Margaret S. Collins, the first Black American female entomologist to earn a Ph.D., made groundbreaking contributions to the field of entomology. She specialized in termites, studying their diversity and variations among the world’s 2,000-plus species. Collins also played a significant role in civil rights advocacy, participating in the 1956 Tallahassee bus boycott.
Margaret S. Collins: A Pioneering Figure in Entomology
Early Life and Education
Margaret S. Collins was the first Black American female entomologist to earn a Ph.D.
Career
Collins specialized in termites, studying their diversity and variations among the world’s 2,000-plus species.
She established herself as a skilled field biologist, exploring at least 10 countries outside the US and becoming an authority on termites of the Caribbean.
Collins also overcame frictions working in the largely white male world of midcentury biology, becoming America’s first Black female entomologist to earn a Ph.D.
Research
Margaret Collins was a biologist who studied termites and their ability to survive in different environments.
She received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and went on to teach at historically Black colleges and universities, including Florida A&M University.
Collins conducted extensive research on termite water relations, exploring how some species could survive in dry conditions while others required steaming rainforests.
Her work included collecting and testing termites in various ecosystems, including the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
Teaching and Mentoring
Collins taught at historically Black colleges and universities, including Florida A&M University. She mentored her children in fieldwork, with her sons assisting her in collecting specimens.
Legacy
Throughout her career, Collins published numerous papers on termite biology and was recognized for her contributions to the field.
Her legacy continues to inspire today.
Margaret Collins: A Pioneering Entomologist
Early Life and Career
Margaret S. Collins was the first Black American female entomologist to earn a Ph.D. She earned her degree from the University of Chicago.
Civil Rights Activism
Collins fought for civil rights and participated in the 1956 Tallahassee bus boycott, providing rides to individuals boycotting the city’s racially segregated public buses.
Research Focus
She specialized in termites, studying their diversity and variations among the world’s 2,000-plus species. Collins established herself as a skilled field biologist, exploring at least 10 countries outside the US and becoming an authority on termites of the Caribbean.
Achievements
Collins was America’s first Black female entomologist to earn a Ph.D. She conducted extensive research on termite water relations, publishing numerous papers on termite biology.
- sciencenews.org | This hidden figure of entomology fought for civil rights
- strategian.com | This hidden figure of entomology fought for civil rights CuratedSci
