When the so-called God Particle was discovered three years ago, among many reputable researchers from CERN institute in Switzerland, there were several researchers from Croatia and even two young scientists from Klis, Dr. Marko Kovač and Dr. Roko Pleština, on the team.
According to Slobodna Dalmacija, their scientific carrier started back in their home town Klis, where they both finished elementary school, continued their studies in Split and Zagreb and even gain their doctorates in reputable European institutes.
Marko Kovač is 29 years old and has just defended his doctoral dissertation in experimental particle physics at the École Polytechnique, ParisTech. His memories are taking him back to Dalmatia, where the idea of the collaboration with CERN actually started.
“After elementary school in Klis and the High School in Split, I continued my education at the Faculty of Science in Split. It all started through my growing interest in high energy physics and astrophysics, as I finally focused my studies on astrophysics at the University in Split.
After that, I met Professor Ivica Puljak and other physicists from the Faculty of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split, who work very closely with a group of physicists from Paris and participate in research related to the Higgs boson, analysing data collected by the CMS detector at CERN”, sais Dr. Kovač about the beginning of the cooperation with the Swiss Institute.
A short time later he received a CERN Scholarship for the “CERN Summer Student Program” and made most of the work for his thesis during those two months in Switzerland. As the participation in the CERN program was a very nice and inspiring experience, he decided to focus his doctoral thesis in that direction.
A similar way to the reputable Swiss Institute had Dr. Roko Pleština, who received a special award – The Award of the Klis Municipality for his scientific work this year.
He discovered his love for science in his youth and after the elementary school “Petar Kružić” in Klis, he enrolled a Natural-Science High School in Split and continued his studies in Zagreb.
Dr. Pleština first visited the Swiss Institute as a student in 2007, when he started his graduate work – he was thrilled by the CERN Institute.
“It was the summer program, which was attended by students from around the world. The atmosphere was amazing – a variety of friendships, fun, conversations about culture and customs and food was the icing on the cake of the excellent theoretical lectures and practical work. That´s when I really fell in love with CERN.”, says Dr. Pleština
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