Margaret S. Collins

Margaret James Strickland
Margaret S. Collins conducting an experiment.
Born
Margaret S. Collins

(1922-09-04)September 4, 1922
DiedApril 27, 1996(1996-04-27) (aged 73)
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUSA
Alma materWest Virginia State University; University of Chicago
Known fortermites; civil rights advocacy
Scientific career
FieldsZoologist, Entomologist
InstitutionsFlorida A&M University; Howard University; Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History
Thesis Difference in toleration of drying between species of termites (Reticulitermes)  (1950)
Doctoral advisorAlfred E. Emerson
Author abbrev. (zoology)Collins

Margaret James Strickland Collins (September 4, 1922[1] – April 27, 1996) was an African-American child prodigy, entomologist (zoologist) specializing in the study of termites, and a civil rights advocate. Collins was nicknamed the "Termite Lady" because of her extensive research on termites.[1] Together with David Nickle, Collins identified a new species of termite called Neotermes luykxi. When Collins earned her PhD., she became the first African American female entomologist and the third African American female zoologist.[2]

  1. ^ a b Lewis, Vernard R. (June 2016). "Child Prodigy, Pioneer Scientist, and Women and Civil Rights Advocate: Dr. Margaret James Strickland Collins (1922–1996)". Florida Entomologist. 99 (2): 334–336. doi:10.1653/024.099.0235.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Kennon, Caroline (15 December 2017). Hidden No More: African American Women in STEM Careers. Greenhaven Publishing LLC. ISBN 9781534562448. OCLC 1018944341.