromosome Biology” states, “Thomas Hunt Morgan, a prominent geneticist at the time, is often credited with discovering the genetic basis for sex determination, said Pomona College's Hoopes. He was the first to write a genetics textbook, she noted, and he wanted to magnify his contributions. ‘Textbooks have this terrible tendency to choose the same evidence as other textbooks,’” Stevens' name was not associated with the discovery of sex determination because someone stole her idea. Even though Nettie Stevens had faced many forms of sexism, that didn't stop her from being one of the most important female scientists.

Nettie Stevens was important to the genetics and molecular biology field because she was the person who found out what determines the sex of a child and how it can be determined. She also found out what chromosomes make up different genders for males, who have both X and Y chromosomes while a female has only X chromosomes. In the article “Chromosomes” in Brittanica it states, that in 1905, after several experiments with the yellow mealworm, she published a paper that announced her finding that a combination of the chromosomes known as X and Y were responsible for the determination of the sex of an individual.  The discovery effectively made her one of the first scientists in the world to understand how chromosomes may be involved in sex determination. In conclusion, Nettie Stevens was one of the most important contributors to the genetics field of science.

Works Cited

Sarah, Carey. Laramie, Aközbek. Alex, Harkess. “The Contributions of Nettie Stevens to the Field of Sex Chromosome Biology” National Library of Medicine, 2022 Mar 21.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8941642/

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Nettie Stevens". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 February 2025. Nettie Stevens | Sex determination, Chromosomes & Genetics | Britannica

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th Grade ELA – Period 8

Friday, 14 February 2025

GUION BLUFORD

– A journey through the stars

One of the reasons I chose Guion Bluford, born November 22, 1942, is because he is an astronaut, and that is one of my favorite fields of STEM. It’s cool to go to other planets, just imagine playing basketball on the moon! He was the “first” person to land on the moon. The reason I say first and like that is because he was the first African American to go to the moon. And because he is black/African American he faced a lot of racism throughout his life. That is another reason why I chose him. Personally, I am South Asian (Indian) and I have faced a tons of racism. People saying slurs, saying stereotypes. And this is not only me, but this also happened to Guion Bluford a lot of other people I know, anybody, who might be from another country, all throughout their lives. That still didn’t stop him from becoming an astronaut. Even after becoming successful, he faced a lot of racism, but he stayed strong, and that is why Bluford is interesting to me.

Guion Bluford had faced racism all his life. A lot of people told Bluford that he would never be able to become an astronaut all throughout his life. He got bullied and tormented just because of being black, but that didn’t stop him. He had faced his ups and downs, but that didn’t stop him from becoming in astronaut. But he didn’t just do astronomy, he was also a colonel at the U.S. Air Force. Bluford was also a fighter pilot before joining NASA. He also did aerospace engineering. He was also, just a common student, but then again, he still became an astronaut. For example, Britannica says, “Bluford was one of 35 individuals selected in 1978 from 10,000 applicants in NASA’s first competition to become space shuttle astronauts” (Logsdon). He overcame a lot of challenges to face his goal.

This person is important to STEM because there are a lot of people out there trying to become astronauts, scientists, engineers, etc. And a lot of them face challenges like racism, sexism, anti LGBTQ, ableism, or Low Socio – Economic status. He is a good example for people to never give up/back down and be persistent. No matter what challenges they face in their life. And again, he wasn’t just an astronaut, he was an aerospace engineer and a retired USAF officer and fighter pilot too. So, that’s why I think Guion Bluford is important to STEM and also because he inspired and inspires many people.

  WORK CITED

Logsdon, John M.. "Guion Bluford". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Apr. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guion-Bluford.

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th grade ELA

14 February 2025

Susan Hendrickson research paper

 Susan Hendrickson is my scientist. At first, I didn’t know who she was, and I was just looking for a queer, neurodivergent, and/or female paleontologist. I wanted to find a paleontologist with those traits because I could relate to them more. I couldn’t find any that interested me, so I left it up to chance. I asked my teacher to pick someone who had already been nominated, and she chose Susan.  I was worried I would be disappointed with her but after doing some research I resided that she was actually really cool.

Hendrickson and I grew up in the suburbs as a middle child of three. We both love exploring, learning new things, and nature. We also share a habit of collecting small trinkets, and we both don’t like crowds. I’m struggling picking a career path and she has worked in two of the main four fields I’m considering. Susan went into entomology, she is currently a paleontologist, and she considered catching tropical fish for people to sell, and I am considering majoring in marine biology (although what I want to do has a lot more with science and I wouldn’t be selling wild fish) the point is we have a lot in common.

Susan Hendrickson doesn’t have any problems you would notice right away, but that doesn't mean she didn’t struggle. Sue struggled picking a career path, but once she found paleontology there was no going back. Susan was always shy but once she turned 15, she developed urge to explore while keeping her shy nature, or as she would put it ¹“By the time I turned 15 I began to develop “itchy feet.””(Hendrickson 8)  Susan first left for Florida and painted boats for money but when she saw a man collecting exotic fish to sell to pet stores, she immediately wanted to do that. Once while she was with a group of friends visiting an amber mine in the mountains of Dominican Republic, a miner showed her a piece of amber with an ancient insect trapped in it. She was amazed at the fact that a bug millions of years old could be so perfectly preserved; she described it as ²“...like looking at a photograph taken 23 million years ago.”(Hendrickson 20) She began reading everything she could find on insects, visiting more amber mines and buying and selling the insects incased in amber. She was a pretty good armature entomologist, being able to recognize different species and selling them to museums and universities to help play a role in discovering more about the creatures. She was approached by paleontologist Kirby Siber who asked if she wanted to join him on a dig for whale fossils in Peru. Of course, she happily accepted spending six winters in Peru, unearthing whale, dolphin, and seal fossils with her group. It was there she met the man who would lead her to her to find Sue, Peter Larson.

Pete is the president of a company that finds, studies and prepares fossils for museums and collectors called Black Hills Institute. Susan began volunteering for his company in the summer. She stayed there for four summers even though she didn’t like living on a dig site, it was hot and uncomfortable, but it was worth it. On a walk with her dog Gypsy, she saw massive backbones sticking out of a cliffside, and as you might have guessed this was SUE. It took five days to get all 30ft of rock off sues skeleton -apart from a small layer coating the bone-.  Then in less than three weeks-with 13hour workdays- ³“SUE was finally free from her rocky tomb.” (Hendrickson 28) The skeleton was over 90% complete which had been a first for T-rex fossils making her the most completed Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil ever found to this day. Because Sue was such a unique specimen everyone wanted her including the man who owned the land she was found on. A massive legal batter commenced and for five years SUE sat in storage while everyone was fighting over her. Eventually a judge ruled that she would be sold at an auction to the highest bidder. The Field Museum in Chicago won with more than eight million dollars and earned the right to SUE. Susan was happy SUE would finally be studied, ⁴“Finally she would receive the attention she deserved.” (Hendrickson 28)

Works cited

Hendrickson, Susan. “Page 8” internet archive, 2001. Hunt for the past : my life as an explorer : Hendrickson, Sue, 1949- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive.

Hendrickson, Susan. “Page 20” internet archive, 2001. Hunt for the past : my life as an explorer : Hendrickson, Sue, 1949- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive.

Hendrickson, Susan. “Page 28” internet archive, 2001. Hunt for the past : my life as an explorer : Hendrickson, Sue, 1949- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive.

Hendrickson, Susan. “Page 28” internet archive, 2001. Hunt for the past : my life as an explorer : Hendrickson, Sue, 1949- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th Grade ELA

14 February 2025

Sang-Mook Lee Research Paper

The reason I chose Sang-Mook Lee as my STEM professional is that I find him extremely inspiring. I find him inspiring because his field of STEM is marine geology, which is also what I aspire to pursue. In an article NOVA published it talked about Lee being a great marine geologist. Later in his career, he suffered a severe accident that left him quadriplegic. Despite the challenges caused by this disability, Sang-Mook Lee persevered in his work in marine geology. After his accident, he became known as the “Stephen Hawking of Korea” and has served as a significant inspiration to other children with disabilities in South Korea. Following his accident, he gained considerable recognition and founded a multimillion-dollar government company that develops electronic devices to assist people with disabilities in Korea.

Lee has faced many challenges throughout his career, the biggest one being a car crash that left him quadriplegic. “Lee is a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down, but he does not let that stop him from constantly trying new things.” (Beartooth NBC) He always wanted to be a marine geologist and excelled in the field before his accident. South Korea allowed him to use a research ship to test his theories in the ocean. He has commented that recovering from the accident was challenging, but he eventually pushed through. Even after his accident, he continued to make discoveries daily, even when the obstacles in his path were very difficult.

Over the years, he has made big contributions to marine geology and is widely regarded as one of the most respected marine geologists of all time. Even after his accident, he has continued to contribute by developing new programs for helping others with disabilities that want to pursue marine geology. Sang-Mook Lee is an inspiring figure for many young people with disabilities. Lee stated in an interview, "Being a professor at Seoul National University is the scholarly pinnacle in Korea” (The Royal Society). In conclusion, Sang-Mook Lee is a very talented and well-respected marine geologist.

Work Cited

NOVA, “The Unstoppable Sang Mook Lee”, PBS, 1 June 2009.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/lee-oceanography/

The Royal Society, “A twist of Fate”, royalsociety.

            https://royalsociety.org/about-us/who-we-are/diversity-inclusion/case-studies/scientists-with-disabilities/sang-mook-lee/

7th Grade ELA

14 February 2025

Elizabeth Morris Research Paper

Have you ever been to Antarctica or seen pictures of those giant glaciers so big you can walk on? Well, those glaciers are called alpine glaciers, and a woman named Elizabeth Morris was one of the first women to go to Antarctica and study snow accumulation and snow loss. She even won an award for her commitment and the impact she had on her studies in Antarctica. Did you know Elizabeth has gotten a glacier named after her in Antarctica? Elizabeth has even modelled how ice flowed over mountains. But who is Elizabeth Morris? What hard ships did she face? What did her work do for the glaciers? These are some reasons what made her interesting to me.

Firstly, who is Elizabeth Morris? Elizabeth Morris is a glaciologist who helps the glaciers with the loss of ice. She was the head of the ice and climate division at the British Antarctic Survey from 1986 through 1999. For example, the Bristol University website it claims: “Elizabeth was to research the understanding the ozone hole and climate change become apparent, she also led development of research to meet this need.” She was appointed OBE in the Millennium Honors list for services to Polar Science and was awarded the Polar Medal in 2003.

Second, what hardships did Elizabeth face? The hardship Elizabeth has faced is sexism. When she started her job men started saying microaggressions such as, “Will you actually wear lipstick while your working,” or “The largest male sanctuary remaining on this planet.” They have even asked if she could have even successfully complete the expedition. Elizabeth waved off these remarks but doubted herself. Elizabeth Morris had talked to other women to get there input on men saying remarks and they helped her. Lastly, what did her work do for the glaciers? Elizabeth’s work helped with multiple issues. One of the issues that she worked on was the ambient temperature. Elizabeth takes measurements in support of the CryoSat Calibration project. Due to her work this helped the glaciers with their problems.

Works Cited

“Elizabeth Morris” The Perpetual Glaciologist, 9 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111009184543/http://www.polar.ch2m.com/Files/PDFs/Newsletter08_30_06.pdf.

“Elizabeth Morris” Professor Elizabeth M. Morris, OBE, BSc, PhD, DSc.

Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge » Elizabeth Morris OBE

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th Grade ELA

14 February 2025

Margaret Knight Research Paper

Have you ever opened a paper bag to get a sandwich you packed? Have you ever noticed the flat bottom where the sandwich or whatever you packed lays on? In the 19^th century people working in factories had to manually fold them one by one. That was such a pain! That is why a gorgeous and smart woman named Margaret Knight figured out a solution, and it was to make a machine do all the work folding those time-consuming paper bags (National Inventors Hall of Fame). She faced discrimination about being a woman engineer and her age (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia). When she modified the cotton weaver, a grown man stole her work and labeled it as her own (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia). People looked down at her for being a woman in a field of STEM, and that is why I look up to her. I have always wanted to be an engineer and build things, to use my creativity. I was scared people would judge me since I am a woman and am very young, but Margaret Knight’s story offered me comfort in which you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter your age or gender! But who was Margaret Knight? What hardships and struggles did she face in her journey? This is the story of Margaret Knight.

Firstly, who was Margaret Knight? Margaret Knight was famous female engineer in the 19^th century, well known for her paper bag folding machine. People called her the girl version of the iconic Thomas Edison for her work in the mechanical engineering field (National Inventors Hall of Fame). She has also received multiple patents later in life after everyone had figured out that being a woman doesn’t make you less than a man (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia). Her inventions are still used to this day in many big factories.

Lastly, what hardships did Margaret Knight face in her life? Unfortunately, Margeret lived in a time where women where not treated equal as men. This was called sexism, and it was very common in the 19^th century. They believed that women were only fit to be housewives, maids, and maybe schoolteachers. For this reason, Margaret didn’t have the opportunities that men had. She even said, “I’m only sorry I couldn’t have had as good a chance as a boy and have been put to my trade regularly.” (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia). In the end she became a successful engineer and keeps on inspiring young women to this day.

Work Citied

“Margaret Knight” “Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia” 11 January 2025.

Margaret E. Knight - Wikipedia

“The Inspiring Story of Margaret E. Knight” “National Inventors Hall of Fame” September 8, 2020.

The Inspiring Story of Margaret E. Knight | National Inventors of Fall of Fame®

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th Grade ELA

14 February 2025

Rita Levi-Montalcini Research Paper

I chose Ms. Montalcini because of her perseverance, not only did she face sexism in her youth, she experienced racism because of The Manifesto of Race which prevented Jews from getting certain jobs. Rita Levi-Montalcini was an extraordinary woman in neurology that pushed through struggles to become a scientist. Starting her life with a father who had very strict and old-fashioned ideas about what women should and shouldn’t do. She pushed through and eventually got her college education. The Manifesto of Race, dictated by Mussolini in 1938, forbade Jews from having an academic and professional career, but this didn’t stop her from finding out about the Nerve Growth Factor, and getting a Nobel prize.

Rita Levi-Montalcini faced many challenges such as sexism and racism. From the Rita Levi-Montalcini biography on The Famous People, it explains how her father’s ideas about what a woman could and couldn’t do were conservative like most in the early 20th century Italy. He discouraged his daughters from getting a professional career, but Rita had a very intelligent mind, and growing up with a mathematician had only fueled her love for the sciences. Then when The Manifesto of race came out, she couldn’t continue her journey for her career. Soon, she decided to keep studying in her apartment with a friend and ended up finding out about the nerve growth factor. The nerve growth factor is a protein like molecule that regulates growth and maintenance of a nerve.

These struggles were important to her becoming a neurologist because if it weren’t for her childhood surrounded by her father’s engineering and mathematics then she would have never become a neurologist. Rita Levi-Montalcini found the nerve growth factor and ended up getting a Nobel prize for physiology or medicine in 1986 and lived to a whopping 103 years old. Miss. Montalcini once said, “If I had not been discriminated against or had not suffered persecution, I would never have received the Nobel Prize.” This shows that even though she had many obstacles, she feels they shaped the person she turned out to be. In conclusion, Rita Levi-Montalcini persevered through struggles to become a neurologist and a Nobel Prize winner.

Works Cited

The Famous People. “Rita Levi-Montalcini- famous people of the world” https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/rita-levi-montalcini-7464.php

The Nobel Prize. “RITALEVI-MONTALCINI | Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1986”    

The Nobel Prize | Women who changed science | Rita Levi-Montalcini

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th Grade ELA
14 February 2025

Aaron Yazzie Research Paper.

What if someone told you that you couldn’t do your dream job because you were different? Well, Aaron Yazzie had that problem. Aaron Yazzie is one of the many mechanical engineers in NASA. You might be asking, “What’s so special about some NASA worker?” Well, Aaron Yazzie is different from other NASA workers. He is someone who fought through insults and tough treatment and made his dream come true. This is the very reason why I have chosen Aaron, as he has taught others to fight and push through to reach your dreams and goals. He is currently working on a mission that involves machines going to Mars.

As I stated earlier, Aaron had to fight to get his dream done.  You might be asking, “Okay... what were his struggles...?”  Well, Aaron Yazzie had to face many problems, but there was one main problem.  Aaron Yazzie had to face racism.  On the NASA website, it says, “Born in Tuba City, Arizona, Yazzie is of the Salt Clan and born for the Bitter Water Clan, which reflect his maternal and paternal lineage, respectively.”  The Navajo clan system communicates family heritage and where their families come from.”  NASA also says, “Throughout his academic and professional journey, he frequently found himself as the only Indigenous voice in the room with Indigenous people representing less than 0.6% of the American STEM workforce.”  This means that Aaron is Navajo, and a native-American.  Since he was native-American, he had a low chance of being hired.  After some hard work though, Aaron Yazzie had gotten hired and now works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at NASA. This also means that very little Navajo people are STEM professionals,

and that Aaron is one of the few out there.

Aaron Yazzie is such a hard worker at NASA. Not only does he work as a mechanical engineer, but he also helps with big missions too!  Aaron usually works in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but in a big mission for NASA. The NASA website states, “Yazzie’s contributions to missions exploring Mars, including testing the Curiosity Rover’s sample acquisition system and developing drill bits for the Perseverance Rover, resonate with the Navajo creation story, which emphasizes nurturing life on a developing Earth—paralleling his efforts to support the possibility of life on Mars.” This little piece of information tells us that Aaron Yazzie was a part of NASA’s many projects! He was the one who helped built the rover that went to Mars. If Aaron Yazzie wasn’t hired by NASA, then the rover may not have been as good as it is today!!

                                                                              Work Cited

Tuman, David. “Aaron Yazzie: Bridging Indigenous Heritage and Space Exploration” Nasa, September 29^th, 2023. Aaron Yazzie: Bridging Indigenous Heritage and Space Exploration - NASA.

Ela 8

3/3/25

Niel Leon

Neil Leon is a renowned engineer at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) who has made significant contributions to various fields, particularly in biomedical engineering and systems engineering. With an impressive background in designing innovative medical technologies, Leon has focused much of his research on improving healthcare systems through engineering solutions. His work emphasizes the application of engineering principles to solve complex challenges in medicine, ultimately aiming to enhance patient care and streamline medical procedures. This interdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between engineering and healthcare, has set Leon apart as a leading innovator in his field (Antoniades 1).

In addition to his work in medical technologies, Leon is also known for his research on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with biomedical devices. He has contributed to the development of AI-driven systems that assist medical professionals in diagnosing diseases more accurately and efficiently. One of his significant achievements includes the creation of predictive models for patient monitoring systems, which has revolutionized the way healthcare providers approach patient care, ensuring better outcomes and reducing human error in diagnostics. Through his work, Leon continues to shape the future of healthcare technology (Antoniades 2). Beyond his contributions to research and innovation, Neil Leon is dedicated to mentorship and Education.

As a professor at JHU, he actively works with students to foster new ideas and cultivate the next generation of engineers. His dedication to teaching and his ability to make complex engineering concepts accessible have made him well renowned. By guiding students and inspiring young engineers, Leon ensures that his legacy will continue to influence both the fields of engineering and healthcare for years to come (Antoniades 2).

I love this Niel Leons work because as I said in the second paragraph he works with AI. I enjoy using AI whether I am trying to break it or whether it’s for a purpose. He uses them for biomedical devices, I use them for schoolwork practically the same thing. He also works with lasers; he monitors over 256 different lasers at JHU which sounds really fun to me just because of the things it can do. Lasers can cut through things can cook things they can do it all and I enjoy learning about all the different things that they can do.

7LA

14 February 2025

Katalin Kuriko research paper

I chose Katalin Kuriko because without her we would still be suffering from covid-19 as badly as we did when it first came to the United States. She is a biologist, and I want to be an endocrinologist, a form of human Biology that is the study of hormones. I have a disease called Hashimoto’s disease that makes it, so my immune system does not work with my thyroid. I also like that she is a new face and isn't some old guy. I love that she has climbed to the top of her company and is now vice president of BioNTech. She is a great person with great discoveries and works at a place called Penn.

Katalin Kuriko is a biologist and immunologist born in Bulgaria. She did work with mRNA, a molecule that carries genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes, where proteins are made. She had gone to Penn State and gotten kicked out after some time. later she went to work at Biontech. There she did work and eventually became vice president of her company. “She realized that synthetic (un-modified) mRNA triggered the dendritic cells to activate inflammatory responses.” The finding led them down the path of realizing that mRNA in mammalian cells was frequently chemically modified, while DNA and RNA from bacteria and viruses were frequently unmodified. “

Katalin Kuriko has a Nobel Peace Prize in medical science. She is a pioneer in RNA research. She was born January 17, 1955, Kisújszállás, Hungry. With no more funding for her research she moved to the United States. She discovered that when mRNA is inserted into a cell it can make proteins but in the 1990’s her research was delayed again due to lack of funding. “After that her research continued and she went to discover other things about mRNA. Karikó and her colleague American immunologist Drew Weissman were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Works Cited

. “After that her research continued and she went to discover other things about mRNA. Karikó and “Together, the two realized that synthetic (un-modified) mRNA triggered the dendritic cells to activate inflammatory responses. The finding led them down the path of realizing that mRNA in mammalian cells .arstechnica.com/health/2023/10/after-being-demoted-and-forced-to-retire-mrna-researcher-wins-nobel

“After that her research continued and she went to discover other things about mRNA. Karikó and her colleague American immunologist Drew Weissman were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.www.britannica.com/biography/Katalin-Kariko

Mrs.Bhandri

7^th grade Ela

2/18/25

Kathrine Freese is a very inspiring person. She is a theoretical astrophysicist who was one of the first woman in physics. She is very successful, even being on a podcast with Neil deGrasse Tyson. She truly is an inspiring person as she is a theoretical astrophysicist and that is a very cool job to have, showing people they can do anything. So, she is a very important person in inspiring many.

Currently Kathrine Freese works as professor at the university of Princeton. She is even one of the first woman to major in physics at Princeton. Her main focus is dark matter, she has even published a book on it! She has proposed lots of theories on dark matter and dark energy helping in early research of dark matter. One of her most known theories is that there are something called dark stars, these are stars that get power off of dark matter heating rather than fusion this is shown in UT Experts : University Communications : The University of Texas at Austin because it says, “She proposed Dark Stars, early stars made of hydrogen and helium but powered by dark matter heating rather than by fusion.”

The first college physics course she took didn’t go well according to Q&A: Katherine Freese | symmetry magazine. But this makes it even more inspiring showing she didn’t give up. She even has a multitude of awards showing people can do anything. From theories and many contributions to science. That is why she is inspiring to everyone wanting to be in science.

Work Cited Page

“Q&A: Katherine Freese” symmetry magazine, https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/october-2015/qa-katherine-freese?language_content_entity=und.

“Katherine Freese” UT Experts:  University Communications : The University of Texas at Austin https://experts.utexas.edu/katherine_freese

7th Grade ELA

14 February 2025

Grace Wiley Research Paper

The person I chose is Grace Wiley. Grace Wiley is interesting to me because she is an ophiologist. An ophiologist (a branch of herpetologist) studies snakes, which she was afraid of for the first 30 years of her life. Leila McNeill states that a rattlesnake slithered up her arm and when it didn’t bite her, she wondered if all snakes could be tamed. I find this interesting because my dad is horrified of snakes, so seeing somebody go from fearing snakes to being one of the most famous snake tamers is interesting to me.

Grace Wiley overcame several adversities to achieve their goals, including fearing snakes at first and her cavalier attitude toward snakes. The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of Snake Handler Grace Olive Wiley states , “For the first 30 years of her life, Grace Olive Wiley was deathly afraid of snakes". This would be a struggle for a person who would go onto studies snakes for a living. Tim Grobaty states that due to the way she treated snakes. This made it hard for her to stay in a job until she opened her own snake and reptile zoo.

Grace Wiley is important to ophthalmology because she was the first person to breed diamondback snakes in captivity. The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of Snake Handler Grace Olive Wiley states, “Thanks to her work, herpetologists were able to learn the gestation period for diamondbacks”. She also had a deal with the Brookfield Zoo to give it her collection of over 300 snakes if she could be the curator of reptiles at the zoo. The zoo director accepted and started working on the new reptile house. She got fired later. So that is why I think Grace Wiley is cool.

Works Cited

Grobaty, Tim. “Long Beach’s renowned snake whisperer, Grace Olive Wiley” lbpost, 23 December 2022

Local history: Long Beach's renowned snake whisperer, Grace Olive Wiley • Long Beach Post News

McNeill, Leila. “The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of Snake Handler Grace Olive Wiley” Mental Floss, 29 April 2019.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/580612/grace-olive-wiley-charmed-life-tragic-death

Mrs. Bhandari

7^th Grade ELA

14 February 2025

                                       Barry Paw Research Paper

This person is interesting because he was a biologist and a oncologist. He studied blood disorders from Zebrafish, and a new gene in humans. In the text it says, “Barry Paw dedicated his research career to studying the development of red blood cells. His team was the first to use zebrafish as a model to identify mutations that cause anemia, thus pioneering the use of zebrafish for analyzing genes responsible for diseases in humans. Paw’s research led to new discoveries about blood disorders in humans” (Asia Research News). His research puts cell biology and the inner mitochondrial membrane together.

He used one species of Zebrafish for all his experiments. The Zebrafish he used was the Danio Rerio Zebrafish. It is interesting because he compared genes with Zebrafish to humans. I am interested in this person because, he used Zebrafish to discover a new gene in humans. He used Zebrafish to help discover blood disorders in humans. “Focusing on the genes important for red blood cell development, his team used zebrafish as a model to identify mutations that cause anemia. Insights from these experiments have led to new discoveries and implications for human blood disorders” (From Brigham Clinical & Research News).

When Barry Paw was seven, he moved to the United States from Burma in 1969.In the text it says, He waited 2 years for permission to leave Myanmar and then took a plane to United States with a $30 per person fee and a one suitcase of clothes per person fee. America gave him a fresh start in his life. Barry’s family moved to California, and he was educated at California Public Schools and universities. As an undergraduate Barry published his first scientific papers with Joe Nielands on the “Synthesis of Bacterial Siderophores.” Then Barry did a MD/PhD in the University of California, located in Los Angeles. Barry loved to collaborate and a list of co-authors on his papers include many people in the same field as him. “Barry will rightfully be remembered for his scientific discoveries and the rigor and importance of his work. But he will also be remembered for his modesty, generosity, and most of all his sweetness of character” (Jerry 3/12/2025Kaplan). He later died at the age of fifty-five on 28 December 2017.

                                        Works Cited

1.            “Barry will rightfully be remembered for his scientific discoveries and the rigor and importance of his work. But he will also be remembered for his modesty, generosity, and most of all his sweetness of character” (Kaplan) https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/barry-paw

2.           
In Memoriam: Barry Paw, MD, PhD, of the Division of Hematology, “From Brigham Clinical & Research News”

https://bwhclinicalandresearchnews.org/2018/01/04/in-memoriam-barry-paw-md-phd-of-the-division-of-hematology/

7th grade ELA

14 February 2025

Karson Wyant research paper

The reason I chose Kin Yamei for my sticker is because I thought she has an interesting story. I

Enjoy that she is Chinese, but she mostly worked in the U.S.A. Another thing I thought was cool about her is she both taught women to be doctors and she introduced tofu to America. Lastly, I chose her because she would be easy to make in Illustrator. And all this info I find her interesting and because of that I chose her for my scientist.

Kin Yamei overcame several Struggles to achieve her goals. Kin Yamei helped run a hospital in Kobe, Japan and later founding the North Medical School for Women in China. Her efforts to introduce tofu and soybeans to the U.S.A during World War 1 were met with resistance due to prevailing prejudices against Chinses people and their cuisine. She once again hit the lecture circuit to extol Chinese traditions and advocate for a China-friendly foreign policy. Meanwhile, her American son Alexander graduated college, worked in finance in New York City, and joined the army to fight in the war, only to be killed in battle six weeks before the Armistice. Stories of Chinese criminal networks, opium dens, and an outbreak of the bubonic plague in San Francisco's Chinatown only fueled the racism. Dr. Kin wrote to Roosevelt again two years later in 1906 about the discrimination she experienced, questioning why some immigrant groups are targeted more than others.

There was a bit of STEM discipline included let me talk to you about it. Kim Yamei’s contributions spanned multiple disciplines, but her primary focus was on medicine and nutrition. She was a pioneer in promoting the nutritional benefits of soybeans and tofu, especially during WW I when

she worked with the U.S.A Department of Agriculture to introduce these foods as meat substitutes. Additionally, she was involved in women’s education and healthcare, founding the Northern Medical School for Women and children in Japan. She spent World War I in the United States, working with the USDA on nutritional and other uses for soybeans, and introducing tofu to American food scientists. Kin Yamei also seen as Chin Ya-mei or Jin Yunmei, or anglicized as Y. May King, was a Chinese-born, American-raised doctor, hospital administrator, educator, and nutrition expert. She is credited with introducing tofu to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during World War I.

Work Cited

. Kin Yamei “Smithsonian Magazine” Smithsonian Magazine, (no date that I can find)

The Chinese-Born Doctor Who Brought Tofu to America | Smithsonian

Stem Scientist Sticker Project Essay

I chose Rachel Carson as my Stem Professional. One reason I chose Rachel Carson was because I also am interested in Marine Biology. Another reason I chose this scientist is because they faced and overcame a difficult challenge that I don’t see very often with STEM professionals. The authors of Encyclopedia Britannica states in the article, “Carson stood behind her warnings of the consequences of indiscriminate pesticide use despite the threat of lawsuits from the chemical industry and accusations that she engaged in ‘emotionalism’ and ‘gross distortion.’ Some critics even claimed that she was a communist”. This evidence supports my answer because this quote shows what challenge she faced, and how she faced it (by staying behind her warnings of the consequences). Rachel Carson is interesting to me because I am also interested in Marine Biology, and they faced and overcame a difficult challenge that I don’t see very often with STEM professionals.

The adversity that Rachel Carson overcame to achieve their goals is defamation. The people that were attempting to defame her were large pesticide companies, trying to convince people to think wrong about her and her work. The pesticide companies tried to convince people that pollution’s effects aren’t bad, which impacted Rachel Carson. These adversities impacted Rachel Carson’s journey because it was more difficult to convince people that pollution was bad since she was being threatened with lawsuits, and pesticide companies were trying to convince people that pollution wasn’t bad. The article from Britannica states, “Carson stood behind her warnings of the consequences of indiscriminate pesticide use despite the threat of lawsuits from the chemical industry and accusations that she engaged in ‘emotionalism’ and ‘gross distortion.’ Some critics even claimed that she was a communist”. The article, “Rachel Carson”, states that companies accused her of being a communist or someone hysterical (Debra Michals). The evidence supports my answer because it explains the challenge Rachel Carson faced, defamation by pesticide companies. The evidence also supports my answer because it shows how defamation impacted Rachel Carson; because she was defamed, she was threatened lawsuits, and pesticide companies tried to convince people that pollution wasn’t bad, which impacted her and made it more difficult to convince people to prevent pollution. The people that were defaming her were large pesticide companies, trying to convince people to think wrong about her and her work. These adversities impacted Rachel Carson’s journey because it was more difficult to convince people that pollution was bad since she was being threatened lawsuits, and pesticide companies were trying to convince people that pollution wasn’t bad.

Rachel Carson is important to their STEM discipline because they helped reduce pollutant use. Rachel Carson has helped influence people to reduce pollutant use. Rachel Carson’s book, The Silent Spring, was one of Rachel Carson’s achievements. This was probably the most influential and significant achievement Rachel Carson has achieved. This evidence supports my answer because it tells what influences Rachel Carson’s books had, worldwide awareness about environmental pollution effects. Rachel Carson is important to their Stem discipline because Rachel Carson has helped influence people to reduce pollutant use.