The Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech has recently launched a new project to document the experiences of Black scientists in the United States.
The “Black Excellence in STEM Oral History Project” focuses on preserving the stories of Black scientists through their own personal perspectives. For the project, a team of graduate students from the Center for Communicating Science interviewed a sample of Black researchers, gathering information on the challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced throughout their careers, including the value of historically Black colleges and universities, mentorship opportunities, nontraditional paths to STEM careers, and the unique experience of being the first Black scientist in a field of study.
Currently, the project has conducted 17 interviews with plans to speak with more Black scientists going forward. In addition to the collection housed within Virginia Tech’s Special Collections and University Archives, the student interviewers plan to share these stories in other ways, including via printed narratives, short animations, a children’s book, and podcast episodes.
