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The Woman who Thursday, July 23, 2026 • • 5

How Invasive Pests Spread and
Helps us Find our Way
How You Can Help Stop Them
Accurate satellite data de-
pends on a precise model of the
Earth. The math seemed out of (Feature Impact) Invasive
pests can hide in places you’d
reach in the early 1950s. And
that’s when Gladys West went to never expect, and once they
spread, they can destroy the trees,
work. Coming from a sharecrop-
per family, Gladys knew what im- plants and food people rely on
every day. These pests pose a seri-
possible tasks looked like and the
hard work they required. Her ous threat to agriculture, forests,
ecosystems and the food supply.
work in geodesy models led to the Image by Dariusz Sankowski
Global Positioning System we all from Pixabay Many invasive species cannot
now benefit from. travel far on their own; instead
the Naval Surface Warfare Center people unknowingly move them
By The Foundation
Dahlgren Division, described the from place to place.
for a Better Life
role West played in the develop- According to the U.S. Depart-
hat friendly voice coming
from your phone when you ment of a Global Positioning Sys- ment of Agriculture’s Animal and
tem: "She rose through the ranks, Plant Health Inspection Service,
Tare following directions to
a new restaurant or making your worked on the satellite geodesy, invasive pests hitchhike on every-
and contributed to the accuracy of day items such as plants, produce,
way along a highway on vacation
may as well be that of Gladys GPS and the measurement of sat- firewood, vehicles and outdoor pests spread and communities stay
ellite data. As Gladys West started equipment. That makes many healthier and more resilient.
West.
The simple directions we all her career ... in 1956, she likely common activities – from travel- Visit aphis.usda.gov / hun-
had no idea that her work would ing and online shopping to camp- grypests to learn more about how
now depend on have their origins
in the satellite science division of impact the world for decades to ing and gardening – potential invasive pests spread and the sim-
come." ‘pathways’ for invasive pests to ple steps you can take to help stop
the Naval Surface Warfare Center.
And among the staff working out West was never one to protest move and reach new areas. Under- them and protect America’s agri-
the unfairness of her day. Al- standing these pathways is the culture and natural resources.
the math that maps the shape of
the Earth was Gladys West, a de- though she might have liked to, first step to stopping pests before Invasive Pest
she couldn’t risk losing her job. they spread. patio furniture, grills, trailers or Protection Checklist
termined Black woman who
earned full scholarships to Virgin- Instead, she quietly went about the Traveling Abroad lawn equipment, inspect and clean • Declare all food, plants and
business of improving the way we
ia State University to study math- When you travel abroad and them carefully. Look for insects, agricultural items when returning
ematics as an undergraduate and receive directions as we travel. return from another country, the plant debris and egg masses like from another country.
She died at the age of 95 in Janu-
graduate student. agricultural items you bring back spotted lanternfly egg masses, • When ordering items online,
Electronics in guidance sys- ary 2026. Her life and achieve- can introduce new invasive pests which can blend into outdoor sur- check where the products ship
ments not only provide the daily
tems were in their infancy in 1955, into the U.S. and threaten crops or faces and look like smears of mud from and verify U.S. import rules
when West began her career. She directions we use but also serve as trees that have no natural defenses or clumps of dirt. A few minutes before buying.
a roadmap for young people navi-
had grown up on the family share- against them. Even harmless- of checking and cleaning before • If you’re camping, buy fire-
cropper farm, and though she was gating their way out of difficult looking fruit, seed packets or sou- you move can help prevent pests wood where you plan to burn it.
circumstances.
self-motivated to study, she was a venirs made with plant materials from invading your new neighbor- Clean clothing, gear and vehicles
rarity in mathematics, not only as "I'm a doer, hands-on kind of can carry pests such as fruit flies hood. before leaving.
person,” West once said. “If I can
a woman but as a Black mathema- and diseases like citrus canker. Invasive pests cost the U.S. • Before moving to a new
tician. Undeterred, she put her see the road and see where it turns That’s why it’s critical travelers billions of dollars every year and home, inspect outdoor furniture
and see where it went, I am more
mind to work solving problems. declare food, plants and other ag- damage forests, farms, parks and and equipment, looking closely
She began by analyzing the sure." ricultural products when entering backyards. Stopping invasive for egg masses or insects.
For all of us, we are grateful to
Earth orbits of satellites. It might the country from abroad. pests starts with simple steps any- Content courtesy of USDA –
seem simple to calculate the dis- West for making that map a little Shopping Online one can take: checking what you United States Department of Agri-
easier to follow. The next time
tance around a perfect orb, but the Just because you can order pack, clean, move and buy. When culture
shape of the Earth is not perfect. It you arrive on time, having avoid- seeds and plants from sellers everyone does their part, fewer
ed construction and delays, and
is ellipsoid and has geographical around the world, it doesn’t mean
as well as gravitational variations hear that friendly voice say, “You those items are legal or safe to
have arrived,” give a nod and re-
due to the tidal forces that affect import. In fact, some invasive
the course of a satellite. West de- spond, “Thank you, Gladys. I snails and plant diseases have en-
have arrived at a better place be-
veloped algorithms to account for tered the U.S. this way. Many ag-
the variations and, through the cause of you.” ricultural products from overseas
Direction… PassItOn.com®
1970s and 1980s, programmed an require permits, inspections or
IBM computer to deliver ever-in- Copyright ©2026 The Foun- special paperwork before they can
dation for a Better Life. All rights
creasingly accurate calculations enter the country. Buyers should
for the shape of the Earth. reserved. Available under a Cre- check where an item ships from,
ative Commons Attribution Non-
In 2018, West was inducted learn the import requirements be-
into the United States Air Force Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 fore purchasing and make sure
License (international): https://
Hall of Fame. Capt. Godfrey sellers follow all labeling and
Weekes, commanding officer at creativecommons.org/licenses/by- shipping rules.
nc-nd/4.0/
Partaking in
Outdoor Activities
When you spend time out-
doors hiking, camping, hunting or
fishing, you could inadvertently
spread invasive species. For ex-
ample, transporting firewood from
one location to another can spread
tree-killing insects, such as the
emerald ash borer, which can live
inside the wood and emerge later
in a new area. The safest choice is
to buy or use firewood where you
burn it. Additionally, clean all out-
door clothing, gear, equipment
and vehicles before leaving an ar-
ea.
Moving Outdoor Equipment
When you move to a new
home, your move can create an-
other opportunity for invasive in-
sects to travel. Before relocating