Teaching Guide: “The Black Scientific Renaissance of the 1970s-90s:" African American Scientists at Bell Laboratories

JAN 24, 2021

Students will research African American scientists who participated in Bell Labs’ Cooperative Research Fellowship Program, and those who worked at Bell Laboratories from the 1970s to the 1990s.

AIP History

africanamericanscientistsatbelllaboratories-picture.jpg — Anthony Johnson in ultrafast laser lab AIP Emilio Segre Visual Archives, Ronald E. Mickens Collection

This three-part lesson plan examines what has been called the “Black Scientific Renaissance at Bell Laboratories” by highlighting the striking contributions of African American scientists at Bell Laboratories in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Students will research African American scientists who benefitted from Bell Labs’ Cooperative Research Fellowship Program, and those who worked at Bell Laboratories during these important years.
Grade level(s): 9-12, College
Guide subjects: History, Physics
Minority Group(s): Women, African-American
In-class time: 70-90 minutes
Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Technology Requirements: Student web access required, Audio/Video not required
Common Core Standards: Speaking & Listening, History/Social Studies, Subject Writing
Next Generation Science Standards: Waves and Their Application in Technologies for Information Transfer

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Teaching Guide: “The Black Scientific Renaissance of the 1970s-90s:" African American Scientists at Bell Laboratories Lesson Plan (.pdf) Teaching Guide: “The Black Scientific Renaissance of the 1970s-90s:" African American Scientists at Bell Laboratories Discussion Questions (.pdf) Teaching Guide: “The Black Scientific Renaissance of the 1970s-90s:" African American Scientists at Bell Laboratories Discussion Question Answer Key (.pdf) Bell Laboratories Handout (.pdf) Teaching Guide: “The Black Scientific Renaissance of the 1970s-90s:" African American Scientists at Bell Laboratories Original Documents ZIP Archive (.zip)