A collection celebrating Black scientists is now available on the Leddy Library website to recognize Black History Month.

The collection shares profiles of 28 scientists from a range of disciplines and contains a variety of supporting resources including original research, podcasts, children’s books, and scholarly monographs. The content explores past and present scientific findings from the 18th century to today with examples from across North America, including Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Librarians Heidi Jacobs and Roger Reka compiled the list and selected resources.

Says Jacobs: “We wanted to highlight the ground-breaking and barrier-breaking work of Black scientists, many of whom have been forgotten or overlooked. In compiling this collection of names, biographies, and related resources we wanted to showcase the rich history of Black scientists but also highlight those scientists who are looking toward the future through their work to make STEM fields more diverse and inclusive for future generations.”

Reka notes that the works represent a broad spectrum of endeavour.

“This collection ranges from highly specialized academic research to accessible podcasts, from non-fiction books for general readers, to engaging picture books for children and creative works like plays,” Reka says. “What unites this collection is the way these 28 resources highlight the rich tradition of Black scientists and show an exciting trajectory for future scientists of colour.”

View the collection on the library website.