Hakeem Oluseyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hakeem Oluseyi
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| Born |
James Edward Plummer Jr.
March 13, 1967 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Education | Tougaloo College (BS) Stanford University (MS, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, astrophysics, cosmology, electrical engineering, science education |
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| Thesis | Development of a Global Model of the Sun's Atmosphere with a Focus on the Solar Transition Region (2000) |
| Doctoral advisor | Arthur B. C. Walker Jr. |
Hakeem Muata Oluseyi (born James Edward Plummer Jr.; March 13, 1967) is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, inventor, and educator. He is also a science communicator, author, actor, and veteran. He is known for his work in understanding the Sun and developing new space technologies.
Early Life and Learning Journey
Hakeem Oluseyi was born James Edward Plummer Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana. When he was four, his parents divorced. He and his mother moved to a different state along the southern U.S. border every year. He lived in tough neighborhoods like the 9th Ward of New Orleans and Watts, Los Angeles. He also lived in Houston, Texas before settling in rural Mississippi. This was just before he turned 13.
Hakeem finished middle and high school in the East Jasper School District. He was the best student in his high school class when he graduated in 1985. Oluseyi served in the U.S. Navy from 1984 to 1986. He says the Navy taught him algebra, which was very helpful.
After leaving the Navy, he enrolled in Tougaloo College. There, he earned degrees in physics and mathematics.
Studying at Stanford University
In 1991, Oluseyi became a graduate student at Stanford University. He earned a master's degree in physics in 1995.
Oluseyi thought about leaving Stanford because it was very different from what he was used to. He had attended an all-black high school and then a historically black college. At Stanford, he felt that how people dressed and talked mattered a lot. It was hard for him to adjust at first.
Luckily, Oluseyi found a mentor. His mentor was a solar physicist named Arthur B. C. Walker Jr.. Dr. Walker helped him get used to the new environment. Oluseyi then finished his studies at Stanford.
A New Name and Big Discoveries
In 1996, Hakeem changed his name. He wanted to show how much his life had improved since his difficult childhood. His new name, Hakeem Muata Oluseyi, has special meanings:
- Hakeem means "wise" in Arabic.
- Muata means "he who speaks the truth" in Swahili.
- Oluseyi means "God has done this" in Yoruba.
In 1999, Oluseyi earned his PhD in physics from Stanford. Dr. Walker continued to guide him. Oluseyi helped design and build the Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array (MSSTA). This telescope was a pioneer in taking special images of the Sun's atmosphere. It helped scientists study the Sun's transition region and corona.
Oluseyi is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, a fraternity.
Career in Science and Education
After finishing his PhD, Oluseyi worked in different scientific fields.
Early Research and Space Projects
From 1999 to 2001, he worked on research for semiconductors at Applied Materials. From 2001 to 2004, he was a research fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. There, he worked on important projects like the Dark Energy Camera and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. These projects help us understand more about the universe.
Teaching and NASA Work
From 2007 to 2019, Oluseyi was a professor at the Florida Institute of Technology. He taught in the physics and space sciences departments.
From 2016 to 2019, he worked at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC. He was the Space Sciences education manager for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. This means he helped guide NASA's efforts to teach people about space science. In 2021, he was named a Visiting Robinson Professor at George Mason University. This is a special honor for outstanding professors.
Books and Leadership
In 2021, Oluseyi published his autobiography. It is called A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars. He wrote it with Joshua Horwitz.
As of 2022, Oluseyi is the president of the National Society of Black Physicists. This group supports and promotes Black physicists.
Key Scientific Contributions
Hakeem Oluseyi's most important scientific work includes:
- Studying how mass and energy move through the Sun's atmosphere.
- Developing observatories that fly in space to study hot gases in space and dark energy.
- Creating new technologies like special ultraviolet optics, detectors, computer chips, and ion propulsion systems.
Investigating the James Webb Space Telescope Name
In 2021, Oluseyi investigated a concern about the naming of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Some scientists and journalists had questions about former NASA administrator James E. Webb and his past. Oluseyi looked into whether Webb was involved in certain historical events. He found no evidence that Webb was involved in the way critics claimed. NASA later confirmed his findings in a full report.
Family Life
Oluseyi met his wife, Jessica, at Tougaloo College. They have a daughter and a son together. Oluseyi also has a son from an earlier relationship.
