National Society of Black Physicists

The National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), established in the United States in 1977,^[1] is a non-profit professional organization with the goal to promote the professional well-being of African Diaspora physicists and physics students within the international scientific community and the world community at large.

History

A group of involved physicists met at Fisk University in 1972 to honor three well known African-American physicists: Dr. Donald Edwards, Dr. John McNeile Hunter, and Dr. Halson V. Eagleson.^[2] On April 28, 1977, the Society was established at Morgan State University,^[3] with its founding co-chairs being Walter E. Massey and James Davenport.^[1] As of 2023, the NSBP relocated its headquarters from Arlington, Virginia to the Optica headquarters in Washington, DC.^[4]

Activities

The organization holds its annual conference in February. More recently, it has jointly held these conferences with the National Society of Hispanic Physicists. Attendance at these conferences is upwards of 500 persons, drawing people from all over the world, from Kenya to California. This conference has a cutting-edge scientific program as well as a student professional development program that includes mentor-protégé match-making and a recruiting fair.

Throughout its history NSBP has had an active interest in physics related activities outside of the United States. Twenty years ago under the leadership of the late Nobel Laureate, Abdus Salam, and the late Charles Brown, several NSBP members organized the Edward Bouchet Abdus Salam Institute (EBASI). EBASI (1) provides mechanisms for synergistic scientific and technical collaborations between African and American physical scientists, engineers, and technologists, (2) enhances the impact of science and technology on the sustainable development of the countries on the African continent, and (3) increases the technical manpower pool working in Africa today by facilitating the training of Ph.D. students from African universities. More recently, through a program funded by the Kellogg Foundation NSBP will assist South Africa in its efforts to increase the number of Black astronomers and astrophysicists and to build capacity in the field.

The organization offers scholarships, some in conjunction with Black Enterprise magazine, and conducts outreach programs aimed at students from kindergarten through high school.^[1]

Notable members

Neil DeGrasse Tyson^[5] and Ronald L. Mallett^[6] are affiliated with the organization. Shirley Ann Jackson served as its president.^[7] As of 2022, the President is Hakeem Oluseyi.^[8]

Past presidents

• Joseph Johnson III
• Shirley Ann Jackson (1980–1982)^[9]
• Ernest Coleman (1984–1986)^[10]
• Kennedy Reed (1990–1992)^[11]
• Sekazi Mtingwa (1992–1994)^[12]
• Sylvester James Gates (1997)^[13]
• James H. Stith
• Charles McGruder III
• Keith Jackson
• Quinton Williams
• K. Renee Horton (2016–2018)^[14]
• Stephon Alexander (2021)^[15]

References

1. African Americans in Science. ABC-CLIO. 23 October 2008. pp. 524–526. ISBN 978-1-85109-998-6.
2. National Society of Physicists. "NSBP History". nsbp.org. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
3. Davenport, James (1993). "The National Society of Black Physicists: Reflections on Its Beginning". In Mickens, Ronald (ed.). The African American Presence in Physics. Atlanta: Horton Lind Communication. pp. 6–12.
4. "NSBP Relocates to Optica HQ - National Society of Black Physicists". nsbp.org. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
5. "Neil deGrasse Tyson". American Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
6. "Biography, Bibliography and Professional Summary of Ronald L. Mallett, Professor, Department of Physics" (PDF). Phys.uconn.edu. April 2003. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
7. Clarence G. Williams (February 2003). Technology and the Dream: Reflections on the Black Experience at MIT, 1941-1999. MIT Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-262-73157-7.
8. "Officers". National Society of Black Physicists. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
9. "Shirley Jackson - Physicist of the African Diaspora". www.math.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
10. "Ernest Coleman - Physicist of the African Diaspora". www.math.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
11. "Kennedy Reed - Physicist of the African Diaspora". www.math.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
12. "Sekazi Mtingwa | MIT MLK Visiting Scholars & Professors Program". mlkscholars.mit.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
13. "Sylvester James Gates - Physicist of the African Diaspora". www.math.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
14. "NASA Physicist is First in Delgado's 'She Means Business' Speaker Series". www.dcc.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
15. "Howard University Professor to Receive First Joseph A. Johnson Award | American Institute of Physics". www.aip.org. Retrieved 2023-03-17.

External links

• National Society of Black Physicists