Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Let's be clear: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein would be notable enough to make the Root 100 list for her impact on the scientific community. In her first book, the Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, Prescod-Weinstein unwinds the mysteries of the cosmos in a way that’s centered in Black queer feminist thought. The uber-talented assistant professor of physics and astronomy and women and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire has a unique talent for making STEM relevant to the social issues we battle with today. But she also doesn’t back down when it comes to changing the system from within. Last year, she and four other astronomers launched a petition to change the name of NASA’s James Webb telescope because of his role in firing LGBTQ+ employees for their sexual orientation. Ultimately they lost the petition, but that didn’t stop Prescod-Weinstein and her peers from continuing to speak out. “It is hypocritical of NASA to insist on giving Webb credit for the exciting things that happened under his leadership — activities that were actually conducted by other people — but refuse to accept his culpability for the problems,” wrote Prescod-Weinstein and the rest of the group. “NASA’s top leadership is engaging in historical cherry picking, which is deeply unscientific in our view.” For her commitment to talking about the universe through a Black Queer lens and her deft way of standing up for what she believes is right, Prescod-Weinstein more than earns her spot on The Root 100.