Published April 01, 2025
By : Staff Writer
Gladys Mae West is a mathematician recognized for her contributions to modeling the Earth's shape and for her work in developing satellite geodesy models, which were later integrated into the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Her contributions to GPS technology were primarily overlooked until a member of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, read a short biography she had submitted for an event. This led to her induction into the U.S. Air Force Hall of Fame.
The impact of quantum science is vast and exciting, influencing everything from lasers to LED monitors, the intricate workings of smartphones, and hospital MRI scanners.
The Global Positioning System (GPS), which assists us in navigating the world, relies on the principles of quantum mechanics, specifically ultra-precise atomic clocks. By leveraging quantum mechanics, scientists and engineers are creating revolutionary technologies.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has announced a new "Quantum for Good" track, set to launch at the AI for Good Global Summit in July 2025.
Recently, the ITU brought this discussion to the South by Southwest (SXSW) film and multimedia festival, where executives in strategy, operations, business development, and related fields explored the future of quantum technology and the importance of international cooperation.
According to the ITU, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize areas such as materials science, drug discovery, and energy optimization, providing solutions to challenges that exceed the capabilities of classical computers.
World Quantum Day is an annual celebration that highlights the wonders of quantum science and technology.
Its goal is to enhance the global public's understanding and appreciation of these fields.
This year is particularly noteworthy because UNESCO has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum.
Just as Pi Day on March 14 honors the digits of pi (3.14), we celebrate World Quantum Day on April 14 in tribute to Planck's constant, a fundamental concept in quantum physics.
During West's induction, she was praised for her work on satellite geodesy and her contributions to the accuracy of GPS and the measurement of satellite data.
As Gladys West began her career as a mathematician at Dahlgren in 1956, she likely had no idea that her work would have a lasting impact on the world for decades.
West was hired to work at the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia (now known as the Naval Surface Warfare Center), and she spent 42 years there, retiring in 1998.
In her role as a programmer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, West worked on large-scale computer systems and served as a project manager for data-processing systems that analyzed satellite data.
Concurrently, she earned a second master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.
In the early 1960s, West participated in an astronomical study that demonstrated the regularity of Pluto's motion relative to Neptune.
She then began analyzing satellite data and compiling altimeter models of the Earth's shape. West became the project manager for the Seasat radar altimetry project, the first satellite capable of remotely sensing oceans.
From the mid-1970s to the 1980s, West programmed an IBM computer to perform precise calculations that modeled the Earth's shape—an ellipsoid with irregularities known as the geoid.
Generating an extremely accurate model required her to use complex algorithms that accounted for variations in gravitational, tidal, and other forces that distort the Earth's shape.
The data she created ultimately became the foundation for the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The race for quantum tech is accelerating, and 2025 marks a critical moment as #IYQ2025.
— Int’l Telecommunication Union (@ITU) March 31, 2025
The question is no longer how quantum will evolve, but who will benefit, and who might be left behind.
Here's how @ITU is helping shape the future of #QuantumForGood https://t.co/LUoeyQn96Z
🎉🗓️Happy World Quantum Day ❗️ pic.twitter.com/CcwCzU5HpZ
— World Quantum Day (@WorldQuantumDay) April 14, 2024
Meet Quinnie, the official mascot of the International Year of Science and Technology!
— International Year of Quantum 2025 (@QuantumYear2025) February 11, 2025
Bringing curiosity, discovery, and a love for science to life, Quinnie is here to spark imagination and inspire the next generation of innovators.
Join us in celebrating this special year and… pic.twitter.com/EEox7EA3Ng
