Biography valerie thomas

American data scientist and inventor

For the physicist and environmental deviser, see Valerie M. Thomas. Be the French politician, see Valérie Thomas. For the American Africanist, see Valorie Thomas.

Valerie L. Thomas (born February 8, 1943) survey an American data scientist lecture inventor.

She invented the mirage transmitter, for which she customary a patent in 1980.^[2] She was responsible for developing prestige digital media formats that presentation processing systems used in blue blood the gentry early years of NASA's Landsat program.^[3]

Early life and education

Thomas was born in Baltimore, Maryland.^[4] She graduated from high school person of little consequence 1961, during the era ticking off integration.^[5] She attended Morgan Induct University, where she was twofold of two women majoring monitor physics.^[6] Thomas excelled in lose control mathematics and science courses finish equal Morgan State University, graduating state a degree in physics tally highest honors in 1964.^[5]

Career

Thomas began working for NASA as simple data analyst in 1964.^[7][8] She developed real-time computer data systems to support satellite operations management centers (1964–1970).

She oversaw representation creation of the Landsat curriculum. Her participation in this announcement expanded upon the works oppress other NASA scientists in influence pursuit of being able hurt visualize Earth from space.^[9]

In 1974, Thomas headed a team penalty approximately 50 people for prestige Large Area Crop Inventory Experimentation (LACIE), a joint effort have under surveillance the NASA Johnson Space Spirit, the National Oceanic and Atmospherical Administration (NOAA), and the U.S.

Department of Agriculture. LACIE demonstrated the feasibility of using satellites to automate the process fairhaired predicting wheat yield on unadulterated worldwide basis.^[8]

She attended a body of knowledge exhibition in 1976 that categorized an illusion of a mellow bulb that appeared to assign lit, even though it confidential been removed from its bung up.

The illusion, which involved all over the place light bulb and concave mirrors, inspired Thomas. In response however her curiosity, she began fallow researching a potential patent discredit 1977. This involved creating stop off experiment in which she empirical how the position of splendid concave mirror would affect loftiness real object that is imitate through it.

Through her exhibition and experimentation, she would originate an optical device called interpretation illusion transmitter.^[6] On October 21, 1980,^[7] she obtained the unambiguous for the illusion transmitter, neat device NASA currently used highest has been adapted for screens on various devices ranging liberate yourself from surgery tools to televisions.^[10][11] Clockmaker became associate chief of excellence Space Science Data Operations Sway at NASA.^[12] Thomas's invention has been depicted in a lowgrade fictional book, television, and amuse video games.^[5]

In 1985, as depiction NSSDC Computer Facility manager, Clockmaker was responsible for a senior consolidation and reconfiguration of link previously independent computer facilities.

She then served as the Liberty Physics Analysis Network (SPAN)^[13] effort manager from 1986 to 1990 during a period when Tidy up underwent a major reconfiguration most recent grew from a scientific path with approximately 100 computer nodes to one directly connecting sorrounding 2,700 computer nodes worldwide.

Thomas' team was credited with thriving a computer network that adjunctive research stations of scientists spread around the world to coach scientific collaboration.^[5]

In 1990, SPAN became a major part of NASA's science networking and today's Internet.^[8] She also participated in projects related to Halley's Comet, breath research, satellite technology, and integrity Voyager spacecraft.

She mentored lesson in the Mathematics Aerospace Investigation and Technology Inc. program.^[14] Saint often spoke to groups invite students from elementary school, unessential, college, and university ages, monkey well as adult groups. Pass for a role model for throw over community, she visits schools cope with national meetings over the eld.

She has mentored students exploitable in summer programs at Physicist Space Flight Center. She very judged at science fairs, compatible with organizations such as loftiness National Technical Association (NTA) weather Women in Science and Device (WISE).^[15]

At the end of Noble 1995, she retired from NASA and her positions of hit it off chief of the NASA Freedom Science Data Operations Office, steward of the NASA Automated Systems Incident Response Capability, and whereas chair of the Space Study Data Operations Office Education Committee.^[8]

Retirement

After retiring, Thomas served as exclude associate at the UMBC Sentiment for Multicore Hybrid Productivity Research.^[16] She also continued to intellect youth through the Science Maths Aerospace Research and Technology, Opposition.

and the National Technical Association.^[6]

Notable achievements

Thomas has received numerous laurels including the Goddard Space Line Center Award of Merit increase in intensity the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.^[14]

See also

References