Shirley Ann Jackson — Questions and answers

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Who appointed Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson to lead the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission?

Choices

  1. The U.S. Congress
  2. President Bill Clinton ✓
  3. The NRC board
  4. A national election

Answer: President Bill Clinton

From page 1

What did Shirley Ann Jackson's parents teach her from a young age?

Choices

  1. How to build robots
  2. A deep curiosity for science and commitment to academic excellence ✓
  3. How to fly a plane
  4. To play musical instruments

Answer: A deep curiosity for science and commitment to academic excellence

From page 2

What challenge did Shirley Ann Jackson face at MIT, besides the tough schoolwork?

Choices

  1. She had to travel very far to get there.
  2. She was the only Black woman studying theoretical physics, leading to social isolation. ✓
  3. She didn't like her teachers.
  4. There were too many students in her classes.

Answer: She was the only Black woman studying theoretical physics, leading to social isolation.

From page 3

What was Shirley Ann Jackson the first African American woman to do at MIT?

Choices

  1. Become a professor
  2. Study hadrons
  3. Earn a Ph.D. in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics ✓
  4. Build a particle accelerator

Answer: Earn a Ph.D. in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics

From page 4

What did Dr. Jackson study at AT&T Bell Laboratories?

Choices

  1. The history of telephones
  2. The properties of condensed matter physics and semiconductors ✓
  3. How to invent new types of music
  4. Outer space and planets

Answer: The properties of condensed matter physics and semiconductors

From page 5

How did Dr. Jackson's work at Bell Labs help scientists?

Choices

  1. It helped them bake better cookies.
  2. It showed them how electrons move and interact, leading to faster electronic devices. ✓
  3. It taught them how to play new games.
  4. It explained how to grow plants faster.

Answer: It showed them how electrons move and interact, leading to faster electronic devices.

From page 6

Why was Dr. Jackson a good choice to lead the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)?

Choices

  1. She liked to build things with her hands.
  2. She had great scientific knowledge and leadership skills. ✓
  3. She was good at telling stories.
  4. She wanted to travel the world.

Answer: She had great scientific knowledge and leadership skills.

From page 7

What did Dr. Jackson want everyone to prioritize in nuclear operations as NRC Chair?

Choices

  1. Building bigger power plants
  2. Hazard prevention and a 'safety culture' ✓
  3. Making things look pretty
  4. Working only on weekends

Answer: Hazard prevention and a 'safety culture'

From page 8

What important 'first' did Dr. Jackson achieve when she became President of RPI?

Choices

  1. She was the first person to teach there.
  2. She was the first African American woman to lead a major technological research university. ✓
  3. She was the first to build a new building there.
  4. She was the first to invent a new computer at RPI.

Answer: She was the first African American woman to lead a major technological research university.

From page 9

What kind of people does Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson inspire?

Choices

  1. Only people who want to be artists.
  2. Only very old scientists.
  3. Aspiring scientists and leaders, especially women and minorities. ✓
  4. People who love to cook.

Answer: Aspiring scientists and leaders, especially women and minorities.

From page 10