 | Dr. Edgerton, or "Doc," as he was affectionately referred to by his MIT students, is best known for his contributions to modern photography. In fact, the National Geographic Society named Dr. Edgerton one of the fifteen most influential inventors of the 20th Century. For it was "Doc" who invented the "Stroboscope" that made rapid motion almost seem to stop in time. You may be familiar with some of "Doc's" famous photographs such as a bullet shot through an apple and the milk drop forming a perfect coronet. These stop-motion, high speed photographs along with thousands of more were achieved through the invention of his Stroboscope. |
For more about Doc and his life check out the Edgerton Time Line
or A Biographical Memoir by J. Kim VanDiver MIT Edgerton Center Director and Pagan Kennedy published by the National Academy of Sciences
Or read about Doc's impact on people just like you through the I Knew Doc user posted stories!
| "Doc" Edgerton died January 4. 1990 at the age of 86. On July 3, 1990, in an effort to memorialize his accomplishments, several Aurora community members decided to construct a "Hands-On" science center. It was designated as a "teaching museum," that would preserve Doc's work and artifacts, as well as feature the "Explorit Zone" where people of all ages could participate in hands-on exhibits and interact with live science demonstrations. After five years of private and community-wide funding, as well as individual investments by Doc's surviving family members, the Edgerton Explorit Center was officially dedicated on September 9, 1995. |  |