Geodesy (the measurement of the size and shape of the earth), fascinating since the time of Erathosenes, became a basic science for the space program. Irene Fischer was a leader in the construction of the World Geodetic System (has an Earth reference ellipsoid named in her honor) when it was still being done by surveyors, piecing together terrestrial, gravitational and astronomical data. By the 1970s, satellite geodesy and marine geodesy were just coming into their own. Using her career, Fischer revels in explaining how the science unfolded, and how misunderstandings occur across scientific fields, e.g., why the "standard ocean" and the geoid do not easily translate across the fields of oceanography and geodesy. Her account should appeal to those writing the history of women in science. Government science, too, is less well studied than academic science even though some fields, such as geodesy, were always government led. Fischer provides food for thought, as well, to those who claim to study the management of science in bureaucratic settings different from those of industry or academia. Peppered among these themes are Fischer's solutions to historical mysteries such as why Columbus' used a figure for the size of the earth's circumferance that was so much smaller than Erastothenes' or Posidonius' (with the added benefit of making it easier to persuade his patrons).
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
50 words is too few for the back cover.
Irene Fischer is an internationally renowned geodesist and member of the National Academy of Engineering.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From stay-at-home Mom to world renowned scientist.,
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This review is from: Geodesy? What's That?: My Personal Involvement in the Age-Old Quest for the Size and Shape of the Earth (Paperback)
Irene Fischer was looking for a job, since her kids were soon to be heading to college, and she followed her husband's suggestion to apply to the Army Map Service where he worked. She had a strong background in mathematics, and as it later was shown, a superb grasp of the scientific method and what was needed to carry out a successful research project. It did not hurt that she also had a strong work ethic and the tenacity of a pit bull.
For 25 years (1952-1972) Mrs. Fischer systematically advanced the state of geodetic knowledge, participated in various national and international scientific organizations, and tilted at the many windmills in the particular form of federal bureaucracy in the Department of Defense. Her rewards were not great wealth (though a GS-15 position is not so bad), but the esteem of her colleagues, numerous awards from the government, an honorary doctorate from the University of Karlsruhe (Germany), the status of Fellow in the American Geophysical Union, and finally, election to The National Academy of Engineering. What can you get from reading her story? For her fellow old timers, a bit of nostalgia. The younger generation of scientists can get a peek into the era that immediately preceded the development of supercomputers, artificial satellites, space probes, and other things that once were science fiction. And not just geodesists, but other earth scientists and even those in traditional fields such as astronomy and physics. The style is one version of "English-as-a-second language," which makes it very authentic; you can imagine that Mrs. Fischer is there, speaking to you. It is not hard to read, in fact it is very easy, but the idioms are not quite what you might expect. Those interested in government and the management of agencies will find out what really goes on, the good and the bad, untainted by the simple-minded views of the ideologues of the left or the right. And as for those not interested in either science or government, there is a compelling human interest story. So read and enjoy!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review of the book by Irene Fischer,
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This review is from: Geodesy? What's That?: My Personal Involvement in the Age-Old Quest for the Size and Shape of the Earth (Paperback)
The book gives a very interesting personal account of the early very important period in the history of satellite geodesy. It describes the work done within the framework of the famous Army Map Service, where Irene Fisher worked as a somewhat independent scientist.
She made a great contribution to geodesy which seems to have created jealousy within here agency. Several times her (unclassified) publications were stopped or delayed. Shame on the (male) colleagues who created obstacles for this excellent scientist. She found help in the international scientific works, especially within the International Association of Geodesy were she were elected to important functions. Her trips to internation meetings were several times cancelled in the last moment by the agency, and she had a couple of times fortunately the means to pay for over-seas travel by herself. Again it is a shame that United States did not recognize the importance of the international work in which she was a leading figure. The book is at a few places too detailled (boring), but will be very interesting to read for all geodesists. C.C.Tscherning, Secretary General International Association of Geodesy
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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marine geodesy, datum section, section chief, geoid chart, astrogeodetic stations, geodetic world datum, geoidal profile, geoid studies, parallax paper, astrogeodetic deflections, flare triangulation, geoid profiles, gravimetric deflections, geodetic concepts, geoidal heights, geodesy department, new department chief, distant topography, datum project, geoid map, geodetic community, sea level problem, gravimetric geoid, clearance channels, fitting ellipsoid Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Figure of the Earth, South America, Army Map Service, North American, Commanding Officer, Mercury Datum, Technical Report, Publications Office, Geoid Branch, Working Group, Air Force, European Datum, Bulletin Géodésique, Mary Slutsky, Professor Norin, United States, South Africa, Ray Shirley, Phil Wyatt, Buenos Aires, Ohio State University, Defense Mapping Agency, Civil Service, George Mourad, International Ellipsoid Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
marine geodesy, datum section, section chief, geoid chart, astrogeodetic stations, geodetic world datum, geoidal profile, geoid studies, parallax paper, astrogeodetic deflections, flare triangulation, geoid profiles, gravimetric deflections, geodetic concepts, geoidal heights, geodesy department, new department chief, distant topography, datum project, geoid map, geodetic community, sea level problem, gravimetric geoid, clearance channels, fitting ellipsoid Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Figure of the Earth, South America, Army Map Service, North American, Commanding Officer, Mercury Datum, Technical Report, Publications Office, Geoid Branch, Working Group, Air Force, European Datum, Bulletin Géodésique, Mary Slutsky, Professor Norin, United States, South Africa, Ray Shirley, Phil Wyatt, Buenos Aires, Ohio State University, Defense Mapping Agency, Civil Service, George Mourad, International Ellipsoid Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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