Ryszard Sandak; Technician

• Where were you living in childhood and where do you live now?

I was living in the northern mountains in Italy from the age of 3 until the age of 17, then I moved to the seaside of Izola.

• What have you studied and what were the motives for your decision?

I attended one year of physics in Trieste, but during my studies, I realized I was more interested in the computer I was using than the subjects themselves. Today, I am enrolled into the computer science course at UP FAMNIT in Koper.

• How would you describe your work to someone outside your field?

Applying your knowledge to solve problems, using cool tools with amazing people.

• What does your typical working day look like?

There is no typical working day. Every day is completely different, as sometimes I spend most of my day cutting wood, while another, I am at home touching up some 3d models.

• What makes you excited about your work?

The people working here are experts in their own fields. I am sure that I will learn something new every day.

• And what is the biggest challenge at your work?

Being able to manage both my professional and academic life. Unfortunately I tend to overlook university, as work is something I enjoy much more.

• Which scientist or scientific achievement are you fascinated by and why?

The open-source community revolutionized 3D printing as soon as the patents expired. It is fascinating to me how passion-driven people progressed the idea so quickly, from barely functioning prototypes to a new industrial manufacturing method.

• Tell us about the work of art (books, music, movies, theatre, dance, visual arts) that has a special place in your life.

“La Stravaganza” by Vivaldi.

• What have you read, listened to, or watched lately?

Made in the abyss. It is an anime about a journey towards the center of the earth while not being able to move upwards due to a curse.

• Which place on the Slovene coast do you like the most?

The beach between Izola and Strunjan. But without nudists around!

• What makes you enthusiastic?

Technology.

• Characterize your life’s guidance or an important realization (or epiphany) you have experienced.

Realizing that everything we have around us was made by someone, and we as individuals are also able to do it. It just takes a quick google search and you can gain all the knowledge about anything, anytime.

• What does the charm of wood mean to you?

Wood gives a kind of warmth to any space, as if it were magic (or science?).