The world of science is filled with successful white men who made important scientific contributions. But there are some women of color who did just the same, such as Carolyn Brooks. Carolyn Brooks is an American microbiologist who is well-known for her research in agricultural productivity, nutrition and immunology. Brooks was born on July 9, 1946. She went to high school at the west side of this town using public transportation during an era when racial segregation was at play. Brooks would always take a seat behind the driver, instead of at the back of the bus as dictated by the segregation laws at the time. She was unaware of these laws, and when the first Civil Rights demonstrations began in Richmond, she realized that she had been an activist without even knowing it. Brooks attended Tuskegee Institute (University) in Alabama to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in microbiology. She went on to Ohio State University to earn a PhD. Her doctoral research was about how T cells destroy the malaria parasite Plasmodium. Additionally, she went on to Kentucky State University to study the nutritional needs of the elderly. During her study, she discovered a correlation between trace amounts of minerals in patients’ hair and their diets, which was an important discovery in understanding how a poor diet affects the body and causes medical problems. In 1981, Brooks became a mentor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and after 13 years, she became the dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences and the research director of the 1890 Lands-Grant Programs. Brooks’ research at UMES was about agricultural productivity. She researched the increase in plant resistance against predators through methods such as the establishment of microbial insecticides and the utilization of agricultural practices such as the use of poultry litter, calf weaning, composting and mutualistic relationships with microbes. Brooks traveled to Togo and Senegal in West Africa between the years 1984 and 1985 to research methods that increase the productivity of crops such as the African groundnut. This was an important contribution, as food productivity is a significant challenge in Africa. The life of Carolyn Brooks and her accomplishments serve as an amazing source of inspiration for women and for people of color in the world of science, particularly in biology.
By Fabbiha Bushra
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 