Assignment 2
Philosophers, Great Thinkers and Leaders
Hedy Lamarr
Name: Hedy Lamarr
Birth date and Death date (if applicable) 11/9/1914 - 01/19/2000
Field(s) of contribution: Communications
What is his/her major contribution(s)? Frequency Hopping transceivers ( I actually maintained and repaired this equipment while in the US Navy)
How does his/her contribution(s) impact STEM and Cyber? An updated version of her transceiver was used during the Cuban missile crisis and is fundamental in American spread-spectrum communications technology.
At least 2 additional fun facts
Starred in the 1933 film Ecstasy where she runs through the countryside and swims while nude.
- She was arrested in Florida for stealing $21.48 worth of laxatives and eye drops
Grace Hopper
Name: Grace Hopper
Birth date and Death date (if applicable) 12/9/1906 - 01/01/1992
Field(s) of contribution: Computer Language Technology
What is his/her major contribution(s)? Invented the first computer compiler contributing to the development of the COBOL computer language.
How does his/her contribution(s) impact STEM and Cyber? Computer languages require a compiler to translate written language to machine code.
At least 2 additional fun facts
Her associates discovered a moth inside one of her computers. The remains of the moth are in the Smithsonian Institution and is recognized as an early example of “debugging” a computer.
- She was described as having an “All Navy” exterior appearance with a “Pirate dying to be released” interior.
Leonhard Euler
Name: Leonhard Euler
Birth date and Death date (if applicable) 15 April 1707 – 18 September 1783
Field(s) of contribution: Science, Engineering and Math
What is his/her major contribution(s)? Static and Dynamic Beam Equations
How does his/her contribution(s) impact STEM and Cyber? Engineers continue to use Euler’s beam equations in computer simulators for stress analysis and modeling.
At least 2 additional fun facts
Euler was partially blind in his left eye due to cataracts rather than eye strain.
- Euler made some of his greatest achievements with a baby in his arms.
Katherine Johnson
Name: Katherine Johnson
Birth date and Death date (if applicable) August 26, 1918
Field(s) of contribution: America's aeronautics and space programs
What is his/her major contribution(s)? Computerized celestial navigation
How does his/her contribution(s) impact STEM and Cyber? Nasa continues to use the most significant of her 26 published articles.
At least 2 additional fun facts
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for pioneering STEM.
- She sang in her church choir for 50 years.