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Dr. Cardinal Warde is a Barbadian physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of America's most prestigious educational institutions. Dr. Warde specialises in the field of
opto-electronics - the branch of electronics that deals with electronic devices for emitting, modulating, transmitting, and sensing light. He is one of the world’s leading experts on materials, devices and systems for optical information processing. He is currently working on optical computing applications such as opto-electronic neural network processors, which have brain-like computer functions and hologram technologies. This innovator is the holder of over 12 patents.

Dr. Warde’s most exciting invention is a unique pair of “display glasses” which are spectacles with a tiny liquid display unit attached. It is said to be the smallest sharpest display unit ever devised, and it allows a holographic image to be displayed 18 inches away from the eyes. The device has unlimited applications for example in the storage of manuals, reference material, medical histories, blue prints etc. Procedures can be displayed to mechanics who require assistance and surgeons can use it during surgery to check a patient’s medical history. The possibilities are endless.

Born 14th July 1945, young Warde grew up in Barbados. He lived close to a beach where he enjoyed playing cricket and fishing. He attended the St. Christopher’s Boys’ School until he was nine, when he transferred to the Boys’ Foundation School. A year later he changed schools again and was sent to Harrison’s College.

From a young age, he was intrigued by the way things worked and often dismantled his bicycle, clocks and other items just to see how they worked and to make them work better. His parents demanded excellence and they instilled confidence in what he did while supporting and encouraging his inquisitive mind. He excelled academically: he loved literature, but his passion for the sciences and mathematics was evident. At the Advanced Level he studied mathematics, chemistry and physics, and was mentored by his chemistry and physics teachers, Mrs. Shirley Richardson and Mrs. Marge Knight. A rounded individual, he was active in track and field, and represented his school on many occasions in this sport.

Warde receiving the
Companion of Honour of Barbados
from Governor General Christopher Husbands

He was 16 when the first satellite was launched in Russia. Together with two friends, he decided to research the construction of a rocket. He studied at the library and looked for materials to build the rocket frame, and tried to figure out ways to make rocket fuel. Since they were all under age, they resorted to purchasing chemicals by the generic names from the local pharmacy.

Young Warde converted his father’s carpentry workshop into a laboratory where he and his two close friends would construct the rocket. Several launchings - with a live mouse on board - were performed at a beach near his home, as they attempted to shoot the rocket to outer space. Luckily for the mouse, the rocket never made it more than 10 feet off the ground! However this did not dampen his spirits. His lab was then converted to a physics and chemistry lab complete with test tubes and chemicals where he experimented with chemical reactions. The lab - the “experimental centre” for his two friends - was supervised strictly to ensure that safety procedures were followed. Once when he was not “supervising” the group, there was a minor explosion which left one friend with a minor cut and a missing eyebrow.

A family friend who perceived him as a brilliant student, encouraged him to continue his education in the USA. He applied to universities, not expecting a reply, and was accepted to Stevens Institute of Technology in 1965. He continued to take part in sport, and he was a player on the school’s soccer team. He graduated in 1969 with a B.Sc. in Physics. He went on to Yale University where he decided to do a Physics degree. He gained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in 1971 and 1974 respectively. He was offered the position of lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He taught at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and while teaching there, he pursued a B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Dr. Warde is currently working on building computers with brain-like functions and face recognition so they can make “judgement calls” when presented with incomplete information. He is also collaborating with NASA to develop software with space imagery applications. Despite being the co-inventor of the Microchannel Spatial Light Modulator, Membrane-Mirror light shutters based on Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Dr. Warde says that he is most proud of the discoveries he makes in the labs, the ones in which he is the first to make a breakthrough in knowledge. For his outstanding work in the sphere of Science and Technology, he was awarded the Companion of Honour by the Barbados Government in 2003 and Innovator of the Year by the Black Chamber of Commerce in 2001.

When Dr. Warde is not thinking of his next invention, he is either on the tennis courts, reading about art history, attending theatres or spending long nights gazing into space with a telescope. He wants to build a telescope to take pictures of stars recording sharp images that will effectively eliminate the “twinkle” of the stars.

In his community work, he encourages and motivates minorities to pursue careers in Science and Technology. Not forgetting his homeland, he has donated computers to his alma mater, the St. Christopher Boys’ School and has conducted computer training for teachers in Barbados. He is also an unpaid Adviser to the Ministry of Education in Barbados.

Dr. Warde owes his success to hard work and sacrifice.” He says, “I wanted live up to the expectations of my family.” His advice to young people: “In order to pursue a career in the sciences, one must build a strong base in mathematics and good communication skills.” He urges students to “put a great effort at all levels of your studies and don’t be afraid of mathematics - it is not as mysterious as it seems.”

He also encourages Caribbean youth “to use education as a key to success and don’t be afraid to take risks; consider entrepreneurship to own your own business so you can become empowered and have the ability to employ young people like yourself.” He is a firm believer in the philosophy “treat others like you want to be treated, respect others in spite of race, colour or status.”

This Icon is also featured in the Video Documentary and Kids’ Booklet :

Sources:

Interview with Dr. Cardinal Warde.

Weblinks:

Brief Profile on Dr. Warde

A page with useful links on optoelectronics and optics

Publications:

Warde, C. and A. D. Fisher (1987) Spatial light modulators: applications and functional capabilities In: Optical Signal Processing , J.L. Horner, Ed. Academic Press pp. 477-523.

Warde, C., Stamatoff, J. and Wang, W.I. (Editors) (1992) Materials for Optical Information Processing. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 228.

Warde, C. (1998) Communications and Information Technologies: Opportunities for Economic Development in the Caribbean In: Proceedings of the 10th annual meeting of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 23 September. p.187-195.

Lamela, H., Ruiz-Llata, M. and Warde, C. (2003) Optical broadcast interconnection neural network. Optical Engineering Letters 42 (9), 2487-2488.

Education:

Stevens Institute of Technology B.Sc. Physics June 1969

Yale University M.Phil. Physics June 1971

Yale University Ph.D. Physics Dec. 1974

Research:

Materials, devices and systems for optical information processing, storage, and display.

Cardinal Warde
- Physicist

Sources:

Weblinks:

Publications:

Education:

Research:

Awards Received:

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Cardinal Warde - Physicist

Sources:

Weblinks:

Publications:

Education:

Research:

Awards Received:

Membership:

Cardinal Warde
- Physicist