Ernst Weber (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Ernst Weber Austria-born American electrical engineer, was a pionier in microwave
technologies and played an important role in the history of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, where in 1945 he founded the Microwave Research Institute (later renamed the Weber Research Institute in his honor). Weber was also the first president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) and one of the founders of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering
(NAE).
company as electrical engineer, initially in Vienna. In the mean time he studied further and earned two doctorates, a Ph.D.
in 1926 from the University of Vienna
and a Sc.D. in 1927 from the Technical University of Vienna. Early 1929 he moved to Siemens-Schuckert headquarters in Berlin, Germany and started teaching at the Technical University of Berlin
.
Microwave
Microwaves, a subset of radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently, with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF , and various sources use different boundaries...
technologies and played an important role in the history of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, where in 1945 he founded the Microwave Research Institute (later renamed the Weber Research Institute in his honor). Weber was also the first president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
(IEEE) and one of the founders of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
(NAE).
Education and early years in Austria and Germany
Weber was born in Vienna, Austria. In 1924 he graduated with an engineering degree, and started working for the Siemens-SchuckertSiemens-Schuckert
Siemens-Schuckert was a German electrical engineering company headquartered in Berlin, Erlangen and Nuremberg that was incorporated into the Siemens AG in 1966....
company as electrical engineer, initially in Vienna. In the mean time he studied further and earned two doctorates, a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1926 from the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
and a Sc.D. in 1927 from the Technical University of Vienna. Early 1929 he moved to Siemens-Schuckert headquarters in Berlin, Germany and started teaching at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
.
Awards and honors
Ernst Weber received several awards and honors, including:- The U.S. President's Certificate of MeritPresident's Certificate of MeritThe President's Certificate of Merit was created June 6, 1946 by Executive Order 9734 signed by US President Harry Truman, "for award by the President or at his direction to any civilian who on or after December 7, 1941 , has performed a meritorious act or service which has aided the United States...
from President Harry S. TrumanHarry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
in 1948 - The AIEE Education Medal in 1960, “for excellence as a teacher in science and electrical engineering, for creative contributions in research and development, for broad professional and administrative leadership and in all for a considerate approach to human relations”
- Eta Kappa NuEta Kappa NuEta Kappa Nu is the electrical and computer engineering honor society of the IEEE, founded in October 1904 by Maurice L. Carr at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The organization currently has around 200 student chapters and about 3,000,000 members and is headquartered in Chicago,...
naming him an Eminent Member in 1962 - The IEEE Founders MedalIEEE Founders MedalThe IEEE Founders Medal is an award is presented for outstanding contributions in the leadership, planning, and administration of affairs of great value to the electrical and electronics engineering profession. It may be presented to an individual or team up to three in number...
in 1971, “for leadership in the advancement of the electrical and electronics engineering profession in the fields of education, engineering societies, industry and government” - The Microwave Career Award from the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques SocietyIEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques SocietyThe IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society is the largest technical profession society for the promotion of the theory and applications of RF, microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz technologies. The MTT-S has over 10,000 worldwide professional members in academia, industry and...
in 1977 - The U.S. National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of ScienceThe National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
from President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1987
- To honor him, IEEE renamed in 1996 the IEEE Engineering Leadership Recognition Award to IEEE Ernst Weber Engineering Leadership RecognitionIEEE Ernst Weber Engineering Leadership RecognitionThe IEEE Ernst Weber Engineering Leadership Recognition was established by the Board of Directors of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in 1985. This award is presented "for exceptional managerial leadership in the fields of interest to the IEEE"...
.