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VOL. 73, No. 9
February 29-March 6, 2024
www.tsdmemphis.com
IN HER ELEMENT: Tennessee State alum makes history as first Black woman to help discover element for periodic table
TSU News Service Tennessee State University graduate Clarice Phelps’s interest in chemistry began with mixing concoctions in the kitchen of her Nashville home at an early age. However, it wasn’t until her 10th-grade year at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School that she became captivated by science and developed her passion for chemistry. That passion laid the groundwork for her extraordinary journey of becoming the first Black woman to contribute to the discovery of an element on the periodic table. Beginning as a technician, she worked on purifying berkelium (BK), which was used to confirm element 117, now known as Tennessine. Tennessine is a chemical element with the symbol “Ts” on the periodic table and is classified as a halogen. “Taking a seat at the periodic table didn’t happen overnight, it was actually a 20-year
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MSCS introduces Feagins as Superintendent TSD Newsroom
Clarice Phelps, an alumnus of Tennessee State University, made history as the first African American woman to help identify a new element on the periodic table — Atomic number 117 or ‘Tennessine.’ Phelps believes that her accomplishment “will change the small-yet-growing community of African American scientists and other scientists from marginalized communities. Being able to see something of themselves, to feel the common struggles that I share in this journey, to know the common invisibility of our impact on the scientific community, will be significant.” (Courtsey photo/Oak Ridge National Lab) journey” reflected the TSU grad. After earning her chemistry degree from TSU, Phelps later obtained a Master’s in Nuclear and Radiation Engineering from UT Austin. Her path led her to the Navy for four years, where she applied her chemistry skills to radioactive materials, a pivotal role for her in the scientific community. After serving in the Navy, Phelps joined the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in 2009. Two years later she conducted the purification work, a critical step in the discovery process, she said. Phelps and other lab members isolated the purified chemicals, shipped them to Germany and Russia, where they were used as target material to produce atomic number 117.
In 2016, she received the official confirmation that Tennessine was part of the periodic table. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that she learned she was the first Black woman involved in discovering an element, recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). “Disbelief, shock, and disbelief again,” is how Phelps said she responded to the distinction. “I had to Google it, and I still was in disbelief. “However, I thought about me as a little girl, desperately looking for someone like me in science who was an inspiration, and it changed my perspective,” she continued.
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In a significant development for local education, Dr. Marie Feagins steps into the role of Superintendent for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), as announced during Tuesday’s School Board meeting on February 27, 2024. The Board of Education introduced Dr. Feagins, highlighting her impressive track record in educational leadership, to usher in what many hope will be a transformative period for the district. Board Chair Dr. Althea Marie Greene expressed the Feagins Board’s enthusiasm about Dr. Feagins joining the MSCS family. “We are confident that her leadership will have a profound impact on our students, staff, and community,” Greene said. As Dr. Feagins prepares to officially take the helm, she is developing a comprehensive 100-Day Plan focused on strengthening ties with students, staff, families, and community partners. This initiative underscores her commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive educational environment from the outset of her tenure. The Board took a moment to recognize
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Commission votes down solar farm proposal By James Coleman
Special to The Tri-State Defender
Making a splash for Special Olympics... Recently, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis hosted the exhilarating Polar Bear Plunge and Chili Cookoff, a spirited event benefiting the Special Olympics. Despite the brisk 37-degree weather, over 100 enthusiastic participants, including first-timer Alex Hannah, braved the cold to take the plunge into the pool. Alex, who is special needs and a dedicated participant in the Special Olympics, joined this annual tradition alongside his father, Captured in the photo are (from left to right) Rio Hannah, D’Vonte Jones, and Alex Hannah, embodying the spirit of courage and community. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/Tri-State Defender)
Shelby County Commissioners pulled the plug on a proposed 1,500-acre solar farm in Millington after a request for an exception to a moratorium on the facilities failed to sway enough members in its third and final reading during the Monday, February 26 meeting. The 5-4 vote ends a frequently deferred six-month process. A final vote requires a seven-vote majority to pass. An appeal in Chancery Court is likely, where the matter will be settled. Earmarked for parcels adjacent to a conservation agriculture district and residential areas, the proposed 150-megawatt Graceland Solar facility drew significant shade from residents concerned with the potential impact of the large-scale project. German-owned RWE Renewables is Graceland Solar’s parent company. “We bought our land because of the character of the neighborhood…the farmland, the trees, the wild animals. If this project is approved, we will no longer see that. We will see miles and miles of metal - heavy metal. How does that not change the characteristics of the neighborhood,” said Amy Mills. The Millington landowner is also one of
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