
Just 8% of the UK’s STEM workforce comes from BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) backgrounds.
Moreover, the intersectionality of race and gender affects these statistics further – with black women comprising just 0.3% of the STEM workforce.
Representation is incredibly important for school-aged children. An article by Kerrine Bryan for Teach Secondary reinforces this:
“I came to realise that if children don’t see people who look like them doing a certain job, then they’re less likely to go for it. […] Only when I had the benefit of maturity and hindsight did I see how important role models were at inspiring young people.”
By using Black History Month to begin spotlighting Black individuals in STEM, a more diverse range of students will consider a career in STEM throughout the academic year.
Influential Black figures in STEM

Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson provided the orbital entry and launch window calculations that enabled John Glenn’s orbit around Earth. She also provided the calculations that coordinated the historic Apollo moon landing in 1969.
Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was one of America’s first black mathematicians. Most notably, he built America’s first clock at age 24 in the 1750s. He was also able to accurately forecast lunar and solar eclipses.
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon was one of the youngest people to ever receive a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. She is a co-founder of the Stemettes, a social initiative whose mission is to inspire the next generation of girls in STEM.

Valerie L Thomas
Valerie L Thomas
Valerie L Thomas is an American data scientist, who was previously the associate chief of NASA’s Space Science Data Operations Office. She invented the illusion transmitter, which uses parabolic mirrors to reproduce images at remote sites – forming the foundation of 3D technology. The technology is still being used by NASA today.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (pictured at the beginning of this article) became the first African American woman to earn a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1973. Jackson is renowned for her work in developing the touch-tone telephone, caller ID, and call waiting.
Black History Month in schools
Here are some resources which may help frame any discussions surrounding Black History Month in schools.
DfE Blog: How black history is taught in our schools – A brief look at how Black History Month can interact with the curriculum, with links to additional resources.
BHM for Schools – A series of articles and teaching resources to support you.
OCR blog: Six black British pioneers of STEM – An article that builds upon the list of Black individuals in STEM above.