2. Alice Ball (1892 – 1916)
Alice Augusta Ball was an American chemist popularly known for developing the “Ball Method.” She was the first woman, as well as the first African-American, to graduate with a master’s in science degree from the College of Hawaii.
During her life’s work, she invented the treatment for Hansen’s disease – leprosy. Alice developed an injectable chaulmoogra oil extract which became the most effective treatment for leprosy in her time.
Though the young chemist passed away at the age of 24, her memory was brought to life when the Governor of Hawaii declared 29 February “Alice Ball Day” in honor of the young scientist’s achievements many decades later. A plaque in her memory was put up at the chaulmoogra tree at the University of Hawaii. She was also awarded the Regents Medal of Distinction in 2007 by the University of Hawaii.
