Clarice Phelps is an African-American scientist working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Though Phelps is not just any scientist, she was the first African-American woman to be involved with the discovery of an element.
Raised in Tennessee, Clarice attended Tennessee State University completing a bachelor’s degree in science. Her love for chemistry began at a very young age and only continued to grow.
After struggling in college Clarice was troubled about finding a job after graduation, she decided the best career path was joining the United States Navy eventually to enroll in the Navy’s Nuclear Power School.
She graduated from the Nuclear Power School in the top 10% of her class moving on to serve as a non-commissioned officer. After serving four years operating the nuclear reactor and steam generator chemistry controls aboard the USS Ronald Regan Aircraft, Clarice joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
This job was soon to change her life.
Phelps became a member of Oak Ridge’s Nuclear Materials Processing Group specifically studying “super heavy” metals.
As a part of this group Clarice Phelps was involved in the discovery of the second heaviest element known to man, element 117, tennessine. After a long process of purifying 22 mg of berkelium and combining them with calcium, this team was able to create a new element.
Clarice Phelps, now, holds the title of First African-American woman to discover an element. Obviously thrilled with such honor Phelps was met with great disappointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Gala when her name was left off the recognition list.
Clarice was able to completely turn her life around, she proved that being less fortunate or earning poor grades doesn’t define you.
“I didn’t have the right grades, I didn’t have the right clothes, I just didn’t feel like I had anything right.” — Clarice Phelps
The officials of the laboratory claimed to have left her name out by “mistake” though Phelps claims to have fought for months to get her name on that plaque.
Phelps now works on outreach projects to increase youth participation in fields of science serving as Vice President of the board of Youth Outreach in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (Stem). She also received the 2017 Youth Women’s Christian Association’s (YWCA) Tribute to Women Award in Technology, Research, and Innovation.
On December 6, 2019, TEDxNashvilleWomen, Clarice Phelps presented the TedTalk “How I Claimed My Seat On The Periodic Table” sharing her story as the first African-American woman to discover an element, linked above.
