Black excellence has always encapsulated more than entertainment. In fact, Black excellence can not be limited to just one sector because the brilliance of Black people, even against insurmountable odds, can never be discounted.

One of the fields where Black excellence is evident is STEM, an interdisciplinary approach related to the technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM employment is projected to grow 10.8% by 2032. In this growing field, Black Americans have made enormous contributions.

In honor of Black History Month at BET.com, here are 7 Scientists and Engineers You Should Know.

Katherine Johnson: A NASA mathematician and activist for racial equality, Kathrine Johnson is a trailblazer in STEM. Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1918, she skipped several grades in school and by the time she was 13, she was enrolled in classes at West Virginia State College. At 18, she matriculated to the college and was mentored by math professor Dr. W. W. Schieffelin Claytor, the third African American to earn a PhD in mathematics. She would graduate with the highest honors in 1937. In 1952, she was hired at the all-black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Langley (eventually NASA) laboratory where she analyzed data from flight tests. Later on, her work at NASA helped the United States launch successful space programs. Her calculations were critical to the success of many US space missions, including the first human flight to the moon. Johnson retired in 1986 from NASA. Her story was featured in the film Hidden Figures where she was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson.

Mark Dean is an inventor and computer engineer. He is best known for his work on the development of the IBM personal computer (PC). He holds three of the original nine patents for the PC. Also, he is credited with developing the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, which eventually became the standard for connecting peripherals to PCs. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, received his master's in electrical engineering from Florida Atlantic University and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. After retiring from IBM in 2013, he became a professor at the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Now an emeritus professor, Dean holds more than 40 patents.

Dr. Mae C. Jemison is an engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to travel to space in 1992. She served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. She graduated from Stanford University with degrees in chemical engineering and African and African-American studies. Jemison also earned her medical degree from Cornell University. Jemison served as a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 until 1985 and worked as a general practitioner. 

Dr. Shirley Jackson: Atheoretical physicist and the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. from MIT, Dr. Shirley Jackson made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of telecommunications and materials science. Her work began as a research associate in theoretical physics at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory she studied “medium to large subatomic particles, specifically hadrons, a subatomic particle with a strong nuclear force.” Jackson was also a professor at Rutgers and worked for AT&T Bell Laboratories. In 1995, Jackson was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and helped to establish the International Nuclear Regulators Association. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and became the eighteenth president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Aisha Bowe: A Bahamian-American aerospace engineer, Aisha Bowe is also the founder of STEMBoard, a technology company--and the founder of LINGO, an educational tech company. A former NASA rocket scientist, Bowe’s mission is to make STEM accessible, especially for young Black people.  She received her undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering in 2008, and master's degree in space systems engineering in 2009, from the University of Michigan. Bowe is the recipient of the NASA Equal Employment Opportunity Medal, the US Women's Chamber of Commerce Emerging Star Award, and Virginia Business Magazine’s Black Business Leaders Award.

Dr. Lonnie Johnson: 90s kids owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Lonnie Johnson for creating the Super Soaker water gun. In 2015, the water gun was added to the National Toy Hall of Fame. A renowned engineer and inventor,  he developed a thermoelectric device that converted solar energy into sustainable power. He also developed the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter (JTEC), “an engine that converts heat from solar energy into electricity more effectively than current technology.” Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Tuskegee University. Currently, he holds over 100 patents and continues to innovate in various fields, including energy and aerospace.

Lakecia N. Gunter is the Chief Technology Officer for the Global Partner Solutions Team at Microsoft Corporation. Previously, she was Vice President of the Programmable Solutions Group and General Manager of Ecosystem Development and Operations at Intel Corporation.  Business Insider named her one of the “26 Most Powerful Female Engineers” She also received the Society of Women Engineers’ Prism Award for “demonstrating outstanding technology and community leadership.” She earned her  Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.