Name: Petar Mihin
Age: 25
Has been a part of Newton since: 2024
Professional Background: Teacher of physics and chemistry
Life Outside of Work: He is a musician and plays a variety of instruments and sings in a band. He also conducts a choir and plays handball and badminton. Petar comes from a large family full of educators — his mother is also a Newton teacher. And next month, he’s getting married!
What sparked your interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in the first place?
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and was drawn to STEM subjects. My aunt, a chemistry teacher, introduced me to the subject, and my father, a tinkerer, taught me about electricity and mechanics. In high school, I also had a great teacher who made me enjoy physics. My path toward STEM has shaped my whole life.”
What do you love most about working in a Newton Room?
“Every group is different, and every single time, students are creative in new ways. It’s a breath of fresh air when you learn something new from students and get new ideas. The construction challenges in Exploring Energy! are among my favourites.”
What’s your favourite topic or module to teach, and why?
“It’s probably Exploring Energy! Students have a lot of time to discover and learn, and every session brings new ideas. Building the car out of cardboard and simple materials at the end sparks their creativity and also helps them understand complex topics like friction.”
What do you hope students and teachers take away from their visit to your Newton Room?
“I hope they’ll see that everyone can enjoy science and that everyone has something to contribute. Most of all, I hope students will learn how important it is to work in a team. Unfortunately, today, many people try to solve problems alone or rely on the internet or AI, forgetting that their friends might be the ones who can help them most.”
Can you share a fun or inspiring story that’s happened in your Newton Room?
“One student came to an open day at the Newton Room and impressed me by answering questions during my presentation. Later, when I spoke with her parents, I learned that she wasn’t an all-around top student, but she had a particular love for physics, and I had played a big role in that. It reminded me that as teachers, we have the power to inspire students to love STEM — and that realization motivates me even more.”
How can we best inspire children and young people to pursue STEM education and careers?
“We have to show them that science is all around us and that it truly makes our lives easier. If we are passionate about teaching and manage to show students how science relates to their everyday lives, some of them will be inspired to pursue STEM.”
If you could meet one famous scientist, past or present, who would it be and why?
“I would like to meet Michael Faraday. His story of becoming a scientist was unique for his time — he wasn’t well off in life, but through hard work, and possibly some luck, he became just as influential as other scientists who had many more opportunities growing up.”
What are three things on your bucket list (private or professional)?
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Create a STEM-themed pub quiz for young students
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Learn to play some challenging but beautiful pieces, like Rachmaninoff’s Italian Polka
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Grow a thriving raspberry garden
Newton Alpha
Newton Ludbreg
Newton Ludbreg features two Newton Rooms — Alpha and Beta — and are the only Newton Rooms in Croatia where students as young as fourth grade (10–11 years old) participate in the modules.
The Newton Rooms in Ludbreg officially opened on April 2, 2024, as a partnership between the Croatian educational centre Lori Ludbreg, FIRST Scandinavia, and various stakeholders. The project was supported by nearly 3 million euros from the EEA and Norway Grants.
The modules offered include:
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Up in the Air with Numbers
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We Explore Energy!
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Robots and Circumference
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Search and Rescue
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Mission Possible: A King's Treasure
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Sustainable Aviation Fuels
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Polymer Party
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Activities: Eco House and 3D Printing
Newton Ludbreg has around 20 active Newton teachers, each focusing on different modules based on their interests.
Newton Beta
