Geodesy? What's That?: My Personal Involvement in the Age-Old Quest for the Size and Shape of the Earth

By Irene K. Fischer

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595363997
• ISBN13: 9780595363995
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

From stay-at-home Mom to world renowned scientist.

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!

Review of the book by Irene Fischer

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