When I worked for General Electric Medical Systems back in the 1970s, and later on in the late '70s when GE was entering the positron emission tomography imaging business we had presentations from scientists from the University of Wisconsin physics department who collaborated with us in the effort. One presenter who intended to educate us about how positron emission worked, and who was a woman was explaining some very technical information about electron spin and such that I did not understand at all. After her presentation she approached me and addressed me by my first name and apparently knew me. I did not recognize her until she talked about our high school math teacher (who could not teach me anything) but who she learned calculus from and who had helped her to become a research physicist. (As a side note that same high school math teachers son became a Grammy Award winning record producer for his jazz and classical record work). These people make me feel like a real dolt. I regret that I did not appreciate the contributions that women made in technology back in those days There were almost no women involved in any technical positions at companies where I worked as an electronics technician back then. Most people, (except me) smoked cigarets everywhere in the workplace back then as well. Unthinkable now. It is ironic that in those days a coworker and I working for a healthcare related business objected to being subjected to the second hand smoke emitted by our coworkers were subjected to ridicule and official discipline for complaining about the workplace hazard of such smoke, We were considered trouble makers back then. I was threatened with termination when I requested to move away from the area where people smoked constantly. It reminds me of: "Irish, (and women) need not apply"!
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