John Call Cook

John Call Cook
John Call Cook, 1988
Born(1918-04-07)April 7, 1918
DiedOctober 12, 2012(2012-10-12) (aged 94)
Alma materUniversity of Utah,
Pennsylvania State University
Known forGround-penetrating radar, Crevasse Detector
Scientific career
FieldsGeophysics, Physics, Electronics, Astronomy, and natural philosophy
InstitutionsSouthwest Research Institute,
Teledyne Geotech
Thesis An Analysis of Airborne Surveying for Surface Radioactivity  (1951)
Doctoral advisorB. F. Howell, Jr.
Signature

John Call Cook (April 7, 1918 – October 12, 2012) was an American geophysicist who played a significant role in establishing the field of ground-penetrating radar. He is widely recognized for contributing fundamental research that advanced its development. Cook also demonstrated that aerial surveys could map surface radioactivity, enabling more efficient prospecting for uranium ore. He invented electrostatic detection methods for identifying hazardous ice crevasses and developed additional techniques in remote sensing.

For most of his professional career, Cook specialized in remote sensing and the detection of underground objects.