A solemn conference, held on the birthday of Mihajlo Pupin and in commemoration of October 4, 1924, when he received the Pulitzer Prize for Literature at a ceremony of the Pulitzer Foundation, was held at Columbia University in the USA.
The event brought together distinguished representatives of science, culture, people from the Pulitzer Foundation, business people, officials of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, and the Serbian Orthodox Church.
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Presentations on various aspects of Pupin’s life were given by Professor Valentina Izmirlieva, director of the Harriman Institute, Professor Dimitri Basov, chairman of the Department of Physics, Joanna Rios, manager of the Columbia University Archives, and Gordana Vunjak-Novaković, professor of biomedical engineering and medical sciences.
“We are greatly honored to be commemorating today the 100th anniversary of the awarding of the Pulitzer Prize to Mihajlo Pupin for his extraordinary autobiography ‘From Immigrant to Inventor.’ This event, held on Pupin’s birthday, reflects our deep respect for his legacy as a scientist and humanitarian. Pupin’s journey from a rural village in Serbia to becoming a renowned physicist and professor at Columbia University continues to inspire generations of students, scientists, and academics,” said Valentina Izmirlieva.
During their presentations, the speakers emphasized Pupin’s invaluable contribution to science, as well as his significant role in educating future generations at Columbia University. They pointed out that Pupin’s patriotic spirit and tireless dedication to promoting Serbia and the Serbian people left an indelible mark both in scientific circles and in the international community. Following the presentations, a short animated-documentary film about Mihajlo Pupin, “Towards the Light,” was screened.
Fund for the establishment of a Serbian language department Within the framework of the conference, a significant action was initiated to open a fund for the establishment of a department for the Serbian language, history, and culture at Columbia University. The fund will enable many activities such as guest lecturers from Serbia within Columbia’s educational programs, student exchange, and the initiation of important topics related to Serbia for the scientific and professional public. The first donation to the Fund was made on behalf of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia by Grand Master Prof. Dr. Lukas Rasulić, who announced the beginning of a fundraising campaign to establish the department. “I am aware that the road ahead is extremely long and difficult. I hope that with this donation we will symbolically start a significant campaign and that we will succeed in achieving our goal, which is to establish a department for the Serbian language, culture, and history at one of the most prestigious universities in the world – Pupin’s Columbia,” said Rasulić. “Towards the Light” – the path from humble beginnings to a world-renowned scientist In addition to the speakers’ presentations, conference participants had the opportunity to watch Sava Sajko’s film “Towards the Light,” which, in the form of an animated documentary, depicts Pupin’s journey from humble beginnings to a world-renowned scientist. This film has been officially included in the Columbia University library, which the film’s author, Sava Sajko, commented on as a great recognition. “Our cinematography has always had world-class quality, and in the digital age, film is becoming a medium through which we can effectively and at a high level communicate with the world. It is very important to return great people like Pupin, Tesla, and Milanković to the educational program, not only because of their scientific contributions, but primarily because of the spiritual dimension of their works and written word. Their way of thinking is a guide for great deeds,” said Sajko.
The conclusion of the conference is that figures like Mihajlo Pupin are truly ambassadors of our country, who, through their lives and work, inspire not only scientists but also the general public. His vision, patriotism, dedication, and love of knowledge and humanity leave a lasting message – that even an individual, from a small environment, can change the world and leave an indelible mark on history. The event was organized by the “Njegoš Foundation for the Serbian Language and Culture”.
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source: RTS
photo: RTS