New York - On Friday, October 3, 2024, the Njegoš Endowment for Serbian Language and Culture at the Harriman Institute, Columbia University, hosted a fundraising event to commemorate the Centennial of the Pulitzer Prize awarded to the the celebrated Serbian-American scientist, Michael Idvorsky Pupin, received for his autobiography From Immigrant to Inventor.

Michael (Mihajlo) Pupin was a physicist, inventor, and educator, who made significant contributions to the fields of telecommunications and electrical engineering. His invention of the Pupin coil, which extended the range of long-distance telephone communication, revolutionized the industry and laid the groundwork for modern telecommunications. Beyond his technical achievements, Pupin was a prolific author and advocate for education, science, and the immigrant experience. His prize-winning autobiography, From Immigrant to Inventor, remains a powerful testament to the immigrant journey, embodying the American Dream and inspiring generations of innovators and scholars.

The program featured the following speakers: Professor Valentina Izmirlieva, Director of the Harriman Institute; Professor Dmitri Basov, Chair of the Department of Physics; Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novaković, University and Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering; and Joanna Rios, Record Manager, Columbia University Libraries.

The event also included a screening of a short film about Pupin, followed by awarding certificates of appreciation to the participants and representatives of the Pulitzer Foundation.
The event was co-sponsored by the Department of Physics at Columbia University.

Present at the event, in addition to numerous dignitaries, were Trustees of the Njegoš Endowment at Columbia University: His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York, and Eastern America, and Professors Dr. Aleksandar Boskovic and Dr. Lila Kalinich. Also present was His Excellency, Dr. Vladimir Bozovic and Mr. Ellis Oswalt, author of Tesla’s Words: A Stunning Utopia of the Future.

Source: harriman.columbia.edu