Hattie Carwell facts for kids

Hattie Carwell is an amazing American physicist. She used to work as a scientist for important groups like the United States Department of Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency. In 1990, she became a program manager for special energy projects. She also helped lead operations at the Berkeley Site Office for many years. Hattie Carwell has also worked with different groups to help more people get involved in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Hattie Carwell's Early Life and Education

Hattie Carwell was born on July 17, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in Ashland, Virginia. Her community really encouraged her to become a scientist.

College Years

After finishing high school, Hattie went to Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina. She started there in the fall of 1966. In 1970, she earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry. Later that same year, Carwell enrolled at Rutgers University. She earned a master's degree in health physics from Rutgers in 1971. Health physics is about keeping people safe from radiation.

Hattie Carwell's Career in Science

After graduating from Rutgers University in 1971, Hattie Carwell started working for the U.S. Department of Energy. She was a health physicist, making sure that national laboratories were safe from radiation.

Working Around the World

From 1980 to 1985, Carwell worked in Vienna, Austria. She was a nuclear safeguards inspector and a team leader at the International Atomic Energy Agency. This agency helps make sure nuclear energy is used safely and peacefully.

Back in the USA

In 1985, Hattie moved to Oakland, California. She continued working with the United States Department of Energy. She helped create new rules for radiation safety. She also found ways to make research safer and more efficient. In 1990, she became a program manager for high-energy and nuclear programs. This was at the Department of Energy's San Francisco office.

Later, in 1992, Carwell became a senior engineer at the Berkeley Site Office. By 1994, she was promoted to operations lead. She held this important role until 2006. Before she retired in 2008, she worked as a senior physical scientist.

Sharing Knowledge and Experience

Hattie Carwell has also attended many important workshops. In 2010, she went to one about communicating chemistry to the public. In March 2020, she was part of a discussion about leadership in higher education. She also attended a workshop in 2014 about job needs in the Gulf Research Program.

Hattie Carwell's Books and Articles

Hattie Carwell is also a writer! She has written two books and many articles. She has also contributed to several other publications. One of her books is called Blacks in Science: Astrophysicist to Zoologist. This book likely shares stories about many different Black scientists.

Hattie Carwell's Community Work

Hattie Carwell is passionate about helping others, especially in STEM fields. She has helped start and lead several important organizations.

Helping Students with Scholarships

In 1984, Hattie helped start the Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology (DFBSST). This group has given over $650,000 in scholarships. These scholarships have helped 225 students study STEM subjects. Hattie Carwell is still the chairperson of the board of directors for this non-profit organization.

Promoting Science Education

From 2015 to 2019, Carwell was the treasurer for the Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers (NCCBPE). She was also once the president of this group. She is also a co-founder and executive director of the Museum of African American Technology (MAAT) Science Village. This program started in 2000. It helps promote science education, especially for young people. It also collects information about the achievements of African American scientists and engineers.

In the winter of 2021, Hattie Carwell even traveled to Antarctica! She created a virtual experience for MAAT members. They could follow along to learn about climate change and the special agreements about Antarctica.

Carwell also helps lead the Coalition of Hispanic, African and Native Americans for the Next Generation of Engineers and Scientists (CHANGES). This group works to include more Hispanic, African American, and American Indian people in STEM and architecture.

Awards and Recognition

Hattie Carwell has received many awards for her work. She has been recognized for her contributions to the Department of Energy. She has also received awards for her leadership in the community.

Her college, Bennett College, has honored her as a distinguished alumna. She is also listed in Who's Who in America, which features important people. In 1991, Carwell was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.

Hattie Carwell is also featured in the book Sisters in Science: Conversations with Black Women Scientists on Race, Gender, and Their Passion for Science by Diann Jordan. In February 2020, she was featured on a podcast episode from a University of Manitoba radio channel. In 2018, she received an Urban Superhero Award and a Congressional Accommodation from Barbara Lee. She is also a fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists.