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  • Author Author: Stuartsjones
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Who do you recognize as an inspirational engineer?

Stuartsjones

Today is Nikola Tesla's birthday and many rightly recognize him as one of the greatest, most influential engineers of all time. However, we want to know who do you personally recognize as the greatest? Were you inspired by a well known figure in engineering, or was it somebody far lesser known that inspires you and continues to do so?

 

Let us know in the comments below before Wednesday July 16th and we will pick the ten best comments to receive a pack containing these limited edition Nikola Tesla stickers that we have made especially to celebrate the great man's birthday. You can also get hold of these stickers at this year's EMF camp near Bletchley Park, England which element14 are supporting.

 

For more on Tesla, read "The Shocking Truth about Nikola Tesla" and also "Tesla's idea of transmitting wireless energy is still going strong".

 

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  • After Nikola Tesla, I really find Dave Jones an inspiration. His enthusiastic style of teaching and presenting electronics is fantastic. He may sound crazy to some people but the energy with which he delivers content makers you want to work on projects right now.Relaxed

  • For me its a toss up between Colin Cunningham, and Ben Heckendorn, I absolutely love the mix of music and tech that Colin always brings to the table,not to mention the unique style of his Colin's lab video's. Ben Heckendorns self taught knowledge is pure inspiration for me and drives me to continue learning, and exploring the possibilities that electronics give us.

  • From the old school, I would have to give Nikola Tesla his due as one of the greatest minds to ever benefit mankind, and my personal engineering hero.  His work in high frequency electricity is the basis for our modern day power grid as well as lighting (neon and fluorescent), radio, and so much more.. and, if not hindered by our own (banker/oil controlled) government, potentially would have brought us very cheap (ie, almost free!) energy from the Ionosphere -- his towers were for electrical conduction from above, not simple local transmission antennae as has been claimed in the media, etc..   Additionally, I have great respect for Claude Shannon and his work in information theory, and more recently for just plain old great engineering, Mr. Doug Engelbart and his early work on user interfaces (ie, the mouse and the preliminary WIMP interface).. and lest we forget, my personal all around favorite scientist - Albert Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

  • Without a doubt, Michael Faraday. Although you could argue he wasn’t actually an engineer, and more a scientist, his discoveries have forever changed the world in which we live. His discovery of electromagnetic induction allows power generation on a large scale. Can you imagine our world without this discovery? This man refused to work on chemical weapons when the British government asked and also refused knighthood twice. He is such an inspiration that my son’s middle name is Faraday.

  • I really look up to Pete Dokter (Sparkfun). He really emphasizes on teaching with his According to Pete series. It's kind of a life goal to work at a place like sparkfun, adafruit, or another hobbyist centric company making neat things and helping others with their projects.

     

    And of course Ben Heck because of all the neat things he builds and all the different electrical, mechanical, and software skills he has.