Alice Ball #BHMwithBWiS
- Oct 25, 2018
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 15, 2021
Name
Alice Augusta Ball
Life
July 1892 - December 1916
Nationality
African-American
Family
Ball was 1 of 4 children to James Presley and Laura Ball.
Education
Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry BSc (Hons), University of Washington
Degree in Pharmacy, University of Washington

Scientific career
After graduating Ball worked on the molecule for Piper methysticum (kava) and investigated its active principle. Dr Harry T Hollmann reached out to Ball to help him isolate the active chemical compounds in chaulmoogra to treat leprosy, which was very poorly understood at the time. By the age of 23, Ball had developed a technique that allowed the oil from the chaulmoogra tree seeds so they could be injected into the body. and absorbed into the body.
Ball died at the young age of 24, but her work has contributed greatly to the understanding of leprosy and providing at-home treatment for leprosy.
Achievements
A plaque was dedicated to Ball - it hangs on the chaulmoogra tree at her previous school
February 9th is Alice Ball Day celebrated every 4 years in Hawaii
Useful links
Alice Ball (Wikipedia)



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It's wonderful to read the article on Alice Ball, being the first Black female chemist who contributed to early leprosy treatment using chaulmoogra oil, was quite insightful. It is striking how her work was only fully recognised after her untimely death at 24, which the blog highlights clearly. While reading, I also felt it connects to how students often look for New Assignment Help Australia support when researching scientific pioneers, and sometimes search Assignment Help Online, especially when trying to understand historical scientific contributions in depth today’s context for guidance during study pressure. Nice post
Great!
The article beautifully highlights Alice Ball’s contribution and how her work was overlooked despite its impact, reflecting broader issues of recognition and equality in science . It’s inspiring to see such stories being shared today.
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