Rensselaer Libraries

These web sites provide biographical information on men and women of diverse ethnic backgrounds who have made significant contributions in the fields of science and technology. Click here to go to a list of library books that provide similar information and cover all academic disciplines. For more biographical information about individuals in the fields of science and technology, go to our Biographical Information Online guide.

General | African American | Hispanic American | Native American | Other Groups | Professional Societies

• Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, provides links to articles, reports, and organizations. Includes Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering; Women in Science and Engineering; Racial Minorities in Science and Engineering; Sexual Minorities in Science and Engineering.
• Gender & Science Digital Library : "aims to provide high-quality digital resources to help educators promote interest and engagement with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education by learners of all ages, particularly females, and to encourage learners to pursue science education and future careers in science." A project of the Gender, Diversities and Technology Institute.
• Academy of Achievement "brings you face to face with the extraordinary individuals who have shaped our times. It is an amazing collection, not of mere artifacts, but of people and ideas that fill you with inspiration, encouragement, and the will to achieve." Their Hall of Science and Exploration includes a biography and interview with world-renowned neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson, Rensselaer 2003 Commencement speaker.
• Inventors Assistance League Multicultural Resource Center is a project of the Inventors Assistance League to provide biographical information about under-represented inventors, as well as recognizing what these people invented. Includes Minority Contributions to Science and Industry; African-American Inventors & Inventions; Asian Inventors & Inventions; Female Inventors; and Disabled American Inventors

African American links

• Black Facts Online is an online searchable database of Black History facts. You can search for a specific name or for a profession (e.g. chemist, doctor). Just remember that searches for chemist and chemistry are both appropriate and will find different information.
• The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences is a well-organized, fairly comprehensive site, with biographies, statistics, reports, and bibliographies. There is a special index to the women scientists included in this collection.
• The California Academy of Sciences Library has created an extensive list of web links on African American Scientists.
• Mathematicians of the African Diaspora organizes current and historical information about African and African American mathematicians.
• African-American Mathematicians is a succinct compilation of resources produced by the "Ask Dr. Math" service in response to questions received.
• Computer Scientists of the African Diaspora organizes current and historical information about African and African American computer scientists.
• Physicists of the African Diaspora organizes current and historical information about African and African American physicists.
• The Inventors Assistance League has created a web site devoted to African American Inventors.
• Distinguished Women of Past and Present has a special page devoted to Black History Month that lists both books and web sites about famous African Americans. Inventors and doctors are highlighted.
• Black Scientists & Inventors is available from the Information Please web site.
• BUBL Information Service provides a selected list of research links with pointers to many web pages on African-Americans.

Hispanic American links

• The Biography Project of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science is "a resource for...educators who are interested in teaching their students about the accomplishments of Chicano/Latino and Native American Scientists....This project is supported with grants from the Sloan Foundation and the National Institutes of Health."
• The California Academy of Sciences Library has created an extensive list of web links on Hispanic American Scientists.
• Hispanic American Hall of Fame includes information on "Scientists, poets, educators, athletes, lawyers, doctors, business people, activists, politicians, writers, actors, those involved with NASA, you name it."
• NASA has created a web site honoring Hispanics Astronauts and other Latino NASA staff.

Native American links

• The Biography Project of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science is "a resource for...educators who are interested in teaching their students about the accomplishments of Chicano/Latino and Native American Scientists....This project is supported with grants from the Sloan Foundation and the National Institutes of Health."
• BUBL Information Service provides a selected list of research links with pointers to many web pages on Native Americans.
• The American Indian Science and Engineering Society provides opportunities for American Indians and Native Alaskans to pursue studies in science, engineering, business and other academic arenas.

Other Groups

• Muslim Scientists and Islamic Civilization: Scientific Contributions Before European Renaissance, 700 - 1500 C.E.

For more information on the role of minorities in the fields of science and technology:

• African American Science and Technology, a list of web sites.
• Association for Women in Science (AWIS) "is dedicated to achieving equity and full participation for women in science, mathematics, engineering and technology."
• MentorNet : "MentorNet is the award-winning nonprofit e-mentoring network that addresses the retention and success of those in engineering, science and mathematics, particularly but not exclusively women and other underrepresented groups."
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
• Center for the Advancement of Hispanics in Science and Engineering Education (CAHSEE)
• Minority Scientists Network of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Diversity/Careers in Engineering and Information Technology