While growing up in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine Johnson displayed an intense curiosity and an extraordinary brilliance with words and numbers alike. As a child prodigy, she entered high school at 10 years old and graduated summa cum laude from college when she was just eighteen with two Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and French. In the mid-1950s, she joined a pool of African-American women hired by NASA to work as human computers. Katherine calculated the trajectory of NASA's first human flight into space. Her flawless calculations helped ensured that the Apollo astronauts landed and returned safely from their voyage to the moon.
The Barbie Inspiring Women Katherine Johnson doll, which was designed in consultation with Johnson herself, celebrates the achievements of a pioneer who broke through barriers of race and gender. Like the trajectories she calculated, Katherine's contributions inspire young people to excel in math and science, and to reach for the stars. This doll from Barbie's Inspiring Women line includes a doll, a doll stand, a Certificate of Authenticity, and educational information about Johnson's role in history.
Recommended Age | 6 and up |
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Manufacturer | Mattel |
Dimensions | 2.5 L x 7 W x 12.75 H inches |
Series Name | Inspiring Women Barbies |