Mar 14
Colonial Theatre Phoenixville, PA
TicketsAthina P. Petropulu
Distinguished Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story— When Genius meets Glamour: The Birth of Frequency Hopping Communication
Program Description
Hedy Lamarr was not only a Hollywood icon but also a brilliant inventor, who laid the foundation for modern secure wireless communications. Her invention led to a technique that is widely used in Bluetooth (headphones, earbuds, keyboards, etc.), Wi-Fi, GPS, drones, etc., preventing interference, jamming, protecting privacy. Rutgers Electrical Engineering Professor Athina Petropulu will explain the technology and answer questions during her presentation.
Film Synopsis
This documentary reveals the Hedy Lamarr hidden behind the famously beautiful Hollywood star's glamorous image: a technological trailblazer whose inventions form the basis of modern WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth systems.
Startlet. Screen Siren. The Most Beautiful Woman in the World. All phrases used to describe 1940’s Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr. Alexandra Dean’s illuminating documentary adds Inventor to the list. Known for her matchless beauty and electric screen persona, Lamarr’s legion of fans never knew she possessed such a beautiful mind. An Austrian Jewish émigré who acted by day and drew mechanical and electronic inventions by night, Lamarr came up with a “secret communication system” to help the Allies to beat the Nazis. Weaving in Lamarr’s own voice from archival recordings, Dean reveals how Lamarr gave her patent to the Navy, received no credit for her contributions, and wound up impoverished in her latter years. Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is a film for lovers of history, Hollywood, and science.
-Tribeca Film Festival
About the Speaker
Athina P. Petropulu is a Distinguished Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rutgers University and a former chair of the department. She previously held faculty positions at Drexel University and has been a visiting scholar at leading institutions in the United States and Europe. Professor Petropulu’s work focuses on how information is sensed, transmitted, and interpreted in complex environments. Her research has influenced technologies that support modern wireless communication, radar systems, secure networks, and data-driven decision making. Over the years, her work has been supported by major U.S. government agencies, foundations, and industry partners, reflecting both its scientific depth and real-world relevance.
In addition to her research, she is widely recognized for her leadership in the global engineering and scientific community. She has served in numerous senior roles within professional societies, including President of the IEEE Signal Processing Society, one of the world’s largest organizations dedicated to advancing technology for humanity. She has also led major international conferences and served as editor-in-chief of a flagship scientific journal.
Professor Petropulu’s contributions have earned her many prestigious honors, including election as a Fellow of the IEEE and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as national recognition early in her career from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the White House. She is also the recipient of multiple best-paper and service awards that highlight both the influence of her scholarship and her commitment to the profession.
Through her research, leadership, and mentorship, Athina Petropulu has played a significant role in shaping modern engineering research and in advancing the broader scientific community.