Clarice Phelps
Clarice Phelps | |
---|---|
nuclear reactors | |
Institutions | Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
Military career | |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Unit | USS Ronald Reagan |
Clarice Evone Phelps (
Phelps was formerly in the US Navy Nuclear Power Program. At ORNL, Phelps manages programs in the Department of Energy's Isotope & Fuel Cycle Technology Division
Early life and education
Clarice Phelps was raised in the American state of Tennessee.[8] Her interest in chemistry began during her childhood when she was given a microscope and encyclopedia-based science kit by her mother. Her interest was further nurtured by her secondary school science teachers.[9] She is an alumna of the Tennessee Aquatic Project and Development Group, a nonprofit organization for at-risk youth.[10] Phelps completed a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Tennessee State University in 2003.[9]
From 2016 to 2020, Phelps earned a M.S. in mechanical engineering through the nuclear and radiochemistry program at the University of Texas at Austin. As of 2021[update], Phelps is a PhD student in the nuclear engineering program at University of Tennessee.[11][12]
Career
Phelps struggled academically in college.[8]: 3:14 Unable to find employment after graduating, she joined the United States Navy.[13][8]: 11:52 Phelps enrolled in the Navy's Nuclear Power School, which she credits with teaching her "how to study".[8]: 3:22 Phelps studied nuclear power, reactor theory, and thermodynamics,[9] and graduated in the top 10% of her class of 300–400 students.[8]: 3:49 In 2019, Phelps told an interviewer that she pursued nuclear chemistry in part because of the lack of black women in the field,[8]: 4:20 commenting: "They needed to see somebody like me sitting in the same spaces that they were at, and excelling in that same space."[8]: 4:38
Phelps served as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Navy Nuclear Power Program.[10][14][15] She spent four and a half years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan,[16] operating the nuclear reactor and steam generator chemistry controls, and maintaining the water in the reactor. She was deployed twice,[8]: 2:14 and was the only black woman in her division on the ship.[8]: 4:25
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
After serving in the US Navy, Phelps worked at chemical instrument company
Phelps was involved in the discovery of the second-heaviest known element,
When Oak Ridge National Laboratory held a gala to honor and celebrate the team that discovered tennessine, Phelps's name was left off the list, and when she showed up, she cried as she realized that she did not have a seat at the table with the other scientists. In addition, a plaque to commemorate the discovery was created to be hung up in perpetuity at the laboratory, and once again, it omitted her name. Phelps was told that her name had been cut off by mistake due to a line break in a spreadsheet. While the laboratory later claimed that the "error [was] quickly corrected", it was only after Phelps fought for several months to have her name included that the laboratory acquiesced.[20]
Phelps has contributed to additional research efforts,
Phelps is a member of the American Chemical Society.[9]
Science outreach; awards and recognition
Phelps is involved in several outreach projects to increase youth participation in the fields of
Phelps was featured on the Oak Ridge Associated Universities STEM stories program, partnering with nearby schools in Tennessee.[22] Phelps received the 2017 YWCA Knoxville Tribute to Women Award in the category Technology, Research, and Innovation. This award recognizes "local women who lead their fields in technology and excel in community service".[23][24]
In 2019, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) featured Phelps in the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists in recognition of "her outstanding commitment to research and public engagement, as well as being an important advocate for diversity".
At the December 6, 2019
Wikipedia article
In September 2018, British physicist
References
- ^ a b "New staff members". Oak Ridge National Laboratory Reporter. June 2009. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "Clarice Phelps". IUPAC 100.
- ^ a b c d "Periodic Table of Younger Chemists". IUPAC. 2019.
She is the first African-American women [sic] to be involved with the discovery of an element, tennessine (Element 117).
- ^ a b c d "Two ORNL researchers featured on 'Periodic Table of Younger Chemists'". The Oak Ridger. July 29, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ .
- ^ a b Bower, Abby (July 23, 2019). "Two ORNL researchers featured on 'Periodic Table of Younger Chemists' | ORNL". Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
- ^ "DOE Celebrates Black History Month: Distinguished Scientists Past and Present". United States Department of Energy. February 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Qualls, Marquita M. (December 11, 2019). "SC97: Clarice Phelps, Nuclear Researcher and STEM Advocate". STEMulating Conversations with Dr. Q (Podcast). Apple Podcasts. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simoneau, Sean (December 17, 2018). "Clarice Phelps: Dedicated service to science and community". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019.
- ^ a b "Tennessee Aquatic Project and Development Group" (PDF). Tennessee Aquatic Project. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ Phelps, Clarice (February 2021). "CV" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 17, 2021.
- ^ a b Gabrielle, Vincent (January 18, 2021). "40 Under 40: Clarice Phelps played key role in discovering a new element on periodic table". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- TED Talks. Event occurs at 6:40.
...graduating from undergraduate school with a 2.98 GPA, did absolutely no internships and joined the Navy
- ^ a b c "YWCA Tribute to Women Finalists and Special Award Winners". Knoxville News Sentinel. July 30, 2017. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "Clarice Phelps". TED.com. December 6, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ a b "Board of Directors". YO-STEM. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "Clarice E Phelps". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ Zaringhalam, Maryam; Wade, Jess (April 12, 2019). "It matters who we champion in science". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
Phelps purified the berkelium-249 that was used in the discovery and identification of Tennessine (element 117), named after the location of the lab where she works.
- ^ REDC final approval. ORNL Creative Media. March 13, 2018. Event occurs at 2:55. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ Leevongcharoen, Charli (February 7, 2023). "How the First Black Woman to Help Discover an Element 'Claimed a Seat at the Periodic Table'". CNN. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- OSTI 1430620.
- ^ "Could there be 'Hidden Figures' at Vine Middle School". ORAU. October 9, 2017.
- ^ "Phelps Wins YWCA Tribute to Women". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "YWCA Tribune to Women | Technology, Research, Innovation". September 11, 2017 – via Vimeo.
- ^ "10 more younger chemists added on the IUPAC100 Periodic Table". IUPAC. June 3, 2019. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- ^ Hays, Gabrielle (August 7, 2019). "ORNL scientist recognized globally for research and commitment to diversity". WBIR-TV. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Separation and Purification of Berkelium-249 and Einsteinium-254". Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
- ^ "ORNL engineer the first African American woman involved in discovery of an element". Oak Ridge Today. July 23, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ Ellis, Jason K. "Phelps receives international honor for research, outreach". Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- TED Talks.
- TEDxNashvilleWomen.
- ^ "A deleted Wikipedia page speaks volumes about its biggest problem". Fast Company. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Jarvis, Claire (April 25, 2019). "Opinion: What a Deleted Profile Tells Us About Wikipedia's Diversity Problem". Undark Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ Zaringhalam, Maryam; Wade, Jess (April 12, 2019). "It matters who we champion in science". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Krämer, Katrina (July 3, 2019). "Female scientists' pages keep disappearing from Wikipedia – what's going on?". Chemistry World. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ^ Southworth, Phoebe (December 7, 2019). "Physicist accuses Wikipedia editors of sexism after female scientists she wrote profiles for tagged 'not notable enough'". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^
- Harper, Timothy (October 16, 2022). "This 33-year-old made more than 1,000 Wikipedia bios for unknown female scientists". NBCNews.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- "Wikipedia:Deletion review/Log/2020 January 31". Wikipedia. February 8, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
External links
- Jansen, Kerri (April 24, 2019). "Scientists Share What It Takes to Make a Superheavy Element". Chemical & Engineering News (Podcast). Event occurs at 4:34. Retrieved April 29, 2019. – appearance by Phelps in a podcast for the International Year of the Periodic Table
- Scott, Aaron (March 1, 2023). "This Navy vet helped discover a new, super-heavy element" (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- Multimedia
- Phelps, Clarice (December 2019). "How I Claimed a Seat at the Periodic Table". TEDxNashvilleWomen.
- "What it takes to make a superheavy element: Inspired by a recent periodic table–themed pub trivia event, Stereo Chemistry explores the stories behind isolating some of the heaviest elements known". Chemical & Engineering News (video/transcript).
- "Clarice Phelps: Dedicated service to science and community". Oak Ridge National Laboratory (video).