Percy L. Julian Science Organization (Harvard University)

The Percy L. Julian Organization was established to cultivate and stimulate interest in the natural sciences, math and engineering among black students at Harvard University. The organization provided guidance and support for students exploring careers in the sciences; to this end, the organization sponsored lectures and job seminars, and offered a community service program, academic services, and social activities. The organization was originally founded in 1970, as Waganga, a black pre-medical society. In 1971, the society was reorganized to include all black science students, and was renamed the Black Science Students Organization. In 1972, the organization was renamed the Percy L. Julian Science Organization, in honor of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian.

Julian (1899-1975) was a scientist, inventor, business leader, humanist, and protagonist of human rights. He earned his A.B at DePauw University in 1920, taught at Fisk University from 1920 to 1922 as an instructor in chemistry, and earned his A.M. at Harvard in 1923 where he was an Austin fellow. Before leaving Harvard in 1926, he worked on the chemistry of conjugated unsaturated systems with Professor E. P. Kohler.