Page - 37 - in Nikola Tesla and the Graz Tech

37 People shape the development of the Tech It is particularly at a university of technology, where technological progress has always in the past strongly shaped the work of the university, and change still does shape it in the broadest sense, that the area of conflict between tra- dition, on the one hand, and innovation, on the other, is especially challenging, but also fruitful. Evidently, it depends on the mind in which tradition and innovation is culti- vated. It depends on the persons as actors. Graz University of Technology – Erzherzog-Johann-Universität – has always been characterised by a culture that we would today call the ‘spirit of Arch- duke Johann’. The university as scientific community, as a community of students and faculty, is primarily shaped by the persons associated with it. Nikola Tesla doubtlessly belongs to the great personalities who have been involved in the community at the Graz Tech. This special relationship is expressed today and will be in the future in three ways: • Since 2006, there has been a plaque at the Joanneum (the original location of today’s University of Technology) commemorating the student Nikola Tesla. • Also, the large experimental hall at Graz University of Technology’s Institute of High Voltage Engineering and System Performance was renamed the Nikola Tesla Laboratory in 2006. • And finally, the Nikola Tesla Medal has been awarded for special inventive achievements at Graz University of Technology since 2015. Nikola Tesla and the Graz Tech can thus be seen to represent a constant striv- ing in academic research and teaching to make the best possible contributions to solving the problems facing human society. This was true for the time when Nikola Tesla was a student and honorary doctor, and it is equally true today and for the future.