A sensor antenna including a thin film material constructed in the shape of an antenna having a response, the material including a sheet resistance capable of being modified by an external stimulus where the antenna response varies over a range of sheet resistance values; method of making a sensor antenna; system including a sensor antenna; and method for operating a thin film sensor antenna including providing a thin film sensor antenna; exposing the sensor antenna to an external stimulus, simultaneously sensing the external stimulus while varying the sensor antenna response, measuring the change in the sensor antenna response, and correlating the measured response to a known change in the stimulus are disclosed.