Minority Scientist Showcase

90-year-old tells kids joys of science

Dr. L.I. Diuguid

Dr. Lincoln I. Diuguid is a scientist who turned 90 this month. But, he continues to work at his laboratory and manufacturing plant in St. Louis.

And, on a stormy Sunday last month, he was on hand at the Minority Scientists Showcase to tell young people about the joys of science. The Showcase at the St. Louis Science Center lets local minority kids explore career opportunities in various scientific fields.

Another display at this year's Showcase was by the Black Inventors Museum of St. Louis. It included panels that explained in pictures and print a variety of inventions by African-Americans, dating back into the 1800s.

The Showcase was a mix of the old and the new.

Kids with DNA samples from strawberries

For instance, the Genome Sequencing Center display let kids create the DNA profile for strawberries. The Genome center at Washington University is charting human DNA to help in efforts to find cures for genetic diseases.

The genome scientists even handed out printed recipes on how the kids created the DNA samples from fruits.

Dr. Diuguid is the president of Du-Good Chemical Labs & Mfrs. He produces a variety of personal care and automotive products based on his scientific formulas. His motto is "Quality through Research."

He has a doctorate in organic chemistry from Cornell University. And he worked in a post-doctoral program at Cornell, doing a variety of unique chemical reactions.

With a degree in education, he also has been a science teacher.

And, when he started his labor and manufacturing plant in St. Louis, he also enjoyed giving young African-Americans an opportunity to break into a scientific career.

One of his assistants at the Showcase booth was a former employee who went on to become a dentist. He told of another former liquor salesman he helped to get a science degree. He became the head of a government lab for testing medical equipment.

"I believe working with young students is one of my biggest contributions," he said. And it's an activity he continues to enjoy at age 90.

He has been a regular at the Minority Scientists Showcase for many years.

He said he began his science education at West Virginia State College. He obtained a bachelor's degree in chemistry "although I knew no big company would hire a black scientist at that time."

He got a degree in education at the same time. "I thought I could be a science teacher but I found out back then schools didn't hire black science teachers either," he said.

But, he continued his education, earning both a master's and doctor's degrees in chemistry from Cornell University. He taught science for four years.

The Black Inventors Museum is a part of the St. Louis Cultural Arts Center. The Center not only houses samples of the black inventors work but offers a traveling exhibit. For more information, visit www.blackinventors.org or call (314) 533-1333.

One of the most prolific scientist-inventors noted was George Washington Carver from Diamond Grove, Mo.

Most of inventions came from his research into peanuts and other vegetables. His interest was in providing other cash crop besides cotton for farmers in the South.

Many of the black inventors whose work was noted worked on products to improve everyday life.

For instance, J.L. Love patented a pencil sharpener in 1897. Powell Johnson invented safety glasses in 1880. And Garret Morgan invented an automatic traffic signal in 1923.

One of the more unique inventions was Jan Matzeliger's machine to allow mass production of shoes. It was invented in 1891.

Before that time, all shoes were shaped by hand and took long hours. But, Matzeliger's machine allowed a shoe to be made in one minute.

St. Louis Water Department testing for water purity

A City of St. Louis's water division machine showed how water is analyzed for purity.

A number of area colleges and universities had booths to explain what scientific educational opportunities. Some of the booths were staffed by young people. For instance, a team from Washington University's Association of Black Bio-Medical Students was on hand to talk with kids.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy told about opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. The University of Missouri's College of Optometry was on hand to explain about careers in eye care.