Tag: Tesla Memorial Conference

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Tesla Takes Manhattan – 3rd Annual Tesla Memorial Conference

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On January 10th, just days beyond the 72nd anniversary of his death, Nikola Tesla again returned to the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan for the 3rd Annual Tesla Memorial Conference. Sponsored by the Tesla Science Foundation, the conference this year focused on efforts to develop a curriculum so that students today can learn of this great inventor all to often left out of history books.

Kyle Driebeek

Kyle Driebeek holding up my book, photo courtesy of Betsy Driebeek

Due to a prior commitment I was unable to be present at this year’s event, but I’m happy to say that Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity made several appearances. Kyle and Julian Driebeek, the intrepid young men bringing Nikola Tesla to a new generation of fans, emphasized the importance of library donations. Both have donated copies of my book to school libraries, and encouraged others to do so as well. One of the most gratifying aspects of being an author is having your work endorsed by the addition of tens of thousands of new readers learning something new.

Dr. Ljubo Vujovic

Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, photo courtesy of Betsy Driebeek

Thanks to Nikola Lonchar and the Tesla Science Foundation, hard copies of my book were given as gifts to some of the presenters and to educators making the effort to bring Tesla into the classroom. Betsy Driebeek, Julian and Kyle’s mother, was nice enough to donate an extra copy of the book to none other than Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, President of the Tesla Memorial Society in New York.

Mano Divina

Mano Divina (and Sam Mason), photo from TSF

Tesla Awards were also given out at the conference. Among the recipients was Mano Divina, whose adept playing of the theremin, a Tesla-inspired electronic musical instrument, and group, the Divine Hand Ensemble, have entertained Tesla conferences and others for many years. Ashley Redfearn also received a well-deserved award for her tireless Tesla curriculum efforts. The top Tesla Spirit Award went to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, who recently pledged at least $1 million towards the rebuilding of Tesla’s Wardenclyffe laboratory on Long Island.

Those who missed the conference are in luck – the Tesla Science Foundation has been posting photos on their Facebook page and you can view all of the videos by Kevin Wood on his RememberTesla.com website.

Tesla bust, New Yorker Hotel

Tesla bust, TSF photo

Not to be forgotten is the Tesla bust dedication. Thanks to the Tesla Science Foundation, a bust of Nikola Tesla was permanently installed in the lobby of the New Yorker Hotel.

So 72 years after he lived his final days in the hotel, Nikola Tesla once again takes Manhattan.

David J. Kent has been a scientist for over thirty years and is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and the e-book Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time.

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3rd Annual Tesla Memorial Conference Comes to the New Yorker Hotel – January 10, 2015

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Nikola Tesla died in the New Yorker Hotel. On January 10th, Nikola Tesla lives again in the New Yorker Hotel. Welcome to the 3rd Annual Tesla Memorial Conference and Spirit Awards.

Tesla Memorial Conference

The conference is sponsored by the Tesla Science Foundation, led by Nikola Lonchar and Marina Schwabic. The conference seeks to honor the great Serbian-American inventor and scientist, as well as bring together a range of people interested in learning more about Tesla, carrying on his innovative work, and educating budding scientists of tomorrow. This year’s theme is “Let’s create the Tesla Curriculum,” with a specific focus on introducing “an ‘assembly classes initiative’ as the vehicle for teaching the Nikola Tesla’s historical legacy in school systems, in the U.S., Serbia, and worldwide.”

Signing books 1-11-14

Signing books at the Tesla Memorial Conference

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity should be making an appearance at this year’s conference even though I’ll be away science traveling and can’t personally attend. I had a great time at the 2014 memorial conference, and spoke at the inaugural conference in 2013 [Click here and scroll for stories about the previous two conferences].

Meanwhile, I shipped two dozen books to the Tesla Science Foundation this morning to be used as gifts to teachers. I’m very proud and happy that Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity has received such a great response from school groups, teachers, principals, and libraries. It’s very satisfying to know that my book has helped tens of thousands of new people learn about Nikola Tesla. Watch for the third printing in Barnes and Noble stores again in February 2015.

But wait, there’s more! The Tesla events on January 15th don’t stop with the conference itself. That evening starts with the revealing of a Nikola Tesla bust donated by the Tesla Science Foundation; the bust will take up permanent residence in the lobby of the New Yorker Hotel, Tesla’s residence for the last ten years of his life. Immediately following are presentation of Tesla Spirit Awards, a Gala featuring artistic performances, and even “a special Tesla Celebrity Tribute by a surprise guest.” You don’t want to miss it.

More information on the 3rd Annual Tesla Memorial Conference can be found at the Tesla Science Foundation website, on the TSF Facebook page, or directly on the conference event page.

David J. Kent has been a scientist for over thirty years and is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and the e-book Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time.

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Me and Nikola Tesla and Bono* at the Tesla Memorial Conference

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Sam MasonBono* was there. I was there. Were you there? “There” is the New Yorker Hotel on January 11, 2014. And the occasion was the 2nd Annual Nikola Tesla Memorial Conference, sponsored by the Tesla Science Foundation. It was a day to remember.

Tesla lived in the New Yorker for the last decade of his long life, dying there in room 3327 on January 7, 1943. You can even stay in his room if you wish (last year I had 3326, the room next door, from which I could see a constant stream of people checking out the plaque on Tesla’s door).

Let’s Build a Tesla Curriculum

The theme this year was to assess and begin development of a curriculum to get Tesla better represented in schools. While students in his home country of Serbia hear about Tesla at an early age, he barely gets mentioned in American schools, if at all. Edison, Marconi, and others who get credit for inventions originally developed by Tesla get prominent mention, but Tesla…well, not so much. The conference aimed to correct that slight and featured many speakers relating their experiences with Tesla-inspired education, interpretations of what would appropriate material to teach, and how to promote the idea.

I’ve been fortunate enough to contribute to that goal myself, both through publication of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and by being part of a team organized by author Howard Lipman (pen name Pan Orpheus) in a sort of traveling Tesla show. We’ve presented film, art, insights, and my book outreach to various public libraries over this past year and hope to do more in 2014. I’ll do a solo presentation to the public at the Ipswich Museum on July 7th. It will be one of a series of talks I’ll be giving when the second edition of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity comes out in July 2014. More on that later.

Signing books 1-11-14

During a very long day (the conference was sandwiched between two 4 hour drives to New York City and back), I enjoyed both the talks and signing books for attendees. One of the best rewards for writing Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity has been the chance to meet readers who get excited about the book and about Nikola Tesla. Ed’s enthusiasm as he buys a book for his daughter Bianca (and another for his local library), the anticipation that Christopher will be reading Tesla on the campus of the University of Michigan thanks to his Aunt’s gift, and Jeff’s passion for Tesla as he purchases four books for friends and family. And while the praise from Tesla experts like Jane Alcorn, Nikola Lonchar, Ljubo Vujovic and others is extremely gratifying, it’s the heartwarming exuberance of the general public that makes this all worthwhile.

Tesla Magazine interview

While there I was interviewed on camera by three different organizations, including Tesla Magazine (photo above). The video below is of one of the video-taping sessions. Not surprisingly (since it’s a video of a video interview), it’s hard to hear with all the background noise. The actual interviews will be posted on the organizations’ websites, so I’ll be sure to link to them when they are up. What is interesting about this video is that while I’m being interviewed there is some guy who goes by the name of Bono* wandering around in the background. In any case, Bono* was here supporting the Tesla conference and one of the guys who interviewed me.

Despite the fact that he was a wonderfully down-to-earth guy, apparently I was still too star-struck to get my photo taken with him (duh!). But here’s a photo of Bono* with Danijela Milic and jazz pianist Dimitrije Vasiljevic. The latter presented his new composition for solo piano inspired by, and to honor, Nikola Tesla.

Bono_Danijela Milic_Dimitrije Vasiljevic

So even though I neglected to get my own photo with Bono*, I did enjoy very much chatting with other luminaries, including authors Bernard Carlson and Howard Lipman, Jane Alcorn of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, Joe Sikorski and Vic Elefante from the movie Fragments from Olympus, Nenad Stankovic of Tesla Magazine, and many others who are bringing Tesla to the people. A day very well spent.

Hard copies of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity are still available in Barnes and Noble stores, but the print run is almost sold out so get one fast. You can also get used copies from resellers on Amazon and BN. E-books are also available on barnesandnoble.com. A second printing will be released in July 2014 in time for Tesla’s birthday. Of course, you can also order a personally signed and inscribed copy directly from me.

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*Or a reasonable facsimile thereof.

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Nikola Tesla Returns to the New Yorker Hotel – And So Can You!

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David J. KentNikola Tesla lived in the New Yorker Hotel for the last ten years of his life, passing away in Room 3327 on January 7, 1943. Last year I joined the Tesla Science Foundation for their Tesla Memorial Conference. And this year, you can too. The conference celebrates the life of the great Serbian-American inventor. Last year the conference focused on “Why Tesla Matters.” And this year the goal is even more ambitious.

The 2014 theme is “Let’s Build a Tesla Curriculum!”

When I talk about Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity at various libraries and book clubs I usually start off by asking how many people were taught in schools about Tesla. While everyone raises their hands when I ask about being taught about Edison and Marconi, the hands for Tesla are usually sparse. One of the goals of the Tesla Science Foundation, along with the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe and other Tesla organizations, is to build a curriculum that give Tesla his proper place alongside the other great inventors. The curriculum would recognize Tesla’s often overlooked, but critical, contributions to science…and to society.

What that curriculum would look like, and how it would get out to the schools, and what level of schools it should get out to, are all to be discussed at the Tesla Memorial Conference on January 11, 2014. If you have ideas, you need to be there. I’ll be there  signing copies of my book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity, as well as talking about my forthcoming Tesla book. How the book could fit into a curriculum has yet to be determined.

Along with myself and other Tesla authors such as Bernard Carlson and Howard Lipman (PanOrpheus) will be a full day of presentations from scientific experts developing Tesla-inspired inventions. In addition, the conference will feature Jane Alcorn (Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe), Joe Sikorski (Fragments from Olympus), James Jaeger (Poet of Electricity), and Nenad Stankovic (Tesla Magazine), all of whom will bring us up to date on their activities designed to bring Tesla to the people.

In the evening don’t miss the Spirit Awards with music by Mano Divina and others, along with a special celebrity tribute by Bajaga!

And a whole lot more!

So join us at the New Yorker Hotel on January 11, 2014. View the program (both the Conference and Spirit Awards) here. Don’t miss out.

David J. Kent is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. You can order a signed copy directly from me, download the ebook at barnesandnoble.com, and find hard copies exclusively at Barnes and Noble bookstores.

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Tesla Memorial Conference program is coming together

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Nikola TeslaAs discussed previously, the Tesla Science Foundation is sponsoring a Nikola Tesla Memorial Conference in New York City from January 5 to 7, 2012. The site is the New Yorker Hotel where Tesla lived his final years and died on January 7, 1943.

A Tesla Spirit Award Benefit Reception will take place on the evening of January 5th, then the next two days are filled with speakers bringing everyone up to date on exciting Tesla-related projects. Included are the Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Telsa on film, and Tesla as inspiration for music, books, and art. Renowned Tesla expert Marc Seifer will be there, as will Jane Alcorn from the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, who will bring us up to date on the magnificent effort to raise money and purchase Tesla’s old Wardenclyffe property on Long Island. I’ll be there too talking about my forthcoming book Nikola Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity.

The final day gets deep into the technical discoveries of Tesla, including some new ideas for further development of principles he originated a century ago. Definitely a man ahead of his time.

If you’re interested in Tesla and haven’t yet signed up please follow this link to register. Time is getting short.

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