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Shiftwave, Inc.

Dr. John S. Foster

Calvin F. Quate Memorial

We honor Calvin F. Quate by reviewing his many achievements, inventions, prizes, and mentorship of generations of students.  Professor Quate left us with a legacy which includes generating new fields of study including Acoustic Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy, earning prestigious awards such as the Kavli prize, the Rank prize for Opto-Electronics, the National Medal of Science, and the Medal of Honor from the IEEE, as well as election to both he National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences.  Professor Quate is also a Fellow of the Royal Society. 

In addition, Professor Quate had a unique form of leadership and mentorship that led to him being admired and loved by all.  Cal would often not reveal the full story, allowing much of the discovery to come from the student or colleague.  Off-hand comments were often designed to inspire different directions to be followed and explored.  Indeed, interacting with Cal Quate was an exercise in mystery and surprise.  The result was the production of generations of scientists and engineers who understood that risky and even daring innovation was worthwhile and could yield great benefit.