About Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943)

by Dr. Majda Djordjevic

Nikola Tesla was an outstanding inventor and visionary. Many of his inventions were ahead of his time and hence were misunderstood and misinterpreted. Today, most of technology using electricity and electronics is a direct result of his inventions, and his genius permeates our lives twenty-four hours a day.

A moment doesn’t go by when we don’t use electricity to illuminate our indoor and outdoor spaces, heat up or cool down places where we dwell and work, or power up vehicles and machines in the industry and our homes. We rely on wireless transmission to listen to radio, watch television, communicate on the internet, use telephones, drones, and other remote-controlled devices. Tesla’s inventions also play an important role in space programs, medicine, and dentistry as well as in military, agricultural, computer and transportation applications.  

Over his lifetime, Tesla filed over three hundred patents but some of his inventions were not patent protected. He was an early pioneer and inventor in the field of alternating current production and distribution, famously harnessing the energy of Niagara Falls in the late nineteenth century. Some other of his most important inventions are polyphase induction motor, Tesla coil, radio, laser, robotics, X-rays and many more.

Over a century ago, he was already a major proponent of renewable energy and environmental stewardship. A modest and generous man, he dedicated his life to scientific discoveries to benefit humanity instead of for personal gain.

Tesla’s contributions are often overlooked, and people are unaware of the degree to which he influenced our contemporary lifestyle and benefitted our comfortable and modern existence which would not even be possible without his inventions. He stands as an inspirational figure for younger generations, and an ideal role model especially for those who are interested in science and engineering.