We Should Probably Know Their Names

It’s strange what information school decides is important. Because somehow I spent years learning about wars, several presidents with identical facial hair, and at least nine different dudes named Henry, yet nobody mentioned that Gladys West is the reason GPS exists. That seems relevant. Gladys West’s mathematical modeling of the Earth made modern GPS possible. Which means your phone knowing you’re somehow “2 minutes away” while you are emotionally and geographically lost in a Target parking lot? Yeah, Gladys West did that. And the thing is, this wasn’t some tiny little contribution buried in a group project where everyone gets a participation sticker. Her work was foundational to GPS technology. She helped change the way humans navigate the planet. Which feels pretty significant for someone most people have never heard of. And there’s Margaret E. Knight, who invented the machine that makes flat-bottom paper bags. Sounds simple until you realize she fundamentally changed how everyday…