Immigrants make America great

Yesterday was International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is always a good excuse to celebrate one of the most amazing women in science: Wu Chien Shiung.

Dr. Wu was born in a small town in China, but immigrated to the United States to do a Ph.D. in physics and then stayed to become a professor and researcher. Despite the racism and sexism she faced in America, she became one of the most renowned and revered scientists of her day.

Top physicists like Richard Feynman and Enrico Fermi sought her out to perform experiments that backed up their theories and therefore helped them win the Nobel Prize. Sadly, like so many notable women, she did not win one herself.

In addition, during World War II, she was part of the Los Alamos group that helped to win the war. Most media, like the film Oppenheimer, do not generally include her and her efforts.

In her later years, she conducted research to help people who suffered from sickle cell anemia, as well as funded initiatives to train girls in the fields of science.

Her contributions were honored posthumously by a commemorative postage stamp!

Immigrants such as Wu enriched, and, yes, even save, the United States. This country would be so much worse off if not for those like her.

To learn more about Professor Wu, read Queen of Physics and check out the other resources on my website.

(Unfortunately, when nonfiction books are talked about, those on immigrants, and their experiences and contributions, are still largely ignored, as in this example below.)