This award-winning psychologist used psychological science to improve pilot vision
Suggested instructions
This profile can be shared with students to enhance the visibility of psychologists of diverse backgrounds. As an additional activity, students can be asked to conduct research to learn more about the psychologist and their work. An alternative assignment could be to ask students to find other psychologists of diverse backgrounds whose work falls into this content pillar. Keywords highlight how psychological scientists study concepts within and across pillars.
Background
Dr. Chisum is an experimental psychologist who worked for the U.S. Navy as the manager of the Life Sciences Research Group, and then led the Environmental Physiology Research Team at the U.S. Naval Air Development Center. Dr. Chisum received numerous awards, including the Raymond F. Longacre Award from the Aerospace Medical Association, the George Washington Carver Scientific Achievement Award, the Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania, and the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Achievement in Government. She also served as a board member of the American Psychological Association.
Contributions
Dr. Chisum created protective eyewear for pilots who flew high-performance aircraft. Her work helped protect pilots’ eyes when they flew in extreme conditions, such as sharp turns, lightning, or nuclear explosions.
Notable publications
Chisum, G. T. (1978). Laser eye protection for flight personnel, Volume I. Warminster, PA: Naval Air Development Center.
Chisum, G. T., & Morway, P. E. (1975). Laboratory assessment of the AN/PVS-5-night vision goggle. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 46(11), 1390–1394.
Chisum G. T., & Morway P. E. (1976). Integration of aviator’s eye protection and visual aids. Proceedings of AGARD Visual Aids and Eye Protection for the Aviator. Defense Technical Information Center.
Keywords
Race, Biological, Sensation, Vision
The development of resources to broaden diversity and representation in the teaching of high school psychology resources is an APA Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools initiative supported by funding from the American Psychological Foundation David and Carol Myers Fund. This resource was developed by Eric Castro, Shawn C.T. Jones, PhD, Allyn Olsen, and Catherine Sanderson, PhD.