Hattie Carwell facts for kids

Hattie Carwell (born July 17, 1948) is an American physicist and scientist. She worked for important organizations like the United States Department of Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency. She was a program manager for high energy and nuclear programs. She also helped lead operations at the Berkeley Site Office. Hattie Carwell is known for helping non-profit groups. These groups work to encourage more people from different backgrounds to join science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

Early Life and Education

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

After high school, Hattie went to Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina. She started there in 1966. In 1970, she earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry.

Later that year, she went to Rutgers University. There, she earned a master's degree in health physics. This field focuses on protecting people and the environment from radiation.

A Career in Science

After finishing her studies in 1971, Hattie Carwell started working for the U.S. Department of Energy. She was a health physicist. This meant she made sure radiation was handled safely in national laboratories.

From 1980 to 1985, Carwell worked in Vienna, Austria. She was a nuclear safeguards inspector for the International Atomic Energy Agency. She helped make sure nuclear materials were used peacefully.

In 1985, she moved to Oakland, California. She continued her work with the Department of Energy. She helped create new rules for radiation safety. She also found ways to make research more efficient.

In 1990, she became a program manager. She oversaw high energy and nuclear programs in San Francisco. By 1992, she was a senior facility operations engineer. She was promoted to operations lead in 1994. She held this important role until 2006. She retired in 2008 as a senior physical scientist.

Hattie Carwell also attended workshops to share her knowledge. In 2010, she joined a workshop about communicating chemistry. In 2020, she spoke on a panel about leadership in higher education.

Sharing Knowledge Through Writing

Hattie Carwell has written two books. She has also written many articles. She has been a contributor to several other publications.

One of her books is called Blacks in Science: Astrophysicist to Zoologist. This book highlights the achievements of Black scientists.

Helping Others in STEM

Hattie Carwell is a co-founder of the Development Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology (DFBSST). This fund started in 1984. It has given over $650,000 in scholarships. These scholarships have helped 225 students study STEM subjects. Carwell is still the chairperson of this non-profit organization.

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 encourages young people to learn about science. It also collects information about African American scientists and engineers. In 2021, Carwell traveled to Antarctica. She created a virtual experience for MAAT patrons. They could learn about climate change and Antarctica's unique agreements.

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 careers.

Awards and Recognition

Hattie Carwell has received many awards for her work. She was recognized by the Department of Energy. She also received awards for her community leadership.

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

Carwell is featured in the book Sisters in Science: Conversations with Black Women Scientists on Race, Gender, and Their Passion for Science by Diann Jordan. In 2020, she was featured on a podcast from a University of Manitoba radio channel.

In 2018, she received an Urban Superhero Award. This was from the STEM Future Foundation. She also received a Congressional Accommodation from Barbara Lee. Hattie Carwell is also a fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists.