Barry University Blends Biology And Art To Spotlight Little-known Scientist

By Andrea Briones

Poster belonging to students (left to right): Ronny Orozco, Marie Barrientos, Alejandro Montejo, Steven Rego and Andria Conliffe. Photo courtesy of Nicole Beltran.

Many pioneering scientists have been overlooked, despite being contributors to major discoveries that have shaped our world today. Barry University is shining a spotlight on these individuals, starting with Charles Henry Turner. 

Turner was an African American scientist and zoologist, who pioneered early research in animal behavior. His career spanned from 1891 to 1923. 

In 1907, he earned his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Chicago, becoming the first African American to do so in that field. Turner was qualified to teach in universities, but he faced criticism and discrimination, forcing him to teach at a high school level. 

Despite the obstacles, he published more than 70 research papers and became an advocate for equal access to education and opportunities for African Americans. 

While teaching at Summer High School in St. Louis, Turner proved that honeybees could recognize patterns, distinguish colors and develop a sense of time. He also found that insects could respond to vibrations and sound cues. 

However, his contributions went unrecognized for decades. 

“We’ve gone way too long without getting individuals the recognition they deserve. When you contribute to the body of science and knowledge, you should be recognized," said Stephanie Bingham, a biology professor at Barry University, who coordinated the symposium. “We’re all benefiting from the contributions of a diverse array of individuals and it’s important that we have an opportunity for our students to see this level of achievement.” 

Bingham first learned about Turner in 2024 while attending a Sigma XI conference led by Charles Abramson, a professor at Oklahoma State University. 

The event inspired her to partner with Abramson to develop a symposium series highlighting overlooked scientists. As part of the ongoing collaboration, Bingham joined forces with Nicole Beltran, a graphic design professor at Barry, and Justin Lauro, a psychology professor at Barry. 

On March 19, they hosted the first-ever cross-disciplinary mini-symposium, featuring 25 student-produced posters inspired by Turner’s work and life.

Students attending the mini-symposium. Photo Credit: Stephanie Bingham

The project was funded by a $5,000 provost catalyst grant called A Grassroots Initiative To Increase Awareness Of Under-recognized Scientists From Marginalized Populations Who Have Made Critical Contributions. 

“It’s very important that people that do great things get recognized regardless of their race [and] gender,” said Beltran. “People today are building off Dr. Turner’s research, so why shouldn’t he get that recognition? It’s human kindness.” 

Students from multiple fields worked on producing posters that translate Turner’s legacy into creative, scientific and psychological perspectives. 

Biology 

Andria Conliffe is a junior majoring in marine biology with a minor in chemistry, who participated in the symposium. Her poster features bees figuring out which flowers provide nectar versus flowers that don’t. 

“He was a very well-esteemed scientist...[and] it’s always important to showcase when someone does something remarkable,” said Conliffe. 

Pictured: Dana Castro's poster.

Graphic Design 

Dana Castro, one of 15 graphic design students involved in the project, created a poster that features Turner’s research about how ants rely on memory and decision-making rather than instinct alone. 

“Charles Henry Turner didn’t have many chances as an African American because of all the discrimination he faced and his work did help shape a lot of the modern studies of animal behavior,” said Castro. “I just wanted to express that he still managed a way to focus on writing articles and developing ideas that other people at the time didn’t have.”