Ernst Weber was just a boy when he decided on a career in the sciences. The reason was simple: he knew that it would provide a steadier income than a career in the arts or another field. It didn’t hurt, obviously, that he had always had a keen interest in science and electronics.
Born in Vienna, Austria, Weber came to the United States in 1930 and in the ensuing decades pioneered huge advancements in microwave technology and helped Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn become a world-class research center.
Weber received multiple doctorates from the Technical University of Vienna in the late 1920s. He came to Polytechnic Institute as a visiting professor and never left. There, he co-founded the Polytechnic Research and Development Co. During World War II Weber led a team that developed precision microwave attenuators that helped better calibrate radar.
During his time at Polytechnic, where he would eventually serve as president, he mentored countless students and was awarded multiple patents.
Weber also chaired the engineering department at the National Research Council and was a founder of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
By Bob Warren
