Who Am I?
Born in West Virginia, USA, Katherine had a remarkable mind and brilliance with numbers. Her curiosity and academic abilities meant that she jumped several grades in school, and by age 13, she was already in high school. She enrolled in college at 18, where she graduated with the highest honours and started teaching at a Black public school in Virginia, USA. Her achievements at school are to be much admired, especially as the school system at the time was segregated. The Black school had only two rooms to house seven grades, and in order to be closer to the nearest Black high school, her family had to move a long distance.
Later, having started a family, Katherine applied for a position in the all-Black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
What Am I Known For?
Katherine Johnson and others were originally in a segregated all-Black group of female mathematicians based in what later became known as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research centre at Langley, USA. The ‘West Computers’, as they were known, all excelled.
Together, these women made a significant contribution to the maths NASA needed to launch America’s first human spaceflight. The film Hidden Figures celebrates their amazing story. The film highlighted that, in addition to being amazing mathematicians, they also needed great strength of character to overcome prejudice and discrimination. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Katherine the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honour.
How About You?
Katherine said, “I loved going to work every single day”. What would you like to work at every single day?
Use your curiosity to explore the barriers that exist for young people to succeed today.
Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)
Explore the amazing story of Chinese polymath Wang Zhenyi. In her short life, she wrote maths books for the uneducated peasants. She also made scientific discoveries in astronomy, wrote poetry, was a skilled equestrian and martial arts expert, and much more.
Or discover Florence Nightingale’s story and her work as a mathematician. Did you know she invented the pie chart and was a great statistician?
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
May 12th is the designated International Women in Mathematics Day. This is the day Maryam Mirzakhani was born in Iran. She remains the only woman to have been awarded the Fields Medal. Our Women Mathematicians Diverse Voices resource celebrates her and many other amazing female mathematicians.
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Photo: NASA