Black History Month: Emmett Chappelle
By: Nathan Wagner
Emmett Chappelle is an African American scientist and inventor. Emmett Chappelle was born on October 24, 1925, in Phoenix, Arizona. His family farmed cotton and cows on a small farm. As a child, he enjoyed exploring the desert environment of Arizona and learning about nature.
Chappelle was drafted into the U.S. Army right after graduating from Phoenix Union Colored High School in 1942 and was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program, where he was able to take some engineering courses. He went on to study electrical engineering and earn his associate degree from Phoenix College. He then earned a B.S. in biology from the University of California at Berkeley.
After graduating, Chappelle went on to teach at the Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1950 to 1953, where he also conducted his own research. His work was soon recognized by the scientific community. He accepted an offer to study at the University of Washington, where he received his master’s degree in biology in 1954. Chappelle continued his graduate studies at Stanford University, though he did not complete a Ph.D. degree.
In 1966, Chappelle began working at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. His work as a research chemist supported NASA’s manned space flight initiatives. Chappelle pioneered a way to develop the ingredients ubiquitous in all cellular material. Later, he developed techniques that are still widely used for the detection of bacteria in urine, blood, spinal fluids, drinking water and foods. Chappelle’s research helped NASA scientists develop a way to remove soil from Mars as part of the Viking program. Chappelle retired from NASA in 2001.
Chappelle is the recipient of 14 U.S. patents for inventions related to medicine, food science and biochemistry. He has produced more than 35 peer-reviewed scientific or technical publications and nearly 50 conference papers.
Chappelle earned an Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal from NASA for his work. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society of Photobiology, the American Society of Microbiology, and the American Society of Black Chemists. Throughout his career, he has mentored talented minority high school and college students in his laboratories. In 2007, Chappelle was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his work on bioluminescence. He is often included on lists of the most important scientists of the 20th century.
Please return next week, as we continue to celebrate Black History Month with an article on Emmett Chappelle. Please let us know how you enjoy this article by sending your comments to aamen@stmcary.org.