Dr. Eric Cross was a distinguished Materials Scientist and Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Born in England, he served in the British Admiralty during World War II where he contributed to high frequency direction finding technology used to track German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. He joined Penn State in 1961, bringing extensive expertise in materials science and electrical engineering that would reshape multiple technological fields. Throughout his illustrious career, Cross established himself as a world-renowned authority on ferroelectric materials, shaping the discipline through rigorous scholarship and innovative applications that spanned military and medical domains.
Dr. Cross's groundbreaking work on ferroelectric materials fundamentally transformed the development of sonar and medical imaging technologies. In collaboration with Robert Newnham, he developed underwater sonar transducers that helped maintain U.S. Navy leadership throughout the Cold War. His innovations also led to the transducers used in virtually all medical ultrasound devices worldwide, demonstrating the profound translational impact of his research. His first paper, 'Optical Studies of Barium Titanate,' published in Nature in 1949, established the foundation for his pioneering contributions to the field, and he went on to publish more than 850 papers in refereed journals over his distinguished career.
Dr. Cross's profound influence extended beyond his technical contributions to shaping entire research communities and mentoring generations of scientists. His election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1983 recognized his exceptional contributions to the field of electrical engineering and materials science. The prestigious Von Hippel Award, considered materials science's highest honor, was bestowed upon him in 2010 in recognition of his lifetime achievements. His meticulous approach to materials characterization and device development continues to inspire contemporary research in ferroelectric materials, with applications spanning defense technology, medical diagnostics, and advanced electronic systems, ensuring his enduring legacy in the scientific community.
