21 Gladys West

Gladys Mae West

Time period:

October 27, 1930 – present

Subject:

Mathematics and Geodesy

Biography:

Dr. Gladys West was born in Sutherland, VA. She knew that she didn’t want to work in the fields as her parents did, so she studied hard to become the Valedictorian of her high school class, which earned her a scholarship to Virginia State College. She graduated with a BS in Mathematics and later earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Virginia State. She also holds a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a PhD in Public Administration from Virginia Tech. At 90 years old, Gladys still exercises regularly at the YMCA, is a faithful worker at the Dahlgren Protestant Chapel, is an active member of the Gideons International and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and she regularly mentors the youth with her husband, who is also a mathematician.

Summary of their contributions:

Gladys Mae West made crucial contributions to science, particularly in the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS). As a mathematician at the Naval Proving Ground in 1956, she analyzed satellite data, programmed large-scale computer systems, and managed projects like Seasat for remote sensing of Earth’s oceans. From the mid-1970s to the 1980s, West refined calculations for an accurate geodetic Earth model, optimizing it for GPS orbit. Her work significantly enhanced the precision of GPS technology. West, celebrated during Black History Month, was inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2018.

Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:

The contributions of Gladys Mae West and the GPS technology she helped develop could fit into various parts of the British Columbia (B.C.) curriculum, depending on the educational level and subject focus. The following are some potential areas her work may be relevant in the B.C. Curriculum:

• Science 9 or 10: Topics related to physics, earth science, or technology could be incorporated into the science curriculum. Students can explore concepts related to satellite technology, orbits, and the principles behind GPS.
• Math 11 or 12: Concepts related to applied mathematics, geometry, and trigonometry could be explored in the context of GPS technology. This could align with advanced mathematics courses.

References:

National Center for Women & Information Technology. (n.d.). Gladys West. National Center for Women & Information Technology. https://ncwit.org/profile/gladys-west/

Simplemost. (2023, Mar 13). Gladys West Is the Black Woman Who Developed GPS Technology. Scripps News. https://scrippsnews.com/stories/gladys-west-is-the-black-woman-who-developed-gps-technology/