LOJZE VODOVNIK

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the birth of the academic Professor Lojze Vodovnik and the unveiling of his memorial, there will be on Wednesday, 6 September 2023, several events will take place in Ljubljana on 20 September 2023.

• Registration is required for the events, applications are invited HERE.

Academician Prof. Dr. Lojze Vodovnik (1933-2000)

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of Professor Lojze Vodovnik, an academic who dedicated his life to science. The scientific disciplines we now call functional electrical stimulation, biocybernetics, biomedical engineering and rehabilitation engineering hardly existed 60 years ago. Lojze Vodovnik was undoubtedly one of those who co-created them and gave them an important humanistic touch. The basic guiding principle of his research was always "to help one's fellow man". As an engineer - committed to finding workable solutions and at the same time a great humanist - he managed to bring together engineers, biologists, physiotherapists and doctors for the general benefit of the progress of science, human health and to improve the quality of life of every patient. His research output is extremely rich and astonishing in its diversity and vision. When we look back at Lojze Vodovnik's work, we realise again and again that there are few questions in biomedical engineering, and especially in the field of the use of electric currents for therapeutic purposes, that Lojze Vodovnik did not ask in his research.

Lojze Vodovnik was born on 6 September 1933 in Maribor, where he also graduated from high school. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana in 1957. After graduating, he joined Elektromedicina, where he designed and developed several devices for electrical irritation of nerves and muscles. In 1963, he received his PhD from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and the following year he went to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, USA, for a year of postdoctoral training, where he continued his highly acclaimed research into the use of functional electrical stimulation and devoted himself to finding new ways of rehabilitating disabled people using electronics and cybernetic concepts. From 1966 to 1969 he taught at Case Western Reserve University and the School of Electrical Engineering. After 1970, he led national and international research projects at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and was the founder and director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre, which at that time made Ljubljana one of the world's leading research centres in biocybernetics. During his very intensive and fruitful research life, he mentored many students who continued and expanded his approaches and views, many of whom achieved notable results themselves. In 1998, Professor Lojze Vodovnik retired and became Professor Emeritus of the University of Ljubljana.