Meet Stanislas Gabrovsek, Newton Teacher at Newton Angers, who believes science education should be immersive, inspiring, and accessible to all. Since becoming a Newton Teacher in 2021, he has inspired thousands of students in Angers through engaging, real-world STEM experiences.
Name: My name is Stanislas Gabrovsek (my name is of Slovenian origin).
Age: I’ll be 60 in a month…
My Newton Room: Newton Angers
Part of Newton since: 2021
Professional Background
Stanislas spent 25 years as a military embedded electronic systems engineer before transitioning to education. He then became an electronics teacher at Angers University and a technology teacher under the French Ministry of National Education, teaching in various secondary and high schools. He holds an electronics engineering degree and a PhD in complex systems modelling.
Life Outside of Work
Stanislas is married and the proud father of two daughters. Recently, he became a grandfather to an adorable baby girl! His hobbies include sailing, music, mechanics, and exploring the history of science.
Newton Teacher of the Month, Stanislas Gabrovsek. Photo Credit: Benjamin Geminel
What sparked your interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in the first place?
“Real life isn't divided into separate domains—everything is interconnected. I love the idea of using various disciplines to solve problems. In the past, scientists (like Newton!) weren’t as specialized as they are today. Our young students will have plenty of time to specialize later!”
What do you love most about working in a Newton Room?
“I really appreciate having the time to spend a full day with the same group of pupils in the Newton Room. On a typical teaching day, we often lead 6 or 7 one-hour sessions with different groups of various ages, without time to contextualize, experiment, or synthesize knowledge. Yet these are the foundations of the scientific method.
The Newton Room project makes it possible to implement these stages in a pleasant and engaging environment for both students and teachers.”
What’s your favourite topic or module to teach, and why?
“My favourite module is “From Algorithms to AI”—because I designed it from scratch. It allows pupils to review the basics of algorithms and block programming while introducing them to AI principles. Students love it because each concept is tied to hands-on applications with an increasingly autonomous mobile robot.”
What do you hope students and teachers take away from their visit to your Newton Room?
“My main ambition is to spark a passion for science—especially among girls—and inspire them to pursue studies in scientific fields. I also teach electronics at the university level, and I regret seeing so few women in my classes.”
Can you share a fun or inspiring story from your Newton Room?
“My nephew is a PhD student in astrophysics at the University of Oxford. Last year, while he was on holiday, I invited him to present his work to a group of Year 6 pupils as an introduction to a module I was about to teach. His talk captivated the students and generated so many questions that I had to interrupt him just to begin the session!”
How can we best inspire children and young people to pursue STEM education and careers?
“Today, one annual session in the Newton Room—no matter how effective—doesn’t have a lasting impact on students' career choices.
I would love to see our national education system take inspiration from the Newton Room model, reorganizing secondary school classes around longer, interdisciplinary projects.”
If you could meet one famous scientist, past or present, who would it be and why?
“I’m currently fascinated by the birth of quantum physics in the early 20th century. I would’ve loved to ask Albert Einstein or Niels Bohr a few “stupid” newbie questions!”
What are three things on your bucket list?
Sail to the Canary Islands
Enjoy my granddaughter
Develop a fab lab (digital fabrication workshop) concept based on the Newton Room model
Newton Angers
Newton Angers opened in 2022, and was the first Newton Room to open in France. The establishment was a collaboration between Fédération Léo Lagrange, FIRST Scandianvia and The Boeing Company, Since 2022 the room has welcomed around 7,000 pupils to date, hosting approximately 120 sessions per year.
Newton Angers, hosted by Félix Landreau Secondary School, currently runs three modules:
Robots and Circumference
Explore Energy! We Explore Energy!
From Algorithms to AI
And coming in 2025–2026: Microplastics Invasion
From the opening ceremony of Newton Angers in June 2022. From left to right: Guillaume de Chazournes, Director of Hubs Leo for the Fédération Léo Lagrange; Jean Lenoir, Head of the Félix Landreau Middle School; Benoît Dechambre, Director of the Academy of Angers; Florence Dabin, President of the Department of Maine-et-Loire; and Jean-Marc Fron, Managing Director of Boeing France. Photo credit: Fédération Léo Lagrange.
Fédération Léo Lagrange
Since February 2022, Fédération Léo Lagrange has served as the Newton Operating Partner in France. With over 70 years of experience in civic education, early childhood development, and vocational training, the organization plays a vital role in promoting inclusive and innovative education.
As part of the social and solidarity economy, it collaborates with local authorities and public institutions to implement educational, socio-cultural, and integration-focused initiatives. Through this partnership, Fédération Léo Lagrange aims to expand the Newton Concept across the communities it supports, providing high-quality, hands-on STEM education to children and youth.
Since Newton’s launch in France in 2021, more than 10,000 children have experienced the Newton Concept. In 2024, they hosted a temporary Newton Room, and in October 2024, a Mobile Newton Room was set up at Les Plaisances Middle School in Mantes-la-Ville in partnership with The Boeing Company.
