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This week’s #SundayScientistShoutout is Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941)!
He was a very accomplished biologist who accomplished a lot! Gear up for a long thread (23!!) today!
(1/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
He was a very accomplished biologist who accomplished a lot! Gear up for a long thread (23!!) today!
(1/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
Just grew up in South Carolina and had a learning disability as a young boy struggling to read and write.
However, he overcame this struggle, and at the age of 13, decided he wanted to be a teacher.
(2/n)
#DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/jje_archive
However, he overcame this struggle, and at the age of 13, decided he wanted to be a teacher.
(2/n)
#DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/jje_archive
His mother sent him to the "Colored Normal Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina," the only school for Black people’s education in SC.
(3/n)
#DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_scsu
(3/n)
#DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_scsu
Just wanted more rigorous academics and moved north to enrolled at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, a college-prep high school was a 4-year program.
Just completed in only 3 years with the highest grades in his class.
(4/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_bi
Just completed in only 3 years with the highest grades in his class.
(4/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_bi
Just went on to attend Dartmouth College, where he was the only member of his class to graduate magna cum laude AND the only senior to receive special honors in zoology.
He was also honored as a Rufus Choate scholar for two years.
(5/n) #DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_dm
He was also honored as a Rufus Choate scholar for two years.
(5/n) #DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_dm
After graduating, Just faced a common issue Black college graduates of his time.
No matter how brilliant, it was almost impossible for Black people to become faculty members at white colleges/universities.
(6/n) #DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout http://bit.ly/eej_bio
No matter how brilliant, it was almost impossible for Black people to become faculty members at white colleges/universities.
(6/n) #DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout http://bit.ly/eej_bio
Just took what seemed to be the best choice available to him and accepted a teaching position at historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1907, where he worked until he passed in 1941.
(7/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_epe
(7/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_epe
He began teaching English but also started to teach Biology.
In 1910, he was appointed the new biology department head by HU’s president
In 1912, he became head of the new Zoology Department.
(8/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/jje_aahp
In 1910, he was appointed the new biology department head by HU’s president
In 1912, he became head of the new Zoology Department.
(8/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/jje_aahp
Just's research played a fundamental role in studying the cell surface in the development of organisms, introducing the theory that the cell membrane is equally essential to a cell’s life as its nucleus.
(9/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_hu
(9/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_hu
His work within marine biology, cytology, and parthenogenesis.
Advocating for studying whole cells under normal conditions rather than only breaking them apart in a lab setting.
His work laid the foundation for cancer research.
(10/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_en
Advocating for studying whole cells under normal conditions rather than only breaking them apart in a lab setting.
His work laid the foundation for cancer research.
(10/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_en
Just and 3 HU students established the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the first black fraternity on HU campus.
Many HU faculty/admins opposed the idea of establishing OPP, but, Just mediated the controversy and established the Alpha Chapter in 1911.
(11/n)
http://bit.ly/jje_opp
Many HU faculty/admins opposed the idea of establishing OPP, but, Just mediated the controversy and established the Alpha Chapter in 1911.
(11/n)
http://bit.ly/jje_opp
Just met Frank Lillie (Zoology Head Dept. the University of Chicago and director of Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, MA) and invited Just to spend the summer of 1909 as his research assistant.
(12/n)
#DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_bp
(12/n)
#DiversityinSTEM #SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_bp
Just’s experiments focused on marine invertebrates eggs, embryos, and reproduction.
Just enrolled in an advanced degree program at the University of Chicago and received his degree in zoology, with a thesis on the mechanics of fertilization.
(13/n)
http://bit.ly/eej_bh
Just enrolled in an advanced degree program at the University of Chicago and received his degree in zoology, with a thesis on the mechanics of fertilization.
(13/n)
http://bit.ly/eej_bh
Just became one of only Blacks at the time who had gained a doctoral degree from a major university.
By the time he received his doctorate, he had already published several research articles, both as single author and co-author.
(14/n)
#DiversityinSTEM http://bit.ly/eej_hhs
By the time he received his doctorate, he had already published several research articles, both as single author and co-author.
(14/n)
#DiversityinSTEM http://bit.ly/eej_hhs
Just became frustrated as he could not obtain a job at a major university, wanting to spend more time on research.
He was awarded NAACP's Spingarn Medal for his scientific achievements and his “foremost service to his race."
(15/n)
#DiversityinSTEM http://bit.ly/eej_naacp
He was awarded NAACP's Spingarn Medal for his scientific achievements and his “foremost service to his race."
(15/n)
#DiversityinSTEM http://bit.ly/eej_naacp
In 1929, Just traveled to Naples where he conducted experiments at the prestigious zoological station, "Anton Dohrn.”
In 1930, Just was the first American invited to Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, where several Nobel Prize winners researched.
(16/n) http://bit.ly/eej_jcm
In 1930, Just was the first American invited to Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, where several Nobel Prize winners researched.
(16/n) http://bit.ly/eej_jcm
From 1929-1938, Just made 10+ visits to Europe, where scientists treated him like a celebrity and encouraged him to extend his theory on the ectoplasm to other species.
Just enjoyed working in Europe because he did not face as much discrimination.
(17/n) http://bit.ly/eej_g
Just enjoyed working in Europe because he did not face as much discrimination.
(17/n) http://bit.ly/eej_g
In the height of WWII, Just was working at the Station Biologique in Roscoff when France was invaded. Just was briefly imprisoned in a prisoner-of-war camp.
He was rescued by the U.S. State Dept and returned in 1940.
(18/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_uc
He was rescued by the U.S. State Dept and returned in 1940.
(18/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_uc
Just authored 2 books
1. Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals
2.The Biology of the Cell Surface
He published 70+ papers in the areas of cytology, fertilization, and embryonic development.
(19/n) http://bit.ly/eej_sc
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
1. Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals
2.The Biology of the Cell Surface
He published 70+ papers in the areas of cytology, fertilization, and embryonic development.
(19/n) http://bit.ly/eej_sc
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
Just left a series of legacies, here are some highlights!
Many can be seen in the 1983 biography on Just “Black Apollo of Science” by Kenneth R. Manning, receiving the 1983 Pfizer Award.
(20/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_book
Many can be seen in the 1983 biography on Just “Black Apollo of Science” by Kenneth R. Manning, receiving the 1983 Pfizer Award.
(20/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_book
In 1994, the American Society for Cell Biology has given an award and hosted a lecture in Just's name.
In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante included Just on his list of the 100 Greatest African Americans.
(21/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_100
In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante included Just on his list of the 100 Greatest African Americans.
(21/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
#SundayScientistShoutout
http://bit.ly/eej_100
Starting in 2000, the Medical University of SC hosts a symposium in honor of Just encouraging BIPOC to pursue biomedical sciences careers
In 2018, a kid’s book about Just was written by Mélina Mangal and Luisa Uribe - “The Vast Wonder of the World”
http://bit.ly/eej_kb
(22/n)
In 2018, a kid’s book about Just was written by Mélina Mangal and Luisa Uribe - “The Vast Wonder of the World”
http://bit.ly/eej_kb
(22/n)
Ernest Just broke down racial barriers and conducted groundbreaking research in cell biology and continues to influence it today.
Another inspirational #SundayScientistShoutout!
(23/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_du
Another inspirational #SundayScientistShoutout!
(23/n)
#DiversityinSTEM
http://bit.ly/eej_du
