In support of the International Girls in ICT Day 

Compulsory Peace & ICTs Education From Kindergarten to K-12, and Beyond | Campaign (8th Session)

#CompulsoryPeaceICTsEdu

2026 Theme for Girls In ICT Day: “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future” 

Dedicated to: Pioneer of the GPS Dr. Gladys B. West

Session Theme: ICTs, AI, and Space Tech For Girls | #ICTsForGirls Day 2026

Delivered on April 25, 2026



The below presentation dedicated to: 
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson
Presented by Sinem Gül Tekin, Darüşşafaka High School, Türkiye.

Introductory Note: Theoretical physics paved the way for modern telecommunications

[LMGlobal.Org] In this final youth-led address of the session, Sinem Gül, a student from Turkiye, presents a compelling study of Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, the first African American woman to earn a PhD in physics from MIT. Her presentation, titled “Not Meant to Belong: Moving Through the System, Not Around It,” shifts the focus from mere academic achievement to the strategic navigation of power within scientific and governmental institutions.
Sinem explores how Dr. Jackson’s foundational research in theoretical physics paved the way for modern telecommunications—including touch-tone phones and fiber optics—before transitioning into high-level leadership as the Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. By analyzing Dr. Jackson’s “controlled and strategic resilience,” Sinem highlights a vital lesson for the next generation: that real impact comes not just from innovation, but from reaching a level of authority where one can influence the structures and decisions that shape our world.
We invite you to read below Sinem’s insightful tribute to a leader who proved that competence and discipline are the ultimate tools for institutional change.

NOT MEANT TO BELONG- MOVING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, NOT AROUND IT

Hi, I’m Sinem Gül, I’m gonna present such a formidable person today that will reshape your idea of achievement. I didn’t choose her just because she is successful. Fortunately, there are many successful scientists. I chose her due to the way she succeeded.

When I learned that she was the first Black woman to earn a PhD in physics from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it didn’t just sound impressive, it raised a question for me: What kind of mindset does someone need to survive and even dominate in an environment that was never designed for them to belong to? Her story is not only about intelligence. It’s about positioning, control, and persistence under pressure. And that’s what made me interested in Shirley Ann Jackson.

She was born in 1946 in the United States, during a period when access to education and scientific careers was heavily influenced by both race and gender.

She showed strong abilities in mathematics and science from an early age, but talent alone was not enough at that time. She entered MIT, one of the most competitive and demanding institutions in the world, and in 1973 she became the first Black woman to receive a PhD in physics from MIT.

But what makes her trajectory more complex is that she did not remain only in academia but also She moved through multiple systems such as scientific research industrial laboratories
government institutions and finally, academic leadership She later became president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which placed her in a position of long-term influence, not just contribution.

Yet, her path to dominance was far from smooth. Initially, in MIT, Jackson existed in a space where she was constantly visible — but not necessarily accepted. She was one of the very few Black students, and even fewer women in her field. This meant she had to deal with isolation, low expectations, and an environment that was not built to support her success.

What is important here is not just that she faced challenges,but how she responded to them.
She did not try to gain approval emotionally.

She focused on competence.Instead of asking to be included, she made herself impossible to ignore academically.This required a high level of discipline, mental stability, and the ability to separate personal feelings from long-term goals. In a way, her resilience was not loud or dramatic, it was controlled, strategic, and consistent. And that kind of resilience is often more effective than visible resistance.

Shirley Ann Jackson’s work focused on theoretical physics, especially in areas connected to particle interactions and electronic systems. At first glance, this may seem distant from everyday life. But in reality, her research contributed to the foundation of modern telecommunications. Her work supported developments behind technologies such as touch-tone telephones, caller ID systems, fiber optic communication, portable fax machines.

It is important to clarify that she did not directly invent these devices. Instead, she worked on the underlying scientific principles that made these technologies possible.

This places her influence at a deeper level, not at the surface of visible products, but at the core of how those products function. Today, systems like the internet, mobile communication, and data transfer still depend on the same fundamental ideas. So even if her name is not widely recognized in daily life, her impact is constantly present.

Jackson’s career did not stop at research. She moved into positions where she could influence decisions on a national scale. She became the chair of the US nuclear regulatory commission, where she was responsible for regulating nuclear safety and energy policies in the US This transition is significant. It shows a shift from producing knowledge to controlling how knowledge is applied. In addition, her presence in leadership roles had a symbolic and practical effect. She expanded the image of who can exist in positions of scientific authority; not in an emotional or symbolic way alone, but through actual power, decision-making, and long-term institutional influence.Her career created pathways not by changing the system completely, but by proving that it can be navigated and, to some extent, redirected.

The main lesson I take from Shirley Ann Jackson is not simply to work hard or believe in myself. Those ideas are too general to be useful. What I take instead is; understanding a system is more powerful than reacting to it. In science and technology, I don’t just want to participate. I want to reach a level where I can influence structures, decisions, and outcomes. Because real impact is not only about creating innovations; it is about deciding how those innovations are used, who benefits from them, and how far they spread. Shirley Ann Jackson’s life shows that influence is not always visible, but it is always there, shaping everything underneath; like a quiet force that redirects rivers without ever making a splash.
” I’d like to end my speech with her quotes that define change: Never let academics falter; you have to be successful to have authority to champion change.”

Thank you for listening.