COG, Inc. - cogstem.org

It is with somberness that we share that the 'Mother of GPS' has passed away.

Dr. Gladys West, the brilliant mathematician whose groundbreaking work helped make modern GPS technology possible, has died at 95.

Born on a Virginia farm, West defied the odds through academic excellence, becoming valedictorian of her high school class and earning degrees in mathematics that led her to a historic career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

As one of the first Black women hired there, her meticulous calculations and programming transformed satellite data into accurate models of the Earth — work that became the foundation of GPS technology used globally today. Working at the Naval base, she was able to map the Earth's shape (the geoid), essential for satellites to pinpoint locations accurately.

Gladys West earned a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Public Administration and Policy Affairs from Virginia Tech in 2000 at the age of 70, after retiring from her 42-year career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center

Her legacy lives on every time we navigate a road, board a plane, or use a smartphone. A quiet pioneer whose impact changed the world.

Rest in power!

Excited to represent the decade plus of COG, Inc. - work as I'll be presenting the historical contributions of Black women in STEM and Medicine and how we use their stories to teach heritage, resilience, sense of belonging and the beauty and struggle of the uniqueness in the intersectionality of Black womanhood at ’s 8th Annual Teaching Black History Conference at Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences - University at Buffalo.
“The Magic from Roots to STEMM: 150 Years of Black STEMista History in America” is scheduled for Saturday, July 26th 3:45-4:45.
Support the important work of the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education at by registering: https://ed.buffalo.edu/bh-conf.

Victoria Eady Butler, a prominent African-American master distiller, serving as the master blender for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, a brand named after Nathan "Nearest" Green, who was the first African-American master distiller on record in the United States. She made history as the first known African-American female whiskey master blender and has been recognized with the Master Blender of the Year award by Whisky Magazine in both 2021 and 2022.

However, Eady Butler is not the only African-American master distiller associated with a top whiskey brand. Fawn Weaver, the CEO of Uncle Nearest and the person who appointed Victoria as master distiller in 2019, not only founded the brand but also assembled an all-female executive team, making it the first American spirit brand with such a leadership structure.
Additionally, Dia Simms, CEO of Lobos 1707, co-founded Pronghorn, an initiative aimed at generating $2.4 billion in economic value for the Black community within the U.S. alcohol industry by 2032, addressing racial disparities in the spirits sector.

We at COG want our 21 and older STEMistas to see representation of women and professionals with whom they can identify in career spaces oftentimes not shown and explore various ways to forge career paths where an understanding of basic chemistry and science is essential, including whiskey distilling.

Whiskey distillation involves the process of fermentation, understanding the fermentation environment, including the role of enzymes, the conversion of sugars into alcohol, and how yeast’s metabolism affects the final product. A distiller’s deep understanding of these chemical processes, along with environmental factors like temperature and humidity, ensures that the final product is both safe and flavorful.

COGSTEM also explores the "angel's share" and the "devil's cut" references. The science behind these phenomena lies in the interaction between ethanol, water, and the porous nature of the wood; evaporation causes alcohol to escape, while compounds like ethanol and water are absorbed by the barrel, influencing flavor and concentration of remaining liquid.

Learn more about COGSTEM and our menu of programming and initiatives at www.cogstem.org