Page - 13 - in Nikola Tesla and the Graz Tech

13 Fig.: Joanneum (Raubergasse 10) entrance gate with a row of coats of arms and a commemorative plaque (photo: H. Tezak) ‘In the presence of the Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty of Emperor Franz Joseph I, the grand patron of the arts and sciences, the solemn inauguration of the new building of the Imperial and Royal College of Technology constructed be- tween 1885 and 1888 shall take place in the city of Graz on 12 December 1888.’ The importance of the specific, indeed unmistakeable, character of a university lies in the particularly close link between scholarly research and teaching. In this way, insights are obtained which, as a further development of knowledge and in particular of the respective state of technology, justify the reputa- tion of such an institution. Our world today is crucially shaped by technology, which entails both negative and positive aspects. The shared responsibility for our fellow human beings and for the environment is reflected in necessary decisions and programmes of action derived from them. Here, many contribu- tions have been and are being made.