Lost Women of Science
From Our Inbox: Forgotten Electrical Engineer’s Work Paved the Way for Radar Technology
Feb 1, 2024
Sallie Pero Mead, a forgotten electrical engineer, played a crucial role in developing radar technology during World War II. By developing and testing hollow metal tubes as waveguides, her team discovered a new way for hyperfrequency waves to propagate, paving the way for radar technology. The podcast uncovers Sally's educational background and discusses the applications of radar technology today. The importance of collaboration and ongoing research into forgotten female scientists is also highlighted.
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Quick takeaways
- Sally Pero-Mead made a groundbreaking discovery in the 1930s, finding a way to propagate waves in waveguides that decreased attenuation as frequency increased, revolutionizing radar technology.
- Sally Pero-Mead faced challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field but recognized her potential for more significant contributions, becoming an applied mathematician and electrical engineer at AT&T.
Deep dives
Sally Pero-Mead: Pioneering Radar Technology
Sally Pero-Mead, an electrical engineer and mathematician, played a significant role in the development of radar technology. She worked at AT&T and was instrumental in designing waveguides, which are hollow metal tubes that guide electromagnetic waves. Sally and her team made a groundbreaking discovery in the 1930s, finding a way to propagate waves in waveguides that decreased attenuation as frequency increased, making them ideal for high-frequency radar systems. This discovery revolutionized communication and had significant applications during World War II. Today, waveguides developed by Sally are still used in modern radar technology.
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