Morgan Sparks facts for kids
Morgan Sparks (born July 6, 1916 – died May 3, 2008) was an American scientist and engineer. He made a big difference in how we use electronics every day. In 1951, he helped create a special kind of transistor called the microwatt bipolar junction transistor. This invention was very important because it made transistors small and efficient enough for common electronic devices. Later in his career, Sparks became the director of Sandia National Laboratories, a major research center.
Early Life and School
Morgan Sparks was born in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. He went to Rice University and earned two degrees in chemistry. He received his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), and then his Master of Arts (MA). After that, he continued his studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana. There, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in physical chemistry.
Career Highlights
After finishing school, Morgan Sparks started working at Bell Labs. This was a very exciting place to be because famous scientists like John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley were already working there. They were developing the very first transistors.
Sparks stayed at Bell Labs and focused on making transistors even better. He helped create the microwatt bipolar junction transistor. This new transistor used very little power, which made it much more practical for use in everyday electronics. Because of this, transistors could be used in many more devices, from radios to computers.
Later, Morgan Sparks left Bell Labs. He became the director of Sandia National Laboratories. This is a large research and development center that works on important science and technology projects for the United States.
