Aurel Stodola was born in Vrbica-Hušták (now a part of region Liptovský Mikuláš), in the Kingdom of Hungary (now in Slovakia) on 11 May 1859. His father Ondrej Stodola was a leather manufacturer. His mother was Anna (born Kováčová). He was baptized as Aurel Bohuslav, but he used just name Aurel. He was baptized by the famous person of the Slovak emancipation movement, Protestant priest, poet, linguist, and representative of the Slovak national movement in 1840s Michal Miloslav Hodža.
Education He attended a local primary school in Vrbica, Liptovský Mikuláš. After his first four years, he went to a town called Stráže pod Tatrami (now Poprad) in order to improve his German. There was a strong German speaking community and this practice was very common. He attended secondary education in Levoča, Kežmarok and Košice, where he completed his secondary schooling. He studied on his own as well, especially classics and languages. In 1876, he moved to Budapest, where he studied two semesters at the Royal Jeseph University in Budapest. He was acknowledged as gifted student and he received a grant. In 1876, he transferred to the
Eidgenössische Polytechnische Schule (Federal Polytechnic School), known today as the
ETH Zurich. In 1881, he completed his degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he went to work in a factory in Budapest for seven months. In 1882/1883, he attended the
Technische Hochschule in Charlottenburg (now
Technische Universität Berlin). After this, he volunteered in a technical studio in Paris. He wanted to improve his skills and French, as well. It was important for his future career in Switzerland. After this trip, he began to work in Prague as engineer. He improved his practical engineering and soon became a main engineer. In 1924 he endowed a foundation with the stated aim "to promote the development of mechanical and electro-technical science in the ETH". This foundation still exists today. He maintained friendly contact with academics in Switzerland and abroad, including Albert Einstein. Einstein wrote him an impressive letter for his anniversary. Einstein was not his student, as some sources say, because he studied physics and mathematics. Another prominent friend was theologian, organist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician Albert Schweizer. Stodola encouraged Swiss businessmen to support Schweitzer's hospital in Africa. Stodola retired at the age of 70. Then, he did not teach, but he carried on as expert and advisor. He was also interested in theoretical physics and philosophy. In 1931, he published his book on the philosophy of technology
Gedanken zu einer Weltanschauung vom Standpunkte des Ingenieurs (Thoughts of a worldview from the standpoint of the engineer). The title of the fourth and fifth edition was
Die geheimnisvolle Naturweltanschauliche Betrachtung. It was his contribution to social, political and technological issues of his time. This book was reprinted several times and made a significant contribution to the technical philosophy in Europe. Stodola's farewell lecture is also included in this publication. In 1939, he led a team at Brown Boveri in
the first test worldwide using a gas turbine to generate electricity. This machine is still exhibited today at the Alstom works in Birr and due to its importance is considered to be an ‘historical milestone in mechanical engineering’. He died on 25 December 1942 in Zurich. His remains were moved to his birthplace in 1989 because the ETH declined to pay upkeep for the grave. ==Steam and gas turbines==