Jeannette Brown facts for kids
Jeannette Elizabeth Brown (born May 13, 1934) is a retired American chemist, historian, and author. She is known for her work in creating new medicines and for writing about the history of African American women in chemistry.
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Early Life and Education
Jeannette Brown was born in 1934 in The Bronx, New York. When she was young, she became sick with tuberculosis. A young African-American doctor, Arthur Logan, treated her. He lived in her building and inspired her to study science. When she asked him how to become a doctor, he told her, "Oh, you study science."
Jeannette loved chemistry and scored very high on her chemistry exam. She graduated from New Dorp High School in 1952. In 1956, she earned her first degree in chemistry from Hunter College. She was one of only two African Americans in the first chemistry class there. In 1958, she made history by becoming the first African American woman to get a master's degree in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota.
Chemical Research and Discoveries
After getting her master's degree, Jeannette Brown started working as a research chemist. She joined CIBA Pharmaceutical Company, where she helped develop medicines for diseases like tuberculosis.
In 1969, she moved to Merck, another big pharmaceutical company. There, she helped write 15 scientific papers and contributed to several patents. Her main job was to create new medicinal compounds.
Developing Important Medicines
One of her key projects was developing a compound called cilastatin sodium. This compound is important because it helps another antibiotic, imipenem, work better. Imipenem is a powerful antibiotic that can be broken down by the body too quickly. Cilastatin stops this from happening.
When imipenem and cilastatin are combined, they create an antibiotic called Primaxin. This medicine is used to treat serious infections inside the body. It also helps fight diseases caused by flesh-eating bacteria and some types of pneumonia.
Jeannette believed that to be successful in the science industry, you needed to be good at talking about your ideas. She also thought it was important to work well in a team and have a strong science education.
Helping Others in Science
After 36 years of doing research, Jeannette Brown decided to focus on education. From 1993 to 2002, she was a visiting professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She helped encourage black students to join STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). She also worked on improving science education in the state.
Tutoring Teachers and Students
During this time, she tutored middle school and high school chemistry teachers. She even won a special grant to help her with this work. Jeannette has always cared about making science open to everyone. She served on a committee for the National Science Foundation that focused on equal opportunities for women and minorities. She also worked as the historian for the American Chemical Society's Women Chemist Committee.
Even today, Jeannette Brown continues to help young students. She mentors middle and high school students through the Freddie and Ada Brown Award. She started this award in 2010 to honor her parents.
Work as a Historian
Jeannette Brown is also a historian of science. She has written about many African American chemists. She wrote seven biographies of African American chemists for a special project, including the first African American women to earn advanced degrees in chemistry.
Books About Women in Chemistry
She is the author of two important books:
- Her 2011 book, African American Women Chemists, tells the stories of early African American women who worked in chemistry.
- Her second book, African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era, focuses on women who became chemists or chemical engineers after the Civil Rights Act. This law helped create more opportunities for them.
Words of Wisdom
Jeannette Brown has shared inspiring advice for young people, especially young women, who want to go into science.
She encourages them to keep going, even when things are tough. "You just got to keep going," she said. "You can't stop. If you stop, you're not going to get what you want."
She also advises students to aim for the highest degree possible in science. "Go straight for a Ph.D. Do not stop at a master's degree," she said. "If you're a Ph.D., then you're the boss."
Jeannette also believes that "working hard and learning new things keeps you young."
Books
- African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era (2018)
- African-American Women Chemists (2011)
Awards and Honors
- 1991, Elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame
- 2004, Société de Chimie Industrielle Fellow of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (American Section)
- 2005, Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, University of Minnesota
- 2005, National Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences recipient, American Chemical Society
- 2007, Association for Women in Science fellow
- 2009, Glenn E. & Barbara Hodson Ullyot Scholar of the Chemical Heritage Foundation
- 2009, American Chemical Society fellow in the Division of Professional Relations
- 2020, Henry Hill Award, American Chemical Society
