Welcome to My Personal Website

I’m Habib Zreik — a mechanical and mechatronics engineer who loves building, coding, and figuring out how complex systems fit together. What really excites me is seeing the bigger picture, connecting ideas across fields, and collaborating with people from all kinds of backgrounds to create solutions that are both practical and innovative. Beyond engineering, I’ve always been drawn to community, culture, and volunteering — the human side of knowledge that keeps ideas alive and shared.

A Lifelong Learner

My educational journey reflects a curiosity that spans multiple disciplines:

⏳ M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (specialization in Mechatronics) — University of Duisburg-Essen, 2023 – present (thesis in progress)
🎓 Associate Degree in Computer Science — University of the People, 2023
⏳ MBA in Business Administration — Syrian Virtual University, 2021 – present (thesis pending)
🎓 B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering — Damascus University, 2020

This mix of studies has shaped how I approach engineering: balancing technical precision with big-picture thinking and always asking, “what’s next?”

Current Focus

My work and studies are currently divided between two main pursuits. At DST e.V., I’m programming, researching, and documenting robotics projects such as CoboTank, focusing on control systems, human–machine interfaces, and practical deployment. Alongside this, I continue preparing for my master’s in Mechatronics at University of Duisburg-Essen, advancing my academic research and technical expertise in parallel with DST projects.

What Drives My Work

🔧 Research & Robotics
I spend my days at DST contributing to maritime robotics and automation projects, developing software, and ensuring robotic systems are both reliable and intuitive.

📚 Sharing Knowledge
Since 2019, I’ve been part of Bayt Al-Hikma 2.0 (Ideas Beyond Borders), translating and adapting technical and cultural content into Arabic. From mechanical engineering and sustainability to methodology and the history of ideas, I help make knowledge accessible to millions across the Middle East.

✍️ Writing & Documentation
Clear communication is key to everything I do. Whether I’m creating Git workflows for engineering teams, writing guides for robotics projects, or contributing to research publications, I aim to make complex ideas understandable and useful.

Areas of Expertise

Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering: from classical mechanics to robotics and automation
Programming: C++, Python, ROS2
Translation: English ↔ Arabic technical, academic, and cultural works
Research & Documentation: scientific methodology, project development, technical writing

Beyond Engineering

Alongside my technical and academic journey, I’ve been deeply involved in cultural initiatives that shaped how I think about knowledge and community.

I helped found Hamak’s Reading Club, where I served as head coordinator. Despite many restrictions, we created a space to openly discuss books, ideas, and films — conversations that pushed boundaries and encouraged critical thought. Later, with Cham’s Cultural Club, I contributed as an organizer and eventually coordinated their reciprocal library initiative, which grew into seven locations across three Syrian governorates and was supported by a team of about 50 volunteers. I also joined discussions at ALTC Cineclub, adding film to the mix of cultural exchange. In parallel, I was contracted by the Syrian Trust for Development to establish a book club at their premises — a project I successfully launched.

Books have always been central to my life. I’m especially drawn to series that open up entire worlds, such as Abdelrahman Munif’s Cities of Salt, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, and Harry Potter, each of which shaped my imagination in different ways. But no matter how much I read, as we say in Arabic, “love belongs to the first Habib” — for me, that first Habib was Le Petit Prince, my very first novel in first grade and the one I’ve returned to in every language I’ve learned, even French, which I never quite mastered.

Photography and the arts are another personal passion. While I am far from being an artist myself, I’ve attended art workshops by major Syrian artist, the late Ayman Aldakr, which gave me a lasting respect for visual expression and creativity. I also worked as an events photographer during my student days in Damascus.

Feel free to explore my site: projects, translations, publications, and my multilingual CV are all here — snapshots of a journey fueled by curiosity, engineering, and social engagement.