Following the demise of Ghanaian-American scientist and chemical engineer Dr. Thomas Owusu Mensah, several Ghanaian news portals reported that he was the INVENTOR of fibre optics, but is that really true?
Here is what the history and evolution of fibre optics say:
Fibre optics has a long history, with contributions from many scientists and engineers. While there’s no single inventor, some key milestones include:
First of all, Chinese scientist Charles Kuen Kao, according to the US National Library of Medicine, is known as the “father of fibre optic communications” for his discovery in the 1960s of certain physical properties of glass, which laid the groundwork for high-speed data communication in the Information Age.
Kao shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics with Canadian physicist Willard S. Boyle (1924-2011) and American scientist George E. Smith (1930-), coinventors of the charge-coupled device, which is used to convert optical information to an electrical signal.
- Early Ideas: The concept of light travelling through transparent materials dates back to the 18th century. Scientists like Daniel Colladon and Jacques Babinet explored light transmission through water streams.
- 20th Century Advancements: In the 1930s, researchers like Norbert Wiener mathematically described how light could be channelled through thin fibres. Mid-century saw the development of lower-loss glass fibres by researchers like Narinder Singh Kapany.
- Making it Practical: People like Dr. Thomas Mensah played a crucial role in the latter half of the 20th century. His work at Corning Glass Works significantly increased fibre optic manufacturing speed, making it a more commercially viable technology.
Hence, by way of Fact Check, fibre optics is a product of continuous advancements by many brilliant minds.
Was Dr. Mensah the INVENTOR of fibre optics?
No! But his contribution lies in making this technology more practical and widespread.
Impact of Dr. Mensah on fibre optics
The Ghanaian-American scientist Dr. Thomas Mensah, a pioneer in fibre optics, passed away on March 28, 2024, at the age of 74.
He was known for his significant contributions to the field of fibre optics and nanotechnology.
The Ghanaian-American made lasting improvements to fibre optic manufacturing. His work significantly increased production speed and helped make fibre optics a more affordable technology.
He was also a leader in the field of nanotechnology. Dr. Mensah’s accomplishments were widely recognised, including 14 patents and induction into the US National Academy of Inventors.
He even edited a textbook on the commercialisation of nanotechnology. He also achieved a lot in a number of areas, notable amongst them are:
- Fibre Optics Breakthrough: After joining Corning Glass Works, Mensah significantly improved fibre optic manufacturing speed, making it a more affordable technology. This achievement earned him recognition within Corning and the industry. (1983-1986).
- Defence & Aerospace: Mensah led a programme at Bell Labs to develop laser-guided weapons for the US Department of Defence. He later headed Georgia Aerospace Systems, a company producing advanced materials for defence applications. (1986 onwards).
- Leadership & Innovation: Mensah held leadership positions in various organisations and served on boards promoting science and engineering education. He was also inducted into the US National Academy of Inventors.
- Entrepreneur & Author: Mensah led a virtual reality and video game design company. He actively championed the creation of a technology hub in Texas and authored several books, including his autobiography.
- Awards & Recognition: Dr. Mensah received numerous awards for his technological achievements and contributions to science education. He was also honoured and highly recognised in his native Ghana.
There is no doubt that Dr. Thomas Owusu Mensah etched his name on the history walls of scientific innovations, specifically in fibre optics and nanotechnology.
May the gentle soul of such a great mind rest in perfect peace!