The Weather Expert Who Answered the $64,000 Question

image via New Scientist

June 19, 2025, 3:00 PM

• •June Bacon-Bercey was the first Black woman to earn a meteorology degree and the first Black female TV meteorologist.
• •She worked at the Atomic Energy Commission, and later became a TV journalist, advocating for women and people of color in STEM.
• •Bacon-Bercey won $64,000 on a game show, which she used to establish a scholarship for women studying atmospheric science.

June Bacon-Bercey, a pioneering figure in meteorology, was the first Black woman to earn a degree in the field and the first Black female TV meteorologist. Throughout her career, she broke barriers in a predominantly male field and advocated for the inclusion of women and people of color in STEM. She later won $64,000 on a game show, which she used to establish a scholarship for women in atmospheric science. Bacon-Bercey's legacy continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of scientists.

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