Valerie Thomas: The 3D Woman

Thanks to the magic of 3D imaging, the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater’s six-story screen can transport audiences into the depths of the ocean, across faraway savannas and over the peaks of the highest mountains, all from the comfort of their theater seats.

This cinematic wonder is possible thanks to the work of Valerie L. Thomas, a pioneering data scientist, inventor and leading figure at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

In 1980, Thomas patented the illusion transmitter, which simulated a 3D effect by recording images in front of a concave mirror before transmitting them to a projector aimed at a second concave mirror, over which the projected image appeared to “float.”

Thomas’s device found applications at NASA and among surgeons, as well as — of course — laying the groundwork for the immersive visuals at the core of 3D cinematic experiences.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we celebrate the life and achievements of this scientific pioneer.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Feb. 1, 1943, Thomas later attended Western High School, an all-girls magnet school located in her hometown. She graduated in 1961, just seven years after the school was racially integrated as part of national desegregation.

It was during this time that Thomas developed an interest in science and electronics. This dual fascination continued through her tenure as one of only two women majoring in physics at Morgan State University (then Morgan State College), a historically Black college. After graduation, Thomas joined NASA as a data analyst and mathematician.

During her time at the agency, Valerie oversaw numerous projects, including analyzing data from the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, a series of six satellites the U.S. launched in the ’60s to study the Earth and its relationship with the sun. In the ’70s, she helped develop the image-processing system for NASA’s Landsat. This now-53-year-old satellite program has continued to collect data about and photographs of the Earth that shape humans’ understanding of their home in the cosmos.

“The math experience in college, computer science training and experience at NASA, computer science in grad school, and my determination prepared me with the knowledge, skill, and confidence to take on the Landsat challenges,” Thomas wrote in a bio posted to NASA’s My NASA Data platform.

In 1995, Thomas retired from NASA but remained a prominent figure in her field. Now 82 years old, she has been an active member of organizations such as Women in Science and Engineering and Shades of Blue, through which she encouraged young people, especially African-Americans and girls, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Audiences can appreciate one aspect of Thomas’s continuing legacy as a STEM pioneer every time they experience 3D visuals that transform cinema screens into larger-than-life portals to another time or place.