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CATALYZER0 THE ZERO ISSUE OF CATALYZER MAGAZINE 14/07/2017 WELCOME MESSAGES KAROL KAREL MIČIETA MELZOCH RECTOR RECTOR UNIVERSITY COMENIUS OF CHEMISTRY UNIVERSITY AND TECHNOLOGY, IN BRATISLAVA PRAGUE On behalf of Comenius Univer- ciate Professor Martin Putala. Dear young chemists, Finding answers to complex sity, I am very glad that I can I am also glad to hear about the I greet you from the place questions, experiments, partial welcome all passionate fans of cooperation with the University where, 49 years ago, the historic triumphs, and doubts are a chemistry and scientifi c inquiry of Chemistry and Technology in fi rst-ever International Chem- natural part of the DNA of chem- to Bratislava and Slovakia for Prague, because I am convinced istry Olympiad was held. The ists and other scientists. It‘s our the 50th International Chemis- that world-class scientifi c promising young researchers cognitive code. I am extremely try Olympiad. Our university is centres should work together. and students of that time had no happy that, as a biotechnology inherently incorporated into the It pleases me all the more that idea where our beloved science professor and rector of the only international environment; this in 2018, the year before our would be today. Our contempo- “chemistry only” university in is proven by the fact that around university celebrates its fi rst rary instruments would have the Czech Republic, I can greet ten percent of our students are hundred years of existence, we been considered to be science the latest and most talented foreign students, coming from will commemorate the 100th an- fi ction, and the idea of millions laureates and wish you much around 70 countries around the niversary of the establishment of computer operations being success and fun in the coming world. Our university provides of the Czechoslovak Republic. executed every second would year. At the same time, I invite the greatest opportunities for After all, when the Chemistry have made their heads spin. you to the next International gaining international experi- Olympiad was held in Slova- But one thing they shared with Chemistry Olympiad, the 50th ence to Slovak students abroad kia in the past, it was actually you, regardless of equipment or anniversary, which will be host- and reciprocally also to foreign a Czechoslovak event. level of knowledge: they loved ed by two small but beautiful students in Slovakia. We are a Welcome to Comenius Universi- chemistry with every cell in countries: Slovakia and the signifi cant centre of research ty in Bratislava, and welcome to their bodies and devoted to it a Czech Republic. and science. In light of this, Slovakia! maximum of their time. I would like to acknowledge the enthusiasm, eff orts, and professional input of the staff at our university’s Faculty of Natural Sciences and the team under the leadership of Asso- Prof. Karol Mičieta Prof. Karel Melzoch catalyzer0.indd 1 28.06.2017 21:37:39 INTERNATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD MAGAZINE / SLOVAKIA & CZECH REPUBLIC, 2018 SLOVAKIA AN INLAND COUNTRY IN CENTRAL EUROPE, 5.5 MILLION INHABITANTS. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SLOVENIA MUCH FURTHER TO THE SOUTH. INDEPENDENT SINCE PEACEFUL DISSOLUTION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA IN 1993. MEMBER OF EUROPEAN UNION SINCE 2004 AND USING EURO AS CURRENCY SINCE 2009. BRATISLAVA NATURAL WEALTH LEADING TECHNOLOGIES SPORTS The capital of Slovakia has a The greatest wealth of Slovakia In 2007, Slovakia became the The country has a tradition in very special location. It lies on lies is in its incredibly beautiful world’s largest producer of cars skiing and ice-hockey, there were the border with Austria, only an nature. The country is largely per capita. Several models of many Slovak hockey players in hour-long drive to Vienna. Only mountainous, in the winter it is a Peugeot, Citroen, and Kia are the NHL, nine managed to share 20 km away, the two countries paradise for winter sports, and in manufactured here, and the pro- the Stanley cup. Slovaks are truly meet Hungary. Many people in the the summer for mountain hiking, duction of Volkswagen Bratislava exceptional in water, out of the villages in this region speak all rock climbing and other leisure also includes Audi, Bentley and 28 medals that Slovakia brought three languages daily, just as in activities. Porsche. Leadership in the field from 6 summer Olympics, 14 the past times of the Austro-Hun- Nine natural parks nurture a will be secured further with a were in canoe slalom. garian Empire. Bratislava is often great diversity of plant and ani- new Jaguar Land Rover plant Our world fame in sports in- dubbed „The Beauty on Danube“, mal life, many precious species opening in 2018. cludes footballer Marek Hamšík, the river is a very central element are found only in Slovakia. The The country is particularly currently the captain of Italian of the city. The Old Town offers country is very rich in mineral advanced in IT. Slovakia has one club Napoli, and Dominika monuments, old narrow streets, waters, spas, and more than of the highest penetration rates Cibulková, in 2017 ranked as the and the city’s landmark, the 7000 caves, many open to the in optic-fiber Internet, and also world’s number 4 in women’s Bratislava Castle. At the same public. Ochtina Cave, for example, is the home of ESET, one of the tennis. One of the world’s best time, the city is very lively, young is one of just three aragonite world’s leaders in IT security. The road bicycle racers is Peter people from all over the country caves in the whole world. company’s founders made first Sagan, a prolific winner of come here for education and antivirus software as early as in individual stages in stage races, work. Great food, drinks and 1987. Nowadays, ESET has its as well as many European and nightlife are taken for granted. branch offices on all continents. World titles. © MARTIN SLOBODA © MARTIN © WIKIMEDIA COMMONS PAGE 2–3 catalyzer0.indd 2 28.06.2017 21:37:41 CULTURAL HERITAGE AND FOLK TRADITIONS Many places preserve their Almost every family keeps centuries-old castles, chateux, its own special recipe for the or manor houses in great con- traditional Christmas sour- © ESET dition. They frequently become -cabbage soup, and many shooting locations for movies, people are involved in folklorist for example, the famous Nosfer- activities, maintaining their atu, the fi rst Dracula movie from regional art and crafts, regional 1922, was actually not fi lmed costumes, music, song and in Transylvania, but at Orava dance. Castle in Northern Slovakia. The people sustain a great wealth of folk traditions, and many customary festivities and rites are still alive today. The face of the cutting- edge IT security company ESET is an android. © PIXABAY ©FRESHWATER2006@FLICKR CC ©FRESHWATER2006@FLICKR © GYMNIK © VW © VW SLOVAKIA CATALYZER0 catalyzer0.indd 3 28.06.2017 21:37:46 INTERNATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD MAGAZINE / SLOVAKIA & CZECH REPUBLIC, 2018 CZECH REPUBLIC 10.4 MILLION INHABITANTS, HISTORICAL CITIES, WONDERFUL CASTLES AND CHATEAUX, PRISTINE COUNTRYSIDE AND LEGENDARY CUISINE – THAT’S THE CZECH REPUBLIC. UNESCO NATURE CUISINE PERSONALITY Registrations in the UNESCO Previously the saying went: every Traditional Czech cuisine offers The most prominent international cultural heritage list are not Czech is a musician. Today one some original dishes that you sports personality hailing from bestowed lightly; there are less might say: every Czech is a tour- will not taste anywhere else, or the Czech Republic is one of the than a thousand worldwide. But ist. Czechs love nature and do not at least you will not enjoy such best NHL players, Jaromír Jágr. you can find twelve UNESCO sites hesitate to use every moment of quality as you will in Bohemia. In This world champion, Olympic in the Czech Republic. Beyond the spare time for trips to sandstone the first place there is, of course, champion and Double Stanley historical centre of Prague, other rocks, mysterious river valleys or beer. It is not a complete meal, but Cup champion was, at the start of sites include Český Krumlov, Kut- mountain peaks. These sites are as the traditional Czech saying 2017, the second player in history ná Hora, and Telč – and even the mostly protected within national goes: hunger is a disguised thirst. to score 1,900 NHL points – functionalist Villa Tugendhat in parks. The most well-known: You can be sure that beer is the and he’s still going ... Brno designed by architect Lud- Podyjí, Krkonoše, and Český ráj. national pride number one. Drinks wig Mies van der Rohe and the are everywhere and keep on historical gardens and chateau in flowing. Another specialty is the Kroměříž. spiced liqueur, Becherovka; in Moravia, slivovitz is very popular. As far as food is concerned, sirloin with cream sauce and dumplings as well as pork, dumplings, and cabbage dominate. And don’t for- get potato pancakes and the deli- cacy known around the world: the delicious delicacy, fried cheese. © CZECHTOURISM © CZECHTOURISM © CZECHTOURISM © CZECHTOURISM PAGE 4–5 catalyzer0.indd 4 28.06.2017 21:37:53 PRAGUE CZECH CURIOSITIES: City of a Hundred Spires and one Did you know? of the most beautiful cities in the • Prague was the last major city • Jan Jansky (1873–1921), a fa- world. Home to over a million in the world to give up using mous Czech medical practition- people, 5 public universities and a pneumatic postal system, er, was first to identify the four countless theaters, galleries, installed in 1889. The system principal blood groups – referred cinemas, and pubs. It is also the had 26 lines covering some to today as A, B, 0, AB. sixth safest city in the world.