American Educator and Marine Biologist
Dr. Joan Murrell Owens (1933–2011) was an American educator and marine biologist.
FAST FACTS:
- She was a teacher for multiple years, but then decided to go back to school to focus on marine biology
- She worked on a project at the Smithsonian that focused on studying corals because she had sickle cell anemia, which prevented her from actually diving into the ocean
- She was the first black woman to be awarded a geology Ph.D.
- She helped describe a new genus of corals and classified a new species
- She made some large contributions to the field of marine biology and specifically to the world of corals
To learn more about Dr. Owens check out the links below: