Alois Riedler

Who was Alois Riedler?

Alois Riedler was a noted Austrian mechanical engineer, and, as professor in Germany, a vigorous proponent of practically-oriented engineering education.

Riedler was born in Graz, Austria, and studied mechanical engineering at the Technische Hochschule Graz from 1866-1871. After graduation he took on a succession of academic appointments. He first became an assistant at the TH Brünn; then in 1873 moved to the TH Vienna, first as an assistant, then from 1875 onwards as a designer of machines. In 1880 he joined TH Munich, and in 1884 TH Aachen.

In 1888 he joined the Technische Hochschule Berlin as Professor for Mechanical Engineering, where he remained until retirement. In 1899 he was appointed the school's principal and led discussions on how to celebrate its 100th anniversary. As a result, Riedler and Adolf Slaby convinced Kaiser Wilhelm II to allow Prussian technical universities to award doctorates. Although the government did not immediately consent, this effort led eventually to the school's reconstitution as today's Technical University of Berlin.