For this portfolio item, you will write a short biography of a scientist (living or dead) from a group that is historically underrepresented in the physical sciences. This basically means that your scientist can’t be a straight, white, able-bodied man.

After you’ve selected your scientist, do some research about their lives and their work, and write a paper on them. The paper needs to be at least two pages (double-spaced), and have at least two outside sources that you cite in the paper (not your notes or textbook, although if they’re helpful somehow, feel free to cite those as well). Be sure to cite your sources throughout the paper, and also include a references list at the end. I recommend using APA for your citation style (and there are a lot of online tutorials you can use to help, if you’re not sure how to do that), but if you love a different style of citation, you can use that one instead–just be sure to be consistent!

In your paper, you should be sure to highlight why they’re a scientist who deserves to be recognized. What were their accomplishments? What kind of struggles did they face? How did they contribute to the field? Basically, what makes them notable, and why did you choose them?