FROM A HOD TO AN ODD EM WAVE
*NEW - Available July 31, 2025
From a Hod to an Odd EM Wave
D. A. Weston
Available from:
Kindle Edition - $9.99 USD
The book is light on technology and should not distract from the main purpose of the book, which is to describe the often interesting, pleasant, helpful, or shady people I have met: The impression countries have made on me and the people in those countries I have worked in; The interesting workplaces and the projects I have worked on. If it encourages any young person to consider a career in science or engineering and be interested in social issues, then I am satisfied. Although it contains a minimum of technical content, two appendices, one describing some of the projects I have worked on, and the other includes some technical information for those who want an explanation of some of the circuits, equipment, technical terms, and some of the surprising findings I have made. It starts on a building site in England (on the hod) and ends in the mystery of an ElectroMagnetic (EM) wave that is higher behind a screen (shield) than in front. This is counterintuitive. Hence, Odd EM waves.
From a hod
To
An odd EM wave
A memoir of Engineering Persistence and Human Discovery.
A remarkable Journey from the UK via Germany, USA, Taiwan and Canada.
David. A. Weston
Description
From the Hod to an Odd EM Wave is a memoir and contains reminiscences on experiencing the human side of Science and Engineering. The human side is the human process of performing science and engineering and how humans influence the choice of what is studied or not and the outcome . It includes some scientists' pettiness and unwarranted discouragement of some research. It also describes how engineers and scientists react to and influence society and the environment. Published bias is the bias toward positive results, of which some are likely to be false, whereas negative results are more likely to be true.
These be more important especially when they mean not taking a drug or undergoing a medical procedure and are not as well published.
The research that is stolen. Nellie Stevens probably had her discovery of the importance of the X and Y chromosomes in the determination of gender stolen by E.B. Wilson, a more celebrated male colleague, who got the credit. My personal experience of this is the ultrasonic helium leak detector, which I developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, Long Island, USA. I proposed the device, experimented, proved the concept, and wrote a report. I then left Brookhaven. My boss then took the report, changed the name on the report to his, did not mention me, and published the report as his.
Lesson: Do not trust your boss.
Available from:
Kindle Edition - $9.99 USD
Book Reviews: "From a Hod To An Odd EM Wave" by D.A. Weston
This memoir charts an unconventional engineering career spanning multiple continents and decades, offering unique insights rarely found in traditional engineering literature.
Beginning with humble origins as a construction labourer in post war Britain (on the hod), it takes readers through a progression from radio and television repair to sophisticated electronic design and work on NASA’s Canadarm and aircraft systems.
The career trajectory serves as both inspiration and a practical roadmap for engineers at various career stages, although it also holds considerable interest for the general reader.
What distinguishes this memoir is an unflinching focus on the human dimension of engineering practice. It documents the personalities, workplace politics, and ethical challenges that shape technical work. An account of Rudolf Vrba, one of only four people to escape Auschwitz, and working alongside him, at the Medical Research Council. is both heart warming as well as heart breaking.
Particularly valuable are the first hand accounts of technological developments from the 1960s through the 2000s. The description of early EEG techniques, deep-sea diving communications, and the Canadian Space Program’s contribution to the Space Shuttle and the Space Station descriptions the younger engineers might not encounter elsewhere. The international experience, spanning the UK, Germany, the USA, Taiwan, and Indonesia, offers instructive comparisons of cultures and practices. The book describes innovative approaches to problems such as helium leak detection and Transcutaneous Magnetic Stimulation. From a hod to an odd EM wave succeeds as both a professional memoir and a historical document. It captures the reality of engineering work that textbooks and technical papers rarely address. It provides a valuable perspective on how persistence and adaptability can lead to meaningful contributions.
It shows that engineering is fundamentally a human endeavour.
Professor Alistair Duffy
In "From a Hod to an Odd EM Wave", David A. Weston invites readers into a vivid, deeply personal memoir that weaves together a lifetime of engineering innovation, global experiences, and unforgettable human encounters. From humble beginnings carrying bricks on a construction site in post-war England to groundbreaking work in electromagnetic compatibility, Weston’s career has spanned continents and disciplines. Each chapter is rich with insight, humor, and resilience.
This isn’t just a memoir for engineers. It’s a testament to the social and emotional dimensions of scientific work. Weston candidly explores the people, politics, and persistence behind his contributions — from his time at the Medical Research Council to his leadership at EMC Consulting Inc. Along the way, he shares remarkable stories involving Cold War-era technologies, mental health research, survivor accounts from Auschwitz, and even a child’s ride in a Messerschmitt microcar.
David A. Weston is a certified iNARTE EMC engineer and life member of IEEE, with 55 years of experience in electronic design and over four decades specializing in EMC. He is also the author of the authoritative Electromagnetic Compatibility, Methods, Analysis, Circuits, and Measurement (CRC Press, 2017), now in its third edition.
If you’re looking for a story that goes beyond circuits and shielding to reveal the human spirit behind science, this is it.