| For the past 12 years, the African American Ethnic Academy (AAEA) and Promega's BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute (BTCI) have collaborated on the "A Celebration of Life," a summer science program for African American and other elementary and middle school students. And this dynamic three-week program held at BTCI's facilities has never run out of things to celebrate. This year's program focused on activities related to inventions. "We've worked with the construction and models of atoms," said Howard Muhammad, one of AAEA's instructors. "We have worked with inventions of making slime in terms of the chemical make-up of it and things of that nature. We've also worked with making ice cream and the chemistry behind that." The students also found out about and researched some of the plethora of African American scientists and inventors who have made fundamental contributions to American society. During their end-of-the-session open house at BTCI on July 20 for parents and friends of the program, the students presented exhibits of inventors and scientists whom they researched. And while some of the students chose some of the familiar faces like George Washington Carver and Benjamin Banneker, others chose some unfamiliar inventors who had come up with some well-known creations. "I didn't know that the Super Soaker was invented by an African American, Lonnie Johnson and he made millions from that," Muhammad said. "We also learned about Bill Becoat who invented the bicycle that has a front-wheel drive and two-wheel drive bicycles. So if you see those little scooters where people kind of lean back and has pedals on the front wheels, he created that. He created that in the late 1990s. As you can see, they are kind of popular today. When it first came out, they weren't on the market, but as you can see, that invention is popular today." The students also discovered that many of these creative geniuses came from rather humble beginnings. "It is quite amazing that many of the inventors and scientists came from humble beginnings," Muhammad said. "For example, there is a scientist, Fredrick K. Jones who didn't get past eighth grade, but yet, he had over 60 patents. Benjamin Banneker also came from very humble beginnings. Both of his parents were escaped slaves. Back in the day, it was very difficult for us as African Americans to be educated. We had to get education wherever we could, through apprenticeships, through neighbors who would teach us skills like Benjamin Banneker did when he learned Astronomy from his neighbor. Despite any adversity or humble beginnings, you can achieve whatever you will with hard work, determination and staying focused." And that is probably the most important lesson the students learned during this summer of scientific exploration. |
| African American Ethnic Academy /BTCI summer science program Researching role models By Jonathan Gramling |
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| The AAEA/BTCI Summer Science class; Howard Muhammad (l-r), Qadirah and Muhammad's wife |