In the glory of a global genius
Nikola Tesla’s birthday, 10 July, known in Serbia as well as Science day, has been celebrated across the country (in Belgrade, Uzice, Nis, Basta ...) by a series of different programs.Exhibitions, performances, plays, lectures, tours of century-old power plants and various other events were inspired by the life and work of this great scientist, as well as by the period of the beginning of industrialization and electrification. With an aim to, in a dignified manner, celebrate 158th anniversary of the birth of global genius from Lika, Culture roads cluster has organized a unique event called Tesla day, a project of presenting cultural- tourist route “Paths of Tesla”, supported by “Electric Power Industry of Serbia”.
Opening ceremony was held today at Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade. Among distinguished guests there were representatives of CE "Thermal Power Plants Nikola Tesla" Obrenovac, which produces more than a half of Serbian electricity and for several decades now proudly bears the name of the renowned Serb who lit the world and "invented" the 20th century. Along with the Dean of Faculty of Electrical Engineering, PhD. Branko Kovacevic and director of the Museum “Nikola Tesla” Vladimir Jelenkovic, director of CE TENT M.Sc. Cedomir Ponocko also had the honor to address the audience.
-Nikola Tesla was a great and brilliant mind, and above all, an extraordinary man, who had put spiritual before material. However, he never graduated from Faculty of Electrical Engineering and, formerly, failed to obtain a scholarship from Matica Srpska, of which he later become a member. We, ordinary, little people, can identify with him through his imperfections. If we try to scratch the surface of his work, we will see it is too great and unreachable for us. Having in mind greatness of his character and work, I believe it is very good that in Serbia we have a large number of companies, research and educational institutions and organizations that bear his name. We are especially honored that our Thermal Power Plants in Obrenovac, which produce more than 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, and constitute the backbone of the entire Serbian economy and represent electric power hub of the Balkans, bear Tesla's name. For me, as an engineer, it is also exceptional honor and privilege to speak of this great man today, said Ponocko.
Otherwise, Culture roads cluster unites more than 40 cultural institutions, tourist organizations and agencies, even six faculties and a number of successful entrepreneurs. This year’s event "Tesla Day" was supported by the City of Belgrade, Schneider Electric, ENEL PS, Doncafe, Ernst & Young, ITAcademy, and friends of the project are Infostud science promotion center.
(Thursday, July 10 2014.)