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Humans of FSB, Zagreb (2026)

12/10/2026

Nakon gotovo 12 sati i 3,8 kilometara plivanja, 180 kilometara bicikliranja te 42,2 kilometra trčanja napokon sam ostvario svoj san ‒ postao sam IRONMAN. Prije dvije godine nisam ni sanjao da ću ovako nešto postići, ali tada sam naišao na video danskog sportaša Andersa Hofmana koji je svladao prvi IRONMAN na Antarktici. To me jako zaintrigiralo i potaknulo da istražim kako bih se i ja mogao okušati u sličnom izazovu. Nisam ni bio svjestan da se u Hrvatskoj održavaju ovakva natjecanja, ali kada sam vidio da je za osam mjeseci u Poreču polutriatlon IRONMAN 70.3, nisam mogao odoljeti i impulzivno sam se prijavio. Tek sam nakon prijave krenuo stvarati plan treninga. Iako su treninzi bili iznimno umarajući i intenzivni, uspijevao sam ih kombinirati s nogometom i drugim obvezama. Prvi IRONMAN 70.3 završio sam u malo više od šest sati, a već sljedeće godine u Luksemburgu poboljšao sam vrijeme i probio granicu od šest sati.

Nakon dva polutriatlona shvatio sam da je vrijeme i za cijeli triatlon ‒ IRONMAN Klagenfurt. Najprije sam išao na fiziološka testiranja kako bih doznao koliko sam spreman i na što bih trebao obratiti posebnu pažnju. Iako sam imao šest i pol mjeseci za pripremu, znao sam da je to za ovakav izazov gotovo pa ništa te da moram imati dobar plan kako bih što bolje iskoristio vrijeme. Nažalost, to je značilo da moram privremeno ostaviti nogomet. Plan treninga podijelio sam u tri ciklusa, a nakon svakog bih ciklusa ponovno napravio testiranja kako bih imao točniju sliku tjelesnog stanja. Zatim su krenuli mukotrpni mjeseci pripreme, koji su uključivali svakodnevne treninge, većinom i dvaput dnevno. U početku mi je najviše muke zadavao trenažni bicikl, na kojemu sam proveo sate i sate monotone vožnje. Bilo je jako puno dana kada nisam imao volje odraditi trening, ali bih se svejedno natjerao. Moram priznati da su mi ti treninzi bili najslađi jer bih onda shvatio koliko bi mi zapravo bilo žao da sam ostao u krevetu. U travnju sam sudjelovao na Triatlonskom kampu koji organizira Andrej Vištica, najuspješniji hrvatski triatlonac. Također sam i organizirao individualizirani pripremni kamp na Mallorci, gdje sam odradio ključne pripreme za bicikliranje. Za vrijeme kampova trenirao sam i više od dvadeset sati tjedno. Ujutro na dan natjecanja nisam bio nervozan, znao sam da ću utrku završiti bez obzira na sve i da me od ostvarenja snova dijeli borba s vlastitim tijelom duga 226 kilometara. Na kraju se sve isplatilo, osjećaj prolaska kroz cilj, kada je spiker rekao “Noah, you are an IRONMAN”, teško je opisati riječima. Imao sam najbolji rezultat u svojoj dobnoj skupini među Hrvatima: jedanaest sati i pedeset jedna minuta.

Disciplinu koja mi je bila potrebna za takve pothvate stekao sam na FSB-u. Iako sam cijelo djetinjstvo htio biti sportaš ili trener, krajem srednje škole ipak sam se opredijelio za strojarstvo. Tu su veliki utjecaj imali Formula 1 i Tony Stark, druga vrsta Ironmana. Tijekom studiranja bio sam i u FSB Racing Teamu, gdje sam razvijao aerodinamičke pakete, a kratko sam vrijeme i vodio podtim Aerodinamike. Sada završavam diplomski studij te se nadam nastaviti svoje obrazovanje na doktorskom studiju. Nisam siguran koji mi je sljedeći izazov, zasad igram nogomet za lokalni klub i stvaram planove za sljedeće natjecanje. Jednoga se dana želim natjecati na svjetskom IRONMAN prvenstvu, gdje su samo najizdržljiviji sportaši. Iskustvo mi je pokazalo da ništa u životu ne dolazi lako: ako želimo imati velike uspjehe, moramo biti spremni žrtvovati se i pokazati da možemo dati 110 posto kako bismo ostvarili svoje snove.

Noah Lukovnjak, student

Priča/Story: Tin Pranjić
Slika/Photo: Tin Pranjić

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After almost 12 hours, a 3.8- kilometre swim, a 180- kilometre bike ride, and a 42.2- kilometre run, I finally achieved my dream: I became an IRONMAN. Two years earlier, I would never have imagined accomplishing something like this, but then I came across a video of the Danish athlete Anders Hofman, who completed the first IRONMAN in Antarctica. That intrigued me greatly and encouraged me to research how I could also try a similar challenge. I wasn't even aware that such competitions were held in Croatia, but when I saw that the IRONMAN 70.3 half-triathlon was taking place in Poreč in eight months, I couldn't resist and impulsively signed up. Only after registering did I start creating a training plan. Although the training sessions were extremely exhausting and intensive, I managed to combine them with football and other obligations. I finished my first IRONMAN 70.3 in just over six hours, and the very next year in Luxembourg I improved my time and broke the six-hour mark.

After two half-triathlons, I realised it was time for a full one: IRONMAN Klagenfurt. First, I underwent physiological testing to find out how fit I was and what I should pay special attention to. Even though I had six and a half months to prepare, I knew that for a challenge like this, it was almost nothing, and I needed a solid plan to make the most of my time. Unfortunately, this meant I had to temporarily give up football. I divided the training plan into three cycles, and after each cycle I repeated the testing to get a more accurate picture of my condition. Then came the gruelling months of preparation, with daily training sessions, mostly twice a day. At the beginning, the stationary bike caused me the most trouble, as I spent hours and hours in monotonous riding. There were so many days when I had no will to train, but I forced myself anyway. I must admit that those training sessions were the sweetest, because I would then realise how sorry I would have been if I had stayed in bed. In April, I participated in a Triathlon camp organised by Andrej Vištica, the most successful Croatian triathlete. I also organised an individual preparation camp in Mallorca, where I did key cycling work preparations. During the camps, I trained for over twenty hours a week. On the morning of the competition itself, I wasn't nervous; I knew I would finish no matter what, and that only a 226- kilometre -long battle with my own body stood between me and realising my dreams. In the end, it all paid off. The feeling of crossing the finish line, when the announcer said “Noah, you are an IRONMAN,” is hard to describe in words. I had the best result in my age group among Croatians: eleven hours and fifty-one minutes.

The discipline I needed for such endeavours I acquired at FSB. Although I wanted to be an athlete or coach throughout my childhood, towards the end of high school I decided on mechanical engineering instead. Formula 1 and Tony Stark, another kind of Ironman, had a major influence on that decision. During my studies, I was also in the FSB Racing Team, where I developed aerodynamic packages, and for a short time, I led the Aerodynamics sub-team. Now I am finishing my master's degree and hope to continue my education with a doctoral programme. I'm not sure what my next challenge will be; for now, I play football for a local club and am making plans for the next competition. One day I want to compete in the IRONMAN World Championship, where only the most enduring athletes take part. Experience has shown me that nothing in life comes easily; if we want to achieve great success, we must be ready to make sacrifices and show that we can give 110% to make our dreams come true.

28/09/2026

Zvijezda sam nagrađivanog kineskog dokumentarnog filma, a da toga nisam bio ni svjestan. Kao dijete dugi sam se niz godina borio s teškom i iznimno rijetkom bolešću. Kada se hrvatski zdravstveni sustav pokazao nemoćan, pomoć sam krenuo tražiti izvan Hrvatske. Preko jedne humanitarne zaklade uspio sam otići na liječenje u Kinu, gdje su imali razvijenu tehnologiju potrebnu za liječenje moje bolesti. Da nije bilo beskrajne potpore mojih roditelja, koji ni u jednom trenutku nisu odustajali, vjerojatno nikada ne bih bio izliječen. Samo je liječenje bilo iznimno kompleksno i iscrpljujuće, a sve se bilo dodatno zakompliciralo globalnom pandemijom.

Ugrađen mi je 3D printani stent koji omogućuje normalno funkcioniranje bubrega. Taj je medicinski postupak bio moguć zahvaljujući pravom malom inženjerskom čudu koje su doktori i inženjeri napravili. Poslije sam doznao da su o mojem medicinskom pothvatu snimili kratkometražni dokumentarni film Put pred tobom je obasjan. I dalje mi je fascinantno da je taj komad pomno dizajnirane plastike dio mene ‒ da mi omogućuje normalan život. To je bilo jedno formativno iskustvo koje me gurnulo prema strojarskom pozivu.

No taj zahvat nije bio jedini razlog zašto sam se upisao na FSB. Cijeli život „šarafam“ po nečemu i u tome pronalazim svoj unutarnji mir. Već sam tijekom srednje škole shvatio da ne želim cijeli život sjediti u uredu i raditi na računalu, nego svojim rukama nešto stvarati. Iako mi FSB na početku nije bio prvi izbor, zavolio sam ga i danas ga ni za što ne bih mijenjao. Sada sam student treće godine studija mehatronike i robotike te razmišljam da svoje daljnje obrazovanje nastavim izvan Hrvatske, možda čak i u Kini.

U slobodno vrijeme radim na starom autu moga oca, BMW-u iz devedesetih godina kojemu je potrebno puno ljubavi. To je projekt koji iz strasti prema autu, motosportu i strojarstvu napreduje polako, ali sigurno. One dane koje ne provedem zasukanih rukava oko auta, radim na motoru koji mi je druga velika ljubav. Otkad sam izliječen, shvatio sam da je najbitnije raditi ono što te čini sretnim. Istina je da je svima ponekad teško, ali naposljetku, život nije toliko ozbiljan. Nije bitan cilj, bitno je putovanje, jer svi ipak završimo na istome.

Jakov Kaurić, student

Priča/Story: Tin Pranjić
Slika/Photo: Tin Pranjić

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I became the star of an award-winning Chinese documentary without even realising it. As a child, I battled a severe and extremely rare disease for many years. When the Croatian healthcare system proved powerless, I started seeking help abroad. Supported by a humanitarian foundation, I managed to travel to China to receive medical treatment, where they had the advanced technology necessary to treat my condition. If it weren't for the endless support of my parents, who never once gave up, I would have, probably, never restored my health. The treatment itself was incredibly complex and exhausting, with the challenges further compounded by the global pandemic.

A 3D-printed stent was implanted to enable my kidneys to function normally. This medical procedure was made possible by a true engineering marvel created by doctors and engineers. I later found out that they had made a short documentary about my medical journey called "There is light on the road ahead." I still find it fascinating that this meticulously designed piece of plastic is a part of me, allowing me to live a normal life. This was a formative experience that pushed me towards a career in mechanical engineering.

However, this procedure wasn't the only reason I chose to enroll at FSB. I've been tinkering with different things my whole life, and that’s where I find my inner peace. Already in high school, I realized that I didn't want to spend my life sitting in an office working on a computer, but rather to create things with my own hands. Although FSB wasn't my first choice, I’ve grown to love it, and today I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am currently a third-year student of Mechatronics and Robotics, and I am considering pursuing my future education abroad, perhaps even in China.

In my free time, I work on my father's old car, a 90s BMW that needs a lot of love. Fueled by a passion for cars, motorsport, and mechanical engineering, it is a project that is progressing slowly but surely. On the days I don't spend with my sleeves rolled up working on the car, I work on my motorcycle, which is my other great love. Ever since I recovered, I've come to realize that the most important thing is to do what makes you happy. It is true that everyone goes through hard times occasionally, but ultimately, life isn't all that serious. It's not about the destination; it's about the journey, because we all end up in the same place anyway.

Jakov Kaurić, student

07/07/2026

„Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.“
— Baz Luhrmann, Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), 1999.

Mali podsjetnik da život ne vodi tamo kamo planiramo, nego točno tamo gdje trebamo biti.

FSB mi se činio kao prirodan izbor – više me privlačila logika brojeva i strojeva nego „intenzivni“ rad s ljudima. Upisao sam se na njega s ciljem: što prije zakoračiti u svijet rada i učiti iz prakse. Iz tog poglavlja sam ponio stvari koje su i dandanas u mome „ruksaku“: način razmišljanja i radnu disciplinu koje FSB prepoznatljivo njeguje.

Kao i mnoge na FSB-u, automobili su me oduvijek zanimali i imam sreću da danas radim ono što je moja strast. Nakon kratke prakse u BMW-u, prvo radno mjesto dobio sam u tvrtki Porsche Croatia. Ondje sam ostao sedam godina i stekao dragocjena iskustva i prijateljstva. S navršenih 30 godina osjetio sam da je vrijeme za novo poglavlje – rad kod proizvođača automobila. Umjesto da čekam „savršeni“ trenutak, koji najčešće nikad ne dođe, prijavio sam se kod nekoliko proizvođača te se predstavio sa svojim tadašnjim iskustvom. Ubrzo je stigla ponuda iz Audija, gdje radim od 2015. godine te sam do sada prošao kroz nekoliko uloga – od people developmenta i product marketinga, preko tehničkog asistenta do novih poslovnih modela.

Najdragocjenije što mi je posao donio jest, s jedne strane, kompleksnost automobilske industrije – svijet u kojem se tehnologija, tržište i ljudi mijenjaju takvom brzinom da svaki dan donosi novu lekciju, a s druge strane, mogućnost da upoznam dobar dio svijeta i tijekom susreta s različitim kulturama otvorim nove horizonte. Taj spoj profesionalne kompleksnosti i interkulturnog iskustva nematerijalni je kapital koji utječe na svaki aspekt života, ne samo na karijeru. Iako sam u mladosti zamišljao isključivo tehnički put, život me preusmjerio više prema radu s ljudima i na tome sam zahvalan.

Silvio Kopčić, alumnus

Priča/story: Leon Lončar
Slika/photo: Filip Sviben

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“Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.”
— Baz Luhrmann, Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), 1999.

A gentle reminder that life doesn’t always take us where we plan, but exactly where we need to be.

FSB (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture) felt like a natural choice for me. I was more drawn to the logic of numbers and machines than to “intensive” work with people. I enrolled with a clear goal in mind: to enter the workforce as soon as possible and learn through hands-on experience. From that chapter of my life, I took away tools that are still in my "backpack" today – the mindset and work discipline that FSB is well-known for fostering.

Like many at FSB, I have always been interested in cars, and I am fortunate to be working in a field I am passionate about. After a brief internship at BMW, I landed my first job at Porsche Croatia. I stayed there for seven years, gaining invaluable experience and lifelong friendships. When I turned 30, I felt it was time for a new chapter – working directly for a car manufacturer. Instead of waiting for the "perfect" moment, which rarely comes, I applied to several manufacturers, presenting the experience I had at the time. Soon after, I received an offer from Audi, where I have been working since 2015. Over the years, I have transitioned through several roles, from people development and product marketing to technical assistant and new business models.

The most rewarding part of my job has been twofold. On one hand, it is the sheer complexity of the automotive industry – a world where technology, markets, and people evolve so rapidly that each day brings a new lesson. On the other hand, it is the opportunity to travel the world and broaden my horizons by experiencing different cultures. This blend of professional complexity and intercultural experience is an intangible asset that influences every aspect of my life, not just my career. Even though my younger self envisioned a purely technical path, life steered me more towards working with people, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Silvio Kopčić, alumnus

25/05/2026

Mažoretkinje su nastale kao pratnja vojsci u Francuskoj, a sam ples se temelji na zategnutim pokretima, usklađenosti i preciznosti. Iza svakog nastupa i natjecanja stoje sati treninga i pripreme, podjednako fizičke i psihičke, s obzirom na to da se na natjecanjima ocjenjuje apsolutno sve, od samog izgleda pa do detalja pokreta. Kod izgleda se ne misli na osobni izgled, već na izgled i usklađenost uniformi koje su slikovite i najčešće u bojama grada/općine.

U Hrvatskoj mažoretkinje postoje već 30 godina, a u mom Krašiću djeluju 17 godina. Kao mala sam bila pravi zvrk i čim sam saznala za mažoretkinje, odmah sam znala da je to za mene. Od tada su postale velik dio mog života. Natječem se od sedme godine i gotovo svake godine sudjelujem na državnim prvenstvima, a najponosnija sam na srebrnu medalju koju sam osvojila s prijateljicom u duu sa štapovima.

Danas sam već pet godina i trenerica. Radim s juniorima i limačima i premda je s najmlađima ponekad zahtjevnije, upravo mi je to jedno od najljepših iskustava. Mažoretkinje su mi omogućile i da puno putujem, pa sam zahvaljujući njima nastupala na paradama u New Yorku, Šangaju i Londonu. Najviše me oduševio New York, grad koji je toliko velik i čini se kao da nikada ne spava.

Dugo sam se premišljala između medicine i nekog tehničkog područja. Oduvijek su me zanimale prirodne znanosti, ali su me, zahvaljujući bratu, posebno zaintrigirali avioni, automobili, reli i Formula 1. U jednom sam trenutku razmišljala da postanem vojna pilotkinja. Iako sam od toga odustala, ljubav prema tehnologiji i zrakoplovima ostala je jednako velika. Kada sam saznala da Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje na diplomskom studiju nudi smjer biomedicinskog inženjerstva, shvatila sam da je to idealan spoj mojih dvaju velikih interesa: medicine i tehnike. Upravo zato FSB za mene predstavlja mjesto na kojem mogu povezati sve ono što me oduvijek privlačilo.

Matea Grgas, studentica

Priča/Story: Vanda Žauhar-Henezi
Slika/Photo: Ines Dedeić

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Majorettes trace their origins back to the French military, evolving into the dance characterized by sharp movements, synchronization, and precision. Every performance and competition is the result of both intense physical and mental preparation, since in competition absolutely every detail matters, from the overall appearance down to the smallest details of each movement. In this context, appearance does not refer to personal looks, but rather to the design and coordination of the uniforms, which are colourful and most often reflect the colours of the city or municipality.

The majorette tradition in Croatia spans over 30 years, including 17 years of active history in my hometown of Krašić. As a child, I was always full of energy, and as soon as I discovered majorettes, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. Since then, they have become a significant part of my life. I began competing at the age of seven and have participated in national championships almost every year. I am especially proud of the silver medal I won with my friend in a baton duo performance.

For the past five years, I have expanded my role to coach junior and younger age groups. Although working with the youngest children brings its own set of unique challenges, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences. Majorettes have given me the opportunity to travel extensively, and thanks to them I have performed in parades in New York City, Shanghai, and London. I was most impressed by New York, a city so vast that it feels as though it never sleeps.

For a long time, I was torn between medicine and a technical field. I have always been interested in the natural sciences, but thanks to my brother, I became especially fascinated by airplanes, cars, rally racing, and Formula One. At one point, I even considered becoming a military pilot. Although I eventually chose a different path, my passion for technology and aviation remained just as strong. When I learned that the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture offers a graduate program in Biomedical Engineering, I realized it perfectly combined my two greatest interests: medicine and engineering. That is why FSB represents the perfect place for me to bring together everything that has always inspired me.

Matea Grgas, student

11/05/2026

U industriji elektromobilnosti izgradio sam ime tijekom godina rada i iskustva. Ključni recentni trenutak bio je kada mi se javio slovački investitor s vizijom širenja kompanije u kojoj su svi fokusirani na isti cilj: razvoj elektromobilnosti. Tako sam pokrenuo Greenway u Hrvatskoj i započeo sa skaliranjem strateške infrastrukture punjenja električnih vozila.

Moj put vodio je od prve prakse u Ekonergu, gdje me mentorica Snježana zainteresirala za kružnu ekonomiju, do rada u Energetskom institutu Hrvoje Požar. Ondje sam se počeo pitati: Ako imamo rješenja za industriju i zgradarstvo, što je s prometom? Oduševila me jedna studija iz 2010. koja je zaključila da je budućnost prometa upravo elektromobilnost.

Predložili smo tadašnjoj gradskoj upravi izradu studije o uvođenju elektromobilnosti u Zagrebu. Prihvatili su, radio sam na tome godinu dana i ubrzo potom izašla je vijest da grad Zagreb pokreće prvu punionicu ‒ u trenutku kada je u Hrvatskoj bilo svega 7 električnih automobila. Radio sam kratko kao konzultant, a zatim i na projektu prodaje električne energije u Hrvatskom Telekomu. S obzirom na to da me i dalje vukla elektromobilnost, predložio sam upravi HT-a da postanemo prvi telekom koji će postavljati punionice po Hrvatskoj. Prve punionice prodali smo Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji. Nakon toga je uslijedila hrpa zainteresiranih poziva, pa smo projekt uspješno proširili i na ostale zemlje.

Zanimljivo je da sam stavio vlastiti broj telefona na punionice i rješavao korisničke probleme 24/7 kako bih doznao sve probleme i upite. Od toga sam zatim uspio složiti skriptu od 10 pitanja i odgovora koji rješavaju 90 posto problema.

FSB je za mene bio svojevrstan bootcamp, mjesto koje te nauči razumjeti svijet u više dimenzija. Sve kreće od fizike i prirodnih zakona, a tek kasnije to nadograđuješ kroz ekonomiju i biznis, koji su ipak ljudski konstrukt. Strojarstvo me oblikovalo kroz preciznost, fokus i poštivanje rokova, a energetika mi je dala širinu: sposobnost da stvari gledam sustavno i povezano. I baš iz takva okružja dolaze i najspontanije odluke. Sjedim tako jedan dan s ekipom u SKA-i preko p**a faksa, pijemo kavu i dogovaramo apsolventsku. U tom trenutku stiže poziv iz IAESTE-a: “Ima još jedno mjesto za praksu u Brazilu, jesi za?” Nisam morao puno razmišljati. I tako sam, umjesto na jedrilici na Jadranu, završio na drugom kontinentu. Ondje sam radio u istraživačkom institutu, u tri mjeseca pohvatao portugalski i ušao u potpuno drukčiji svijet.

Brazil je poseban, od činjenice da se voze na šećernu trsku do toga koliko te brzo nauči prilagodbi. Cimer koji me ugostio jednom je bio otet. Ubacili su ga u auto, uzeli tenisice i izbacili van. I to ti odjednom postane dio realnosti. Naučiš da se ondje tijekom noći ne staje na crveno i da ne hodaš sa skupocjenim stvarima.

Takva iskustva te promijene. Shvatiš da se osobni razvoj ne događa u sigurnoj zoni, nego kad si izložen nepoznatom i kad se moraš snaći. Zato bih mladima uvijek preporučio: Idite, putujte, izložite se drukčijem, riskirajte. Otiđite nekamo gdje se ne možete osloniti na sustav nego na sebe. Jer na kraju, ne gradimo se kroz ekrane i taj neki 2D svijet, nego kroz stvarne doživljaje: kroz ljude, osjećaje, mjesta, mirise, zvukove. Tu zapravo počinje pravo iskustvo.

Dino Novosel, alumnus

Priča/Story: Ana Lipovac
Slika/Photo: Ines Dedeić

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I have built a name for myself in the electromobility industry through years of work and experience. A key recent milestone was when a Slovak investor approached me with a vision of expanding a company where everyone was focused on the same goal: the development of electromobility. That's how I launched Greenway in Croatia and began scaling strategic charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

My journey started with my first internship at Ekonerg, where my mentor Snježana sparked my interest in the circular economy, and continued at the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute. There, I began to ask myself: if we have solutions for industry and buildings, what about transport? I was inspired by a 2010 study that concluded the future of transport lies in electromobility.

We proposed to the city administration at the time that we prepare a study on the introduction of electromobility in Zagreb. They accepted, I worked on it for a year, and soon after the news came out: the City of Zagreb was launching its first charging station, at a time when there were only seven electric cars in Croatia. I worked briefly as a consultant, and then on an electricity sales project at Hrvatski Telecom (HT). Still drawn to electromobility, I suggested to the HT management that we become the first telecom to install charging stations in Croatia. We sold the first charging stations to Split-Dalmatia County. After that, interest snowballed, and we successfully expanded the project into other countries.

Interestingly, I put my own phone number on the charging stations and personally handled customer issues 24/7 in order to identify all the problems and enquiries. From that experience, I managed to compile a script of 10 questions and answers that resolved 90% of user issues.

FSB was a kind of bootcamp for me, a place that teaches you to understand the world in multiple dimensions. Everything starts with physics and natural laws, and only later do you build on that through economics and business, which are, after all, human constructs. Mechanical engineering shaped me through precision, focus, and meeting deadlines, while energy engineering gave me breadth: the ability to view things systematically and coherently. And it is precisely from such an environment that the most spontaneous decisions emerge. One day, I was sitting with the team at SKA café across from the college, having coffee and planning my final year. At that moment, I got a call from IAESTE: "There's another internship in Brazil, are you up for it?" I didn't have to think long. So, instead of sailing in the Adriatic, I ended up on another continent. There, I worked at a research institute, picked up Portuguese within three months, and stepped into a completely different world.

Brazil is unique, from the fact that their vehicles run on sugar cane to how quickly it teaches you adaptability. The roommate who hosted me had once been kidnapped. They threw him in a car, took his sneakers and threw him out. Suddenly, that becomes part of your reality. You learn that at night you don't stop at red lights, and you don't walk around with expensive items.

Experiences like that change you. You realize that personal growth doesn't happen in your comfort zone – it happens when you're exposed to the unknown and forced to find your way. That's why I would always recommend to young people: go, travel, expose yourself to something different, take risks. Go somewhere where you cannot rely on the system, but only on yourself. Because in the end, we don't build ourselves through screens and that two-dimensional world, but through real experiences: through people, feelings, places, smells, and sounds. That's where the real experience truly begins.

Dino Novosel, alumnus

27/04/2026

Početci i odrastanje u Zlatnoj dolini duboko su odredili moj profesionalni put. S poštovanjem se sjećam autoritativnih učitelja iz područne škole u Gradcu i profesorica matematike u Pleternici, koje su usadile važne temelje u mojim najranijim školskim danima. Srednju elektrotehničku školu pohađao sam u Požegi, a kao djeca rođena sedamdesetih, rano smo naučili biti samostalni, disciplinirani i organizirani. Majka mi je bila poseban uzor i poticaj u svemu. Radilo se mnogo od djetinjstva: čim bi nastava završila, odlazili smo „u nadnicu“ na poljoprivredna dobra kod Kutjeva i Pleternice. Od zarađenih dnevnica kupovali smo knjige, školski pribor ili odjeću za novu školsku godinu, a ponekad i bicikl.

Bili smo iznimno inovativni u slobodno vrijeme. Sami smo izrađivali košarkaške obruče, nogometne golove, splavi, pa čak i drvene flipere s oprugama i čavlima. Sjećam se da je moj bratić iz Australije plakao jer u avion nije mogao ponijeti fliper koji sam osobno izradio. Uz rad, nogomet je bio moja velika strast. Igrajući za „Slaviju“ iz Pleternice, prošao sam Slavoniju uzduž i poprijeko, igrajući jake utakmice od Nove Gradiške do Vukovara. Zahvaljujući fizičkim predispozicijama i disciplini, dvaput sam bio prvak svih požeških srednjih škola u trčanju.

Taj športski duh i izdržljivost prenio sam i na studij. Na strojarstvo sam se upisao 1990. u Slavonskom Brodu, no nakon dvije godine prešao sam na FSB u Zagreb jer sam se želio upisati na usmjerenje termotehnika. Diplomirao sam za nešto više od četiri i pol godine, paralelno radeći fizičke poslove, poput građevine, kako bih se financirao.

Znanstvenu karijeru na FSB-u započeo sam u ljeto 1995., usmjerivši se na područje rashladnih uređaja i dizalica topline. Na Fakultetu sam prije dvadesetak godina pokrenuo istraživanja u propulzivnom području dizalica topline te sam vodio provedbu više znanstvenoistraživačkih projekata i uspostavu laboratorijskih postava.

Danas, nakon 30 godina rada na Fakultetu, posebno sam ponosan na međunarodnu suradnju. Na poziv profesora Željka Ivezića riješili smo problem s hlađenjem kamere opservatorija „Vera Rubin“, najvećega na svijetu. Također, na poziv profesora Andreja Kitanovskog sa Sveučilišta u Ljubljani, zajedno s kolegom Lukom Bobanom dio sam tima uglednih znanstvenika koji je objavio rad u prestižnom časopisu Nature Energy (IF 60,1), što je prvi takav uspjeh za autore s FSB-a. U radu je analiziran potencijal primjene i razvoja visokotemperaturnih industrijskih dizalica topline, temeljenih na procesima u čvrstom stanju i plinskim procesima. Proces je trajao dvije godine i uključivao čak pet krugova recenzija, no konačan rezultat potvrdio je izvrsnost tima.

Mentorirao sam oko 130 završnih i diplomskih radova, nastojeći teme povezati s realnim problemima u industriji. Volim studente uključiti u stvarne projekte i "baciti u vatru" kako bi stekli samopouzdanje i vještine potrebne privredi. Trenutačno vodim projekt ThermalSafeBAT za hlađenje baterija električnih vozila, za koji su prošle jeseni moje studentice dobile Rektorovu nagradu.
Slobodno vrijeme provodim aktivno, prateći djecu na utakmice i natjecanja. I danas cijenim jednostavnost i tradiciju: redovit sam posjetitelj tržnice Trešnjevka, a uživam i u vlastitoj proizvodnji domaće hrane, koju rado podijelim s prijateljima.

Studentima bih poručio da budu motivirani, grade samopouzdanje i maksimalno apsorbiraju znanje. U radu su temelj povjerenje i obostrano poštovanje.

Vladimir Soldo, redoviti profesor u trajnom izboru

Priča/Story: Lovro Olivier
Slika/Photo: Ines Dedeić

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My early years and upbringing in the Golden Valley profoundly shaped my professional path. I remember with respect the authoritative teachers from the local school in Gradac and the mathematics teachers in Pleternica, who laid important foundations during my earliest school days. I attended the electrotechnical high school in Požega, and as children born in the seventies, we learned early to be independent, disciplined, and organised. My mother was a special role model and a constant source of encouragement. We worked hard from childhood; as soon as school ended, we would do seasonal day labour on agricultural estates near Kutjevo and Pleternica. From our wages, we bought books, school supplies, or clothes for the new school year, and sometimes even a bicycle.

We were extremely inventive in our free time. We made our own basketball hoops, football goals, rafts, and even wooden pinball machines with springs and nails. I remember my cousin from Australia crying because he couldn't take a pinball machine I had made onto the plane. Alongside work, football was my great passion. Playing for "Slavija" from Pleternica, I travelled across Slavonia, playing tough matches from Nova Gradiška to Vukovar. Thanks to my physical abilities and discipline, I was twice the champion of all high schools in Požega in running.

I carried that sporting spirit and endurance into my studies. I enrolled in Mechanical Engineering in Slavonski Brod in 1990, but after two years, I transferred to the FSB in Zagreb because I wanted to enrol in the thermal engineering major. I graduated in just over four and a half years, while simultaneously doing physical jobs, such as construction, to support myself financially.

I began my scientific career at the FSB in the summer of 1995, focusing on refrigeration and heat pumps. About twenty years ago at the Faculty, I initiated research in the field of heat pumps and led several scientific research projects and the establishment of laboratory setups.

Today, after 30 years of work at the Faculty, I am particularly proud of international collaborations. At the invitation of Prof. Željko Ivezić, we solved the problem of cooling the camera for the "Vera Rubin" observatory, the largest in the world. Also, at the invitation of Prof. Andrej Kitanovski from the University of Ljubljana, together with my colleague Luka Boban, I am part of a team of distinguished scientists who published a paper in the prestigious journal "Nature Energy" (IF 60.1), the first such achievement for authors from the FSB. The paper analysed the potential application and development of high-temperature industrial heat pumps based on solid-state and gas processes. The process lasted two years and included five rounds of peer review, but the final result confirmed the team's excellence.

I have mentored about 130 final and diploma theses, always striving to link the topics with real industrial problems. I like to involve students in real projects and "throw them into the fire" so they can gain the confidence and skills needed by industry. I am currently leading the "ThermalSafeBAT" project for cooling electric vehicle batteries, for which my students received the Rector's Award last fall.

I spend my free time actively, following my children to matches and competitions. Even today, I value simplicity and tradition; I am a regular visitor to the Trešnjevka market, and I enjoy producing my own homemade food, which I gladly share with friends.
My message to students is to stay motivated, build confidence, and absorb as much knowledge as possible. In work, the foundations are trust and mutual respect.

Vladimir Soldo, full professor with tenure

Humans of FSB

12/10/2026

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