Diversity & Innovation
A series highlighting Diversity and Inclusion in Innovation and Design Thinking
James Edward Maceo West
April 26th, 2021
James Edward Maceo West is a renowned acoustical scientist who began his career at Bell Laboratories, after earning a physics degree from Temple University. He worked at Bell for 40 years specializing in electro-acoustics, physical and architectural acoustics. He secured more than 250 patents, including the current design of the microphone, with more than 90% of today’s microphones in phones and cameras utilizing technology co-invented by West. He eventually joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins University as a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In addition to his scientific contributions, West became a diversity advocate in STEM fields, exemplified by his co-founding of the Association of Black Laboratory Employees, which addressed the placement and promotional concerns of Black employees.