2019 Charles University Magazine / the Arcade The Golden Age of Panorama 10 series fantasy/sci-fi author of popular Marcela Remeňová, Med student perspective a different world from the see me helped Writing

/ November ’89 Remembering Panorama 14 / 48 / science is crucial Excellence in Interview 24

/ diabetes is the same form ofNot every Spotlight 42 / won the Nobel Prize How Heyrovský History Charles University Magazine University Charles 50 2 2019 —iforum.cuni.cz

/ at CU French minister Final Word 64

Dear readers,

an inspiration, many people in Prague told us this year. What Czechoslovaks achieved over the period of “just a few weeks” in November and December ’89, they said, was unforgettable. To return for a moment to pop culture, Czech bookstores just recently stocked the new Czech translation of another seminal work, William Gib- son’s Neuromancer which – in 1984 – seamlessly fused American Noir with a future including cyber- i space and emerging AI still fairly different from our own. In his introduction to the Czech edition, writ- er Ondřej Neff recalls how the ’80s in Czechoslo- vakia really were “punk” for budding programmers, a time when microcomputers had to be smuggled

Photo by René by Volfík Photo into the country. Luckily, we have a history of the period written by Charles University’s Jaroslav It seems like the 1980s have been in the news a Švelch (published by MIT Press). In our interview, lot lately. Perhaps it’s the phenomenal success of you’ll learn how programmers in Czechoslovakia the Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Things (a tremen- coded their own text-based games and stuck a fin- Forum 7 Forum

CU Point dous love letter to all things ’80s including Spiel- ger in the eye of the communist authorities – with- berg, Dungeons & Dragons and Stephen King). out them being the wiser! We even provide a handy Or it might be because this year we finally reached link to some of those games today. Information and “November 2019” – the month in which the 1982 In this issue, we also take a close look at the cult classic Blade Runner is set. While the world work of doctors and researchers at the Second Fac-

is not yet nearly as desolate as Rick Deckard’s Los ulty of Medicine and the Motol University Hospi- Editorial services in one place Angeles, many of the warnings are decidedly bleak; tal, helping children who suffer from type 1 diabe- many of us pondered to what degree the film, made tes and other illnesses. We are luckily a long way 1 almost 40 years ago, predicted the future. What was away from the days when pediatric patients died Charles University fantasy and what could still come true? from such diseases on a fairly regular basis. While For Czechs, 2019 was the year to look back and no one has a warranty for a healthy child, it is the Celetná 13, Prague 1 mark the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution work of specialists like these that give children and which brought down communism in Czechoslova- their families hope. Every advance, large or small, kia. Against all odds, the events of November ’89 helps. While most researchers caution there is no spelled the end of a repressive and unjust regime, breakbrough around the corner, I am confident one [email protected] putting the country back on the path to democra- day there will be. cy and freedom. The most remarkable chapter in Have a great holiday season and if you too are ukpoint.cuni.cz the fairy tale? That playwright and dissident Václav enjoying the continuing ’80s vibe, you know what Havel – previously jailed by the authorities – be- to do. Pull out the old cassette player from your +420 224 491 850 came president. (parents’) basement and don’t be afraid to wear Highlighted inside, are two new publications by your sunglasses… at night. our own Karolinum Press: The Velvet Revolution – 30 Years After and one of the most important books Jan Velinger of the Normalisation period: Ludvík Vaculík’s A Editor Czech Dreambook. Along with an interview with editor Mike Baugh, this issue of Forum includes historic photographs from ’89 as well as testimo- nies from some of the main student figures who witnessed the brutal crackdown by the communist police at Narodní třída. Protestors’ courage and de- termination and conviction of their beliefs remain You can read the articles online too! Students Foundation offers a world of possibilities to young scientists / 46 marcela remeňová – Writing 52 gave me a broader perspective / 48 4 History jiří barek – How Heyrovský won the Nobel Prize / 50

Alumni pavel pola – Caring for the Infant Jesus of Prague / 52

Contents My CU Interview Classrooms instead of casinos / 58 jaroslav švelch – Forum 2/2019, Issue No. 7

Forum 7 Forum How programmers in the ’80s 7 Forum

Life at CU / 60 Charles University Magazine used games to mock the regime / 4

Published by Interview Charles University jan konvalinka – Excellence Ovocný trh 5, 116 36 Prague 1 Panorama Final Word in science is crucial / 24 Contents Responsible for Content The Golden Age of the Arcade / 10 French minister outlines Contents Jan Velinger challenges facing EU / 64 2 Editor-in-chief 3 The day the Future arrived / 12 Martin Rychlík Science Lab Editorial Inquiries +420 224 491 248 Remembering November ’89 / 14 filip kolář – A star in the field of botany E-mail clinches an important ERC grant / 30 [email protected] Layout and Graphic Design Books On the Wings of the Desert Dragon / 32 Filip Blažek, Eliška Kudrnovská, Designiq mike baugh – A Czech Dreambook Cover Photo available in English at last! / 18 Spotlight Vladimír Šigut A look inside The Velvet Revolution – jan lebl – No one gets a warranty Forum is published twice a year and is 30 Years After / 21 for a healthy child / 38 free. The opinions expressed in Forum 48 are those of the contributors and zdeněk šumník – A cure for diabetes not necessarily those of the Charles is not on the horizon yet / 40 University. Reprinting of any articles or images from Forum without štěpánka průhová – Not every form the express permission of Charles University is forbidden. of diabetes is the same / 42 lenka petruželková – Parents want This issue was published 18 in December 2019 solutions now / 44 Registration MK ČR E 22422 ISSN 1211-1732 Jaroslav Švelch: How programmers in the ’80s Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum used games Interview Interview 4 to mock 5 the regime

PCs were almost impossible to get in Czechoslovakia in the ’80s but microcomputers were a different matter. As hobby programming caught on, enthu- siasts soon coded their own computer games. Some subtly – and others rather daringly – mocked the communist regime. CU’s Jaroslav Švelch mapped the history in a book published by MIT Press.

STORY BY Jan Velinger PHOTOS BY Vladimír Šigut Jaroslav Švelch is an assistant professor of media but which certainly ran faster. But in the Soviet studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles sphere – and in Czechoslovakia – people used cas- University and his book is called Gaming the Iron settes almost until the 1990s. Curtain. When we met at the Carolinum, he told me not only about his findings but about how his There was a lag in available hardware, if you own foray into computers as a child began: got your hands on a computer at all? Yes, in a manner of speaking. Computers weren’t The first time I saw a microcomputer was as a officially imported or only on a very limited scale. kid at my dad’s work in the 1980s. He worked as a People tried to get their hands on them from abroad programmer for Solo Sušice, a famous factory that but that was extremely hard. People had to smuggle used to produce matches and other wood products them in. Bringing them in legally was not practical and they had machines there including an East as the customs fees were just incredibly high. German computer called the Robotron. To do so, people had to spend a lot of money It was an 8-bit machine that had this black & to be able to get their hands on western curren- green screen and you could play a number of basic cy, then maybe to bribe someone to get a permit games on it that were text only but still fascinating to travel to the West. While there, they bought the and thrilling. Equally thrilling was the fact that you computer and then officially had to pay customs could do your own programming on it. It was clear fees that almost matched the price of the comput- that there was just so much you could do with the er! A lot of people opted to just smuggle them in, machine. instead. The Spectrum was particularly suitable because How common were microcomputers in it was so compact and easy to disguise. One thing The ZX Spectrum and a homemade joystick made by a Czech hobbyist in the ’80s. Czechoslovakia? that I heard that people did (although it is hard They were the most viable option and the most to verify) was to buy a box of chocolates and hide common if anyone had a computer at all. For a the computer inside. It fit easily, as you can see. Or reason: excluding big institutional mainframe ma- they would wrap it in sandwich paper and would like them, they were hard to import. So they were often ports or clones or conversions of American chines, the first PCs were for business use but they basically disguise it as food. And presumably it the future but they were almost nowhere to be or Japanese games. So the trends had been filtered

Forum 7 Forum were very, very expensive even in the West and worked. The ZX Spectrum was much smaller than found and nowhere to be bought. through several intermediaries before they came 7 Forum you couldn’t get them here. You could program similar machines like the Atari microcomputers or to Czechoslovakia. One example of a very popular on them, they had text editors, word processing, Commodore 64: the size was ideal. Did Czechs who got their hands on micro- game was Manic Miner from 1983. The main char- spreadsheets, but they were just very costly. computers became most active in game pro- acter was a miner who you guided through a series By contrast, microcomputers or micros were Even though it was hard for people to get graming? of caverns to look for treasure. cheaper versions of the same thing and they were their hands on hardware or software… They did all kinds of things. They programmed It was funny and a little surrealist and immense-

Interview very compact and could be smuggled into the young people, enthusiasts or budding pro- games, they made homemade versions of some pe- ly popular. People did a lot of conversions to other Interview country. They weren’t very open in terms of the grammers must have been excited by what ripheral items, such as joysticks, and they were even platforms, some even domestically produced such 6 hardware architecture – they were more of a con- was going on… able to modify some hardware. It wasn’t trivial: you as the Tesla PMD 85. There weren’t that many of 7 sumer product – it wasn’t that easy to take one part It was an interesting situation. On the one hand, had to know how to do some soldering. Even if these machines, some were at schools, and some out and replace it with something else, or to modify you had the authorities and an official Party line we look at the Spectrum I brought with me today, people did conversions of the game for that and it or to upgrade. But you could program on them. that was very much promoting technology. The sci- you can see that it has a custom port and there was other platforms. The third category was video game consoles entific-technological revolution was kind of official some soldering inside. Then there are some buttons People did all kinds of clones of Manic Miner: which lacked a keyboard and usually you couldn’t policy and the government and the Communist here that weren’t on the original.It was modified games which were very similar but featured dif- program your own code and your own games. And Party were aware that computers were the future and people learned how to do that. ferent characters or different levels. Up until 1985, these used cartridges instead of floppies – or tapes. and that they had to do something in that regard. People also had to do their own repairs because people were still modifying and creating new ver- Programming and general technical skills were very obviously they had no access to anything like of- sions of it. Microcomputers could be hooked up to a TV much supported and even in magazines and news- ficial servicing. When the keyboard broke, which screen? papers you could read about how computers would happened quite often with the Spectrum, they Many people outside the Soviet bloc or Most of the time, yes. That was one reason they play an important role even in the future of the so- needed to replace the keys – they would have to fix sphere of influence had little idea of what life were also so popular. They were very versatile, very cialist economy. it themselves or build an external keyboard. That was like behind the Iron Curtain – there is no compact, you didn’t need much additional hard- At the same time, it was very hard to get the was hardware, and in terms of software they did all question the regime was oppressive but at ware beyond the computer itself. You could take machines and Czechoslovakia’s centrally-planned kinds of things: games or productivity software. the same time is it possible to say people in the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, a British 8-bit micro- economy was simply unable to produce anything the 1980s breathed a little easier? Or to put computer, and hook it up to your TV or to a tape What games from the West were popular? it another way, was the ground ripe for this recorder and didn’t need a lot of specialised hard- Or copied? kind of creativity in computing? ware to use it. The Spectrum was particularly suitable It always depended on the platform and in Czech- I would say so. Hobby computing and similar hob- oslovakia the most popular computer was the Sin- bies in fact became popular because of oppres- Today it’s easy to forget casettes were used because it was so compact and easy to clair ZX Spectrum we have been talking about. sion: the thing is, unless you were a member of the to store games… disguise. One thing that I heard that people This was a British machine which was only suc- Communist Party, you didn’t really have substan- That’s right: cassettes were the No. 1 data storage did (although it is hard to verify) was to buy cessful on some markets in the world: it had a big tial career opportunities. You were basically stuck medium in the Soviet bloc for most of the ’80s. In market share in the UK and in Spain, so the games in one place. The way you could find self-fulfilment the West they began being replaced by 1984 with a box of chocolates and hide the computer that made it here were usually either British or was either in private life (having a cottage or a floppy discs which were much more expensive inside. It fit easily, as you can see. Spanish. At the same time, the British games were garden) or by taking part in hobby groups. Hobby groups were extremely popular and to an extent bo. And I think this was a very smart way of writing In terms of the methodology, you inter- You know, I was born in the 1980s so they were supported by the state as a kind of con- the game. It was very funny and I think it was en- viewed around 40 people for the book: how tinuing education they could sometimes then apply joyed by many as a way of getting back at the regime. did they look back on that era? my own memories are hazy but it is at work. But it didn’t always work out that way. Most were pleasantly surprised that someone was important to say that as a researcher People had a lot of free time and they didn’t This was a text-based game? interested. It was more than 30 years ago and many and author I avoided anything like have that many options. And many of these activi- Yes, it was a text adventure. About 50 percent of people simply moved on. The memory had faded a ties, surprisingly, weren’t really regulated and there the games that were made for the Spectrum were bit. Some became quite famous and maybe around nostalgia in the book – the point is to be was no ideological content. People would just work text adventures. For many reasons: one was that it one-fifth of them are still active in retro-gaming cir- as impartial and objective as possible. on projects of their own design and there wasn’t was simply easier to program. Graphics and ani- cles. Others simply made some games in the 1980s much oversight. mation were hard to code and to draw. In text ad- and forgot about them. But they were pleased that ventures, you could actually tell a story much more the period was being researched. communism; these were not the games that were Czechoslovaks – under an ineffective powerfully than in the action games of that era. around in the 1980s and had been rediscovered. planned economy – often suffered short- The only graphics were a loading screen with the We have been talking about microcomput- ages of some items or long waiting periods or face of the major and the hammer & sickle, for ex- ers and programming but neglected to talk What happened to those that had been simply couldn’t get needed equipment. Were ample, and then you started playing. So there were about arcade games. I know that these trick- brought in? they used to looking for D-I-Y solutions? games like that which were cleverly subversive. led into Czechoslovakia as well. Most of those arcade cabinets were lost. Arcade It was definitely the spirit of the times. People who Another subversive game from that era featured It was hard to import them, you would have to games had long become obsolete and for a time became involved with computers, for example, Indiana Jones on Prague’s Wenceslas Square: he pay customs fees, and at some point the peo- they were stored, unused, at Prague’s Výstaviště were the same who before had been members of gets beaten up shortly after Palach Week in 1989 ple bringing in these games figured out that you fairgrounds. But the grounds were hit by major electronics clubs, where they were soldering radios which was brutally supressed by the secret police. didn’t have to bring in the whole machine but floods in 2002 and the games were destroyed. This and so on. So yes, many people were used to fixing He was a very popular character in text adventures only had to smuggle in the main board and to was before the rise of retro interest in those games. things on their own. here. In this game he happened to be on the city build the rest locally. One of them, Tomáš Smut- square when there was a demonstration and he gets ný, is well-known and has openly discussed the Your book is called Gaming the Iron Curtain – beaten up by the police and then has to fight back period. He and others would build these arcade Speaking of retro, we are kind of in a situa- in what way did programmers here do that and defeat various members of the communist po- cabinets with carpenters and for the monitors tion where film and popular books are look- and what was the result? lice and people’s militia and get to the subway and they used Soviet-built TVs that were smuggled ing back at the 1980s with a certain amount Many of them were mocking the regime: it start- escape to the airport. in. They would even build their own joysticks. of nostalgia, whether it is Bumblebee (The

Forum 7 Forum ed with games that made fun of Soviet iconogra- It’s a very violent game and I think it was a bit of Everything but the board was made locally. It was Transformers), Ernest Cline’s Ready Player 7 Forum phy and Soviet mythology. There were games like a revenge fantasy. It was written anonymously – we much cheaper than trying to bring in the whole One, or the phenomenally successful Shatokhin – about a major in the Red Army whose still don’t know who the author was – but I imagine cabinet from the West. Stranger Things. Have you registered that mission it is to kill John Rambo. So you had this it must have been someone who experienced it or wave? kind of pastiche, this kind of mashup of the Rambo someone who was disturbed by what happened. And everybody got paid… I think it may help sell a few copies of the book movies and the Soviet propaganda film Solo Jour- This game allowed you to fight back and – above It was money in the pocket but it was not without (laughs). You know, I was born in the 1980s so my

Interview ney (also called The Detached Mission) featuring all – to get revenge on the authorities. risks, either. Smutný was actually arrested by the own memories are hazy but it is important to say Interview Major Shatokhin. authorities for unauthorised enterprise which was that as a researcher and author I avoided anything 8 In the process, the main character gets humiliat- illegal. like nostalgia in the book – the point is to be as im- 9 ed and killed a lot: he falls out of a helicopter, gets partial and objective as possible. Jaroslav Švelch, Ph.D., was born in Sušice, burnt to a crisp and all of it was kind of graphically Czechoslovakia in 1981 and graduated in What was the outcome? It’s great that many people are interested in the described. So on the one hand the Soviet soldier is media studies and linguistics from Charles The case never went to trial but was dropped and period but historians have to be aware of the pit- the “hero” but he is constantly humiliated by Ram- University. In 2007–2008, he was a visiting there was expert testimony which was favourable falls. Especially in cultures that were more periph- PhD student at MIT. He is now an assistant to him – that what he was doing was repairs, not eral than the US, people start to adopt memories of professor of media studies at the Facul- manufacturing. It’s an interesting conceptual ques- the past that weren’t really theirs. ty of Social Sciences, Charles University. tion, actually, but the expert said it was only repairs So young people here might watch Stranger His latest work is the recent monograph and so Smutný was released and was able to spend Things today and think that is what the ’80s were Gaming the Iron Curtain: How Teenagers Christmas with his family. like… even here! I mean, it is not even accurate of and Amateurs in Communist Czechoslo- the 1980s in the US – but it is doubly inaccurate vakia Claimed the Medium of Computer for Czechoslovakia. It is certainly the mission of Games (MIT Press, 2018), in which he trac- One follow-up: did they paint the arcade es the hidden histories of home computing game cabinets to look at all like the origi- historians to popularise their subject but you also and gaming in the former Soviet bloc. In nals? have to point out very real differences and to de- 2017–2019, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Usually they didn’t. It was very bare bones. Wood- bunk some of the myths. the University of Bergen, Norway, working en planks that weren’t embellished. on a project about the history, theory, and reception of monsters in games – which There is a unique museum/arcade outside will be the topic of his next book. Prague where they have a lot of the first or second generation arcade games – Pac-Man 2, The Gauntlet – so in a way the dream lives on. That’s true. There is one at Červený újezd out- side Prague that is pretty good. There the thing that is important to note is that collectors brought in a lot of these games later, only after the fall of Play the games online! 10 Panorama Forum 7 of the Arcade of STORY BY crew getting of adventurers istasked with back. it forgotten or some Rings amotley where game arcade of of Lord the The – like out beak something inits ring features asilver raven agolden with – oddly-enough coat of Its arms of Prague-west. located district inthe Červený újezd isavillage inhabitants 1‚400 of around The impact oflanded blows inkungfu. exclamations of astonishment, andshouts the of soundshits you: music, explosive FX, jingles, enjoyed). Coming infrom the parking lot, a wave tion Extreme(whichmy son, ofstreet dance, afan ger. And newer titles likeDance Revolu- Invaders orZaxxonStreetFighterIIFrog- as Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, andJoust. There isSpace up. cade Gamesin the 1980s, it’s asif you never grew miliar: if youthe Golden experienced Age of Ar- game museumsinEurope.- It fa will allfeel very the village ishome to oneof the largestarcade Which isappropriate: asunlikelyitmightseem, The museumisstockedfullofearlyclassicssuch Jan VelingerJan PHOTOS FROM Golden the author’s archive author’s pened was ofolderkids took mythat agroup coins and the fair wait my turn. But what usuallyhap- he continues, “I would gathersomechange, to run admits. “Back then itcostacrown or two to play,” fell inlove andstilllove those games today,” Orna sounds ofrealarcadegames was somethingelse. I connected to aB&W television. But the lightsand built. Even so, the experience was unforgettable. economy,a grey andre- smuggledinto the country of travelling fairs, the machinecircuitboardsapart orcaravansnets couldonlybefoundin at trailers game: incommunistCzechoslovakia arcadecabi- in 1989 realwhen heplayed videoarcade hisfirst “As akidI was gamerandIhadaZXSpectrum The owner of the museum, Jan Orna, was nine Age their original grandeur. their original restore themto able to usually are his teamthen disrepair forless,” says, Orna stressing that heand 50‚000 crowns. We andbuy games that are in try ment andcancostanywhere between 10‚000– it. still like to obtain, but don’t the prices always allow museum about tentitlesthatthe wouldare There question a game”.“grail And it’s not the onlyone. to snag tried the modelbut hadfailed. Itis without tion saysOrna, admitting colleagueshad American number33.and the serial That was ahugeacquisi- cabinet dates back to 1972 andboastsitsoriginal The oldestgamein the museumisPong, which &present Grail - past games our doors.” and that isdifferentfromtors when opened we first games were like. We alsohave alotoffemale visi- ent-day gamers who come to see what the older as attracts moreandfamilies well aspres- houses well over ahundred titles – on two floors. owned about30machines. But the museumnow year. When he was collectingathispeak, Orna seum instead.” collection off. But thenIdecided toopen themu- the conclusion that I would have to sellmostof the and the cars were parkedon the street. Icame to arcade cabinets. The garage was fullofcabinets… cabinets. Mybrother-in-law’s house was fullof of collecting, ourentirehouse was fullofarcade I had to dosomething. But aftersixorseven years to besaved. They hadbecome obsoleteandIfelt decided to continue. Ifelt that these gamesneeded tor, Atari’s Klax –madein1990. And after that I some of the games hehadplayed asakid. becameacollectoranddecided to huntdown Orna As anadult, ofcommunism, longafter the fall hunter game Big would have visited myself.” to watch to advancedthem progress levels Inever Usually, they were andI betterplayers was able my game. And stillIconsideredmyself lucky! and Icouldonlystandby watch astheyplayed games needed to saved. be needed games Ifeltto that these continue. And afterKlax. that I decided acollector, as machine Atari’s my first In 2004,Ibought “A singleclassicgameisaconsiderable invest- “It attractsalotofpeople, many Czechs, and The site, called ArcadeHry, isnow initsninth “In 2004, Iboughtmy machineasacollec- first craft in20 years. Maybe, maybenot.” will feel the same way aboutsomethinglikeMine- back to them. Iamnotsure that kidsplayingnow canplayovertors ofanafternoon. the course andsimplergames visi- preference for2Dgraphics er effectsor3Dandhelosesinterest. Headmitsa him, endsinaround the year 2000 –mentionnew- have to setlimitsandmakeachoice. Gaming, for mosphere andgraphics. As acollector, hesays, you Tron, sound, tells mehasgreat which Orna at- the dragonor the robotorotherbigboss. to a “single life”… yet stillhave to go far to defeat stomach when you areoutofmoneyanddown And with it? That sinkingfeelingin the pitof your orcrownslike. orslugsarelonggone. Quarters games over of the dayaslong the course you you payanentrancefeeandcanplayany of the Orna’s arcadeand those frombefore. At his venue, together. There isalsoa majordifferencebetween of an “event”. arenotalonebut spend Gamers time andsomething socialexperience mains apersonal use livechat to communicate, the classicarcadere- playonlineand today can While mostnewgamers world real The “When I was akid, Iloved these games. Icame One gameonhis “most wanted” list?Discsof 11 Panorama Forum 7 learn “what democracy and civic society Jakub Machek, a 19-year-old student were very young. For me this is about mean” even today. at the Faculty of Education at Palacký commemoration. But it’s also more Olympic silver medal kayaker Vavři- University Olomouc, said he felt over than that: it’s a chance to meet some nec Hradilek, who also participated, the last few years democracy in the of those who were here in ’89, to hear agrees these days the situation is far Czech Republic had come increasingly what they experienced and what it was from rosy but said he was encouraged under assault: like to have been in the thick of it. by the turnout, saying it was great so many young people were directly in- I am attending today because it is of- Her sister, Jitka, agrees: volved. Some carried Czech flags or ficially International Students’ Day sported period pins with the likeness and the Struggle for Freedom and I wasn’t in Czechoslovakia at the time of late playwright and dissident Václav Democracy Day and a state holiday of the Velvet Revolution: I had had to Havel, who was a driving force in the commemorating the events of’39 and escape communism. I was living in revolution and was later elected Czecho- ’89. In 2019, I will be happy if we will not Australia, which was very far removed slovakia’s first post-communist presi- have to fight against anything similar: from the events it seemed, at least on dent. Julie Mikulová, a first-year student I’m talking about the situation in the the news. I have only been back in this at the Hussite Theological Faculty, de- government and also at Prague Castle. country six years so I wanted to expe- scribed why she was taking part: Truth and facts are something that rience the mood here at Albertov. I am used to be accepted by broader soci- extremely grateful for what the stu- It is important we remember and re- ety but are now challenged or manip- dents and the whole country achieved mind ourselves of what happened. I ulated at every turn. It seems to me, back then. was born in 1998 so I didn’t experience there is still plenty to defend against. these events first-hand. That doesn’t mean they aren’t important to me: I Students were not the only ones to re- heard about them at home from my trace the students’ route on November parents and grandparents and I am 17th; Zdeňka Nikodýmová came out If you’d like to read more The day the about the Velvet Revolu- grateful it was something we dis- with her sister Jitka Schiff. Neither of tion and the legacy of lead- cussed a lot. A lot of people are here the women had taken part in the pro- ers such as Václav Havel Forum 7 Forum and a lot of people are talking about tests in 1989: and others, please look up 7 Forum our commemorative issue it and it’s great that the events of not online. Future arrived just 30 years but also 80 years ago are I couldn’t take part back then because not forgotten. I was home with my children who

Panorama Thirty years ago, on November 17, 1989, riot Panorama

12 police in Czechoslovakia brutally cracked down 13 on students who had held a peaceful rally from Albertov to Národní třída in the city centre. That crackdown sparked the beginning of what came to be known as the Velvet Revolution, toppling communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

STORY BY Jan Velinger, Valerie Stupnikova PHOTOS BY René Volfík

This year, tens of thousands of people We wanted to make clear that we are Many of those who gathered at Albertov marked the anniversary by taking part in ready to continue the fight for democ- on November 17, whether they were stu- events across the country; no celebration racy… it’s something we need to take dents or families or older participants, though would be complete without par- care of. We have to keep freedom in cited increasing populism and a disre- ticipants retracing the students’ original our hearts. If we forget to take care gard for democratic institutions as rea- route from Albertov within the student of democracy, there is a danger it will sons to attend. Not only to honour the run Svobodný listopad – part of a broad- vanish. Look at what is going on in the past but to send a broader message. er umbrella event called the Festival of Czech Republic or even in the US: so- “Democracy was something won 30 Freedom. Petr Bouška – a member of cieties are becoming more and more years ago,” says actress Lenka Krobot- the H21 democratic initiative, told Fo- polarised, fewer people now trust in ová, one of many who took part: “but it rum this year’s anniversary was perhaps liberal democracy or democratic val- should not now be left untended”. It’s even more important than in the past: ues. We need to save democracy again. important for children, she added, to Students organising during the Velvet Revolution, with photos of the first president T. G. Masaryk and dissident leader Václav Havel behind them. Remembering November ’89

People with close Monika ties to Charles MacDonagh- University share -Pajerová Today a journalist and teacher their memories (In 1989, a spokesperson for the stu- of the Velvet dents of CU’s Faculty of Arts) On Friday 17 November at 4pm, I ar- come under the collective illusion that Revolution. rived trembling at Albertov and found the regime had already fallen. We were Forum 7 Forum the area already full of people. There in a euphoria that can’t be explained 7 Forum

STORY BY Marcela Uhlíková, were flags everywhere, banners, flow- with reason – we were still in occupied Kamila Kohoutová, Jitka Jiřičková, ers, and candles. I climbed on some Czechoslovakia and Russian tanks and Martin Rychlík boxes to get to the microphone with occupying armies were still here. PHOTOS BY Přemysl Hněvkovský, the help of my friends and I couldn’t My friends at the faculty were cheer- Jan Jindra, Jakub Langhammer believe my eyes. I’d never seen so many ing for me, but they didn’t believe the

Panorama people before! I am shortsighted so I situation could change. Sometimes they Panorama was surprised I could make out individ- helped me with my daughter, Emma, 14 ual slogans: “We want human rights”, and lent me notes. I was a single mother, 15 “Freedom!”, “Jan Palach – Jan Opletal”, which at the time was an uncomforta- “Forty years of Communist Party lies ble situation to be in. At the CU Faculty is enough!”, “Students of all faculties, of Arts, I worked with all my might to unite!” handle studies of English and Swedish As organisers, we were nervous and during the day, to earn money on the enthusiastic. We didn’t expect so many side by translating; the merit and social people to respond to our call, to over- scholarship was 500 crowns. The stress come their fear and finally come to the was ubiquitous because of the threat of same place at the same time, as we had being expelled from the faculty. dreamed. At the same time, we recalled But I’d never regretted even the hard “We have to adhere to the conditions experiences of that time. We wanted to of the demonstration permit”, so we get rid of a hated, humiliating regime, dragged the crowd up to Vyšehrad, and we succeeded. We wanted freedom, where we laid flowers and candles at the democracy and justice for our country – grave of the poet Karel Hynek Mácha. It and we have since managed to do that 17 Faculties on was already dark. We sang the national with mixed success. 17 November: anthem. There was a mystical atmos- A collection of phere at the Slavín cemetery. Taken from the new book, 17 fakult unique interviews But it didn’t occur to us to break up, 17. listopadu (17 Faculties on 17 Novem- commemorating the 30th according to the official permit, and like ber), published by Karolinum Press. anniversary of the Velvet a wild river we flowed from Vyšehrad Revolution down to the riverbank. We were joined Michal Zima (ed.) from the side streets by more peo- Karolinum Press 2019 ple, singing and ringing bells. The tens In Czech, 226 pages of thousands were finally there! We’d it was necessary to fly to Košice and The events of David Storch November ’89 explain to them there what was going were preceded by Today a biologist and ecologist work- on. I got on a plane before dawn, and unrest on Octo- ing at the Centre for Theoretical Study in Košice two students took me to the ber 28– (Czecho- slovak Independ- (In 1989, a student at the CU Faculty of university’s main hall, where their rector ence Day) captured Science) was giving a speech. He was immedi- here on film by CU’s ately interrupted with the explanation Jakub Langham- On the evening of 17 November 1989 I that there was a student in from Prague mer. looked out on Národní třída and real- (thanks to the airplane we were the very My friend and I ised that nothing would be ever be the first). I talked about the demonstration locked arms and same. This was different than January’s and tried to explain that they were right- Palach Week. There were people around ly demanding the cancellation of the let ourselves be who had never gone to a demonstra- military training corps, but that it was tion, rural students, teachers from our necessary to first abolish the Czechoslo- dragged by the faculty. Whatever happens now, it won’t vak Communist Party’s leading role and crowd, which acted be the same, I thought to myself. Maybe to hold free elections. It went on like it’ll finally burst. Maybe it’ll be worse, this all day. I also spoke on the square like an animal that but nobody will be able to pretend that in Košice, and when I had the feeling everything will just go on as if nothing that things were going in the right direc- was scared to had happened. My friend and I locked tion, I got on the night train and came death. arms and let ourselves be dragged by the back. I was a sophomore, I was 19, and crowd, which acted like an animal that I didn’t understand how any of this was was scared to death. Nothing else could possible. The feeling of unreality be- be done. I wasn’t as afraid of blows from came even stronger when I reported to a baton as I was of falling and being the strike committee in the morning and trampled. The way out through a lane was immediately sent to a factory with of thrashing police was a relief in some two classmates to meet with its director Forum 7 Forum ways. general. After three hours of meetings, and we stop. More police officers, riot is clear. No one is bothering me. I slowly 7 Forum

Then it went so fast from day to day the leadership accepted all our requests, Jan Černý gear, shields, batons. I remember sur- move down Národní toward the dorms. that we just looked on in amazement. and we didn’t understand how this had Today a professor of biology and a prisingly young faces. We yell togeth- The police wagons are parked on the The occupation strike at Viničná 7, happened. The winds of history blew, former candidate for rector (In 1989, er, we sing, we yell together. We’re told sides, maybe full. The police watch me, where we lived, slept, ate. On Tuesday, and while we took an active part in it, a student at the CU Faculty of Science) to break it up. Our answer is “We have maybe they saw me as I lay for a while, 21 November Šimon Pánek (who knew it felt more like a swimmer swimming bare hands”, “We’re not like them” … I and they think that I’ve had enough.

Panorama me from events in the field) called me through the rapids. (…) The speeches are over and we’re think that a lot of people are leaving. We I’m not alone. There are more of us. I’m Panorama from the coordinating centre saying that heading to the planned march at Vyšeh- can’t go forward much, but we’re not terribly cold and the dorm is so close… Exhausted students camped 16 out at faculties and hoped for rad. We’re trying to outdo each other to going to give up now – we’ve already On Ostrovní street a Spanish-speaking 17 a better tomorrow. see who can think up the best lines, but won! When we don’t react to the call, it’s journalist with a camera stops me, and I none of mine make it past the crowd’s clear that something’s going to happen. give my first interview – immediately in selection. Next to me, the line is born: The “thrashers” come, accompanied by English. We slowly meet in the dorms, “Na Štěpána bez Štěpána” (By the feast a plainclothes secret policeman who’s wide-eyed, a wound here and there. The of Steven without Štěpán, the Commu- pointing out who to pull away and beat feeling of loss, that not even this was nist leade), and then Radan Haluzík lifts up. We hold each other’s hands. We save successful, they’re here again for several up his keychain and shouts: “Last ring- most of us. They choose Nella; we hold years, and this won’t even break them. ing!” (Editor’s note: A tradition on the onto her! But she’s shoeless and it’s ter- There’s no reason to stay in Prague. I last day of school). In a moment, tens ribly cold, the police wagons are filling get on the last train to Hradec. of thousands of keys begin to jingle. We up. But the main emotion isn’t fear. It’s I don’t remember when I got home, come to Vyšehrad, singing. It’s strange. the disillusionment of how easy such a but it was Saturday already. I woke my I’m not at the end, and there are a lot of hopeful moment be effectively demol- mom up at home, already showered people around me shouting: “And now ished, a moment connected with the in- with a towel around my hips. When my to the Castle.” Obviously! (…) toxication of victory. But the fear comes mom saw my back, she asked what had soon after that. The dog handlers come happened. I tell her. Dad wakes up and We stop. The way to the Castle is in and it’s hard to say who’s more hys- we turn on Radio Free Europe. Finally blocked by a cordon of police officers. terical – the dogs or the ones who lead there’s information. The world knows! Negotiation takes a while. The way them into action. Cars with fence panels “Those bastards, beating our children”, is clear to Národní and it’s good to drive in and push… I hear by way of saying good night. I Wenceslas Square as well. We’re head- I get a blow on my head and back, a go to sleep hopeless. It takes me a long ing toward the Máj department store, solid hit, and for a moment I don’t know time to find a position where nothing and I’m still looking to see if we’ll fill what’s happening to me. I get off the hurts – in my body and my soul. up Národní. We’ve filled it! We have ground and my head is spinning. The won! There is no other option! I’m in dog handlers and the fence parts are be- the tenth row, with Nella Heyrovská, hind me. Ten seconds or more? The path 18 Books Forum 7 STORY BY important. two most of Mike the editor discussed Baugh eve Onthe period. the books about anniversary, of the of new anumber published has Press CU’s Karolinum commemorative events country. the around held was that saw of occasion hundreds amonumental This year’s anniversary Velvet of 30th the Revolution English atin last! availablebook A Czech Dream Jan VelingerJan PHOTOS BY Vladimír Šigut

- tinued afterwards. As for the photographs, along that preceded the Velvet Revolution and that con- andshows nology iscrucial there was aprocess That reallyisoneofmy things: favourite the chro- events was included. I appreciate many of that the atimeline nating insights. but even those who did,- sheprovides somefasci readers who didn’t up undercommunism, grow youngest dissident that the StBhadafileon. For been interestedinfleeing to the West. She was the she was 17 for teaching English to people who had lens.a personal She was pickedupI think when a glimpseintocommunistCzechoslovakia through Kroupa takes a similar tack, andPajerová givesus ing onand the world ofcommunismbefore; Daniel about kind ofphilosophicaloverview what was go- Jan Sokolgivesa are the core: 77signatory Charter areremarkableand they It isand the interviews more… ismuch it But book. it comesacrossalmostlikeapoliticalcoffee table merová photographs andbecauseofall the historic years. were Mostof the interviews done by Som- had the idea to take areallookbackover the 30 filmmaker OlgaSommerová, cameup withit. She recently hadbeen working with the documentary Monika Pajerová, studentleader, the former who After. What isit? kindof abook Velvetpublication: The Revolution Years – 30 upasecond bring to also first but a second, I want injust ACzechDreambook to discuss were happy the deadline very was met. Dreambook, to bepublishedbyNovember and we push forsomeof the books, like Vaculík’s ACzech been planningforitall year. There was ahuge planned for the whole month. Inshort, we had related to the 30thanniversary. There were events munism – it was hugeand we ofevents hadaseries of booksinEnglishreflectonlifeundercom- have alot to do with the revolution andalot A lotof the books we have beenpublishingnow for Press? Karolinum wasHow year’s this important anniversary the B&W powerful. is very photograph They didn’t want to lies.write in The starkimagery say they where they want thetruth.posters to write have these students starkslogansonprotest writing of the Facultypart ofSocialSciences) where you Faculty (today is from ofJournalism the former with iconicimagesofCivicForum, my favourite work even better. of the 40thanniversary Vaculík itmight writing ’90s along with works byHrabalandothers, but it would have ifithadcomeoutin the beengreat come out. Geraldisaphenomenal translator and 1980s. Butit took untilnow forhis translation to been discussing the book with Vaculík since the late hadbeeninvolved andhad Gerry from the start contract tothetranslator,arate Gerald Turner. because the publisher wasn’t ready to offerasep- the author took astandagainstRandomHouse supposed to be publishedin1992 but at the time lucky to get the translation rights. It was originally ten hereundercommunismand we were very books- I writ think itisone of the mostimportant ward – andfor to time. along it were oflot people very for looking much Iknow a series. Classics CzechModern the of and that was part as inEnglish published You Vaculík’s mentioned ACzechDreambook lucky to translation get the rights. and very wecommunism were written books under important isoneof most the it I think and off since1999. inNewCollege York. inPrague on living been Hehas Texas, Translation andLiterary English then at Queens of at University the andCzech Philology Classical ied - hestud Anative Diego, California, of San Studies. tion of Transla University’s Institute at Charles instructor Mike Baugh is an editor at Karolinum Press andan Press at Karolinum isaneditor - - 19 Books Forum 7 About Ludvík Vaculík’s A Czech Dreambook It’s 1979 in Communist Czechoslovakia, ten years into the crushing restoration of Stalinist rule and Ludvík Vaculík has writer’s block. It has been nearly a decade since he wrote a novel and it was in 1968 that he wrote his anti-regime man- ifesto, “2000 Words”, which the Soviet Union used as a pre- text for invading Czechoslovakia. On the advice of a friend, The Velvet Revolution he begins to keep a diary. Fifty-four weeks later, what Vaculík 30 Years After turns out to have written is a unique mixture of diary, dream In English, 144 pages journal and outright fiction. Karolinum Press 2019 Distributed internationally by the University of Chicago Press

A Czech Dreambook You worked on the book as an editor but wer- In English, 574 pages en’t the first, correct? Harvard’s Jonathan Bolton was the first editor and Karolinum Press 2019 he wrote an afterward in the new release. He had Distributed internationally by the University of Chicago Press a huge influence and he and Turner sometimes battled back and forth over stylistic choices, but I think the book is better for that editorial process. My approach, following their phenomenal work, Palach Week Demonstration was not to ruin anything (laughs). To make sure on Wenceslas Square, January general readers would get certain passages. For ex- kind of changes the truth. You can read it in so 1989. Photo by Lubomír Kotek. Wenceslas Square would prove ample, if Vaculík writes “Mr. Václav showed up,” many ways: Bolton reads it very politically, Turner to be one of the main focal it was up to me to gauge whether foreign readers more ecologically, which I find fascinating, but it points and the site of repeat- would be lost if they didn’t know he was talking works. ed demonstrations, each more significant than the last, after Forum 7 Forum about Václav Havel. the Velvet Revolution began in 7 Forum

It sounds like there is plenty to discover but November. How would you describe the book within the that it doesn’t reward the reader right away. canon of Czech literature? It’s not an easy read, you have to immerse yourself

Books That’s a fascinating question: I almost feel like you in it for a few days and then you begin to “get it”. Books have to make a separate section for A Czech Dream- But you have to go in understanding that you won’t 20 book. Trying to categorise it is very difficult: is it a be able to place every single detail. The Swedish 21 novel… is it a diary… is it a roman-á-clef? Is it a publisher wrote to Vaculík hoping he would shed dream book, is it a book of feuilletons, as it was de- light on some references and his reply was “Nobody scribed by one reviewer? Gerry bristled at that idea is going to get that, leave it!” adding that only one but I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong, because other person might get it who he once had a beer A look inside The trying to find a category for this is almost impossi- with. So you have to accept that some references ble. Not only that, it is a massive work about what are more obscure. But once you do, you get lost in happened to Vaculík every day, what happened in this world and I think it’s the best guide to the Nor- his dreams, and then kind of his fantasies, and he malisation period in Czechoslovakia there is. Velvet Revolution –

“A novel about hope and hopelessness, “Whether they liked it or not, A Czech about ever-present danger, about the Dreambook supplied many dissidents strange dreamlike quality of life in a to- with their most intense reading experi- 30 Years After talitarian system, about the absurdity of ence of the normalization years.” present-day ‘civilized’ living, about losing Dissident academics, a student leader and a foreign corre- a home and the disintegration of time Jonathan Bolton, Harvard University and human identity, about love, about professor of Slavic languages and litera- spondent are interviewed by Olga Sommerová and Petr nature, about courage, about fear, ture, in his book Worlds of Dissent Placák in The Velvet Revolution – 30 Years After. The book about death.” takes readers through the turbulent days leading up to the Václav Havel, dissident playwright and revolution, as well as during, and beyond. The photographs the first post-Communist president of Czechoslovakia here are just a few of many images featured in the book. March of students. Coordination centre of strik- November 17, 1989. ing students, Monika Pajerová Photo by Pavel Štecha. and Martin Mejstřík, at the The march began building of the Theatre Faculty at Albertov, not far at the Academy of Performing from the city centre Arts. Photo by Ota Pajer. and would end at the Both Pajerová and Mejstřík were National Boulevard. key figures during the Velvet Revolution.

Cardinal František Tomášek, Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

a celebration of the canonisa- tion of St. Agnes of Bohemia, Prague Castle, November 25, 1989. Photo by Pavel Štecha. An important and symbolic Books moment in the days of the rev- Books olution. 22 23

National Boulevard (Národní třída). November 17, 1989. Photo by Pavel Štecha. Police in riot gear are present- ed with flowers. The same night saw a brutal crackdown against Václav Havel the students which sparked the announces candi- Velvet Revolution that would dacy for Czecho- topple the communist regime. slovak president. Photo by Alan Pajer. Havel was one of the most important figures of November ’89, with the moral authority to lead the country out of total- itarianism and back to democracy and a free-market econo- my. He was Czecho- slovakia’s last pres- ident and the Czech Republic’s first. Jan Konvalinka: Excellence Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum in science Interview Interview 24 is crucial 25 A modern university has to be more than a workshop for humanity. It has to be able to counter demagoguery.

STORY BY Kamila Kohoutová PHOTOS BY Luboš Wišniewski The media recently reported that the Czech But scientists aren’t paid to fight disinfor- focused on applied research should. It must not Why not? Republic had lost its status as a country mation. be that the prime minister gives us an assignment I don’t like it when people use the previous regime where measles had been eradicated. What I don’t like it when scientists complain that they and we fulfil it. There are ministerial institutes for as an excuse, but the damage done by the commu- are we doing wrong? don’t have enough money. I realise that mon- that. Both universities and the Academy of Scienc- nists was devastating to Czech science. After the An important cause of the disease’s spread is an ey from the state budget could easily go towards es are here to explore how the world works and to communists, there was severe underfinancing. This increasing percentage of families that are worried building highways and raising peoples’ pensions in- seek the principles of existence and nature. Science is no longer true today. The money that goes to about the side effects of vaccination and choose stead of science. It’s good that it’s going to science, should answer society’s questions but not be made science in our country is on average the same as in not to vaccinate their children. I see this as a great and there should be more of it, but it isn’t a matter to order. That hinders academic freedom, and OECD countries. failure for us as scientists, fellow doctors, and jour- of course, and we have to convince our fellow citi- what’s more, is impractical because you never know nalists writing about science and the education zens. We have to provide something for the money in advance what will be useful or not. With the money that goes to science, Charles system as a whole. Measles is only a small part of we get from the state budget. Not just medicines, University could be in the top 200 at least. the problem. The consequences of the fight against but also better books about Czech history, better Can you elaborate? How do we get there? fake news – that we have been losing so far and is teachers in schools, better doctors in hospitals. So- Examples include the late Antonín Holý from the We have to be more dynamic. We have to have the particularly evident in politics – are real. It’s sad ciety deserves it. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ambition to seek out the best students, postdocs that citizens often decide against their own inter- of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and Jan Svo- and professors. We have to attract or retain them ests under the influence of lies. For many scientists, science is the ultimate boda of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the and offer them appropriate opportunities. Those goal and many don’t feel the need to justify Czech Academy of Sciences. They weren’t looking who do not have it in them to be Charles Univer- Is it up to modern scientists to fight against their research. for a cure for AIDS. Holý was looking for substanc- sity professors, shouldn’t be. This system is tough, fake news? Historically, this has never been the case. With a es that block the growth of DNA that he could use but only in this way will we pass muster. Definitely. I try to as well. Popularisation is an es- little simplification, what we call basic research, as antibiotics, and Svoboda was studying retrovi- sential part of scientific work. It may sound like an and state support for science and research start- ruses in chickens. For many years, Svoboda’s work Of course, this goes hand in hand with the exaggeration, but I think our survival as the human ed with World War II. Before then, there were looked like impractical playing around, science for necessary internationalisation of the uni- race depends on it, as does the survival of democ- very few scientists and science was the privi- science’s sake that had no real meaning. But then versity environment. racy. lege of wealthy private scholars or foundations we discovered HIV and everything that Svoboda Charles University has always been an interna- who financed scientists individually. Universi- learned about bird viruses was suddenly applicable tional university. Until the 19th century, the lingua What scientists lack in the fight against dis- ties were there to train new teachers and doctors. to humans. The predictions of the spread of HIV in franca was Latin, then German and French. Today information is time: it is nearly impossible to The concept of large institutions paid for by the the 1990s sounded catastrophic. It appeared Africa it’s English, and we should therefore automatical-

Forum 7 Forum keep up with malicious intent, it seems. state, where people do only research, is a modern would end up depopulated and that AIDS posed a ly teach as many study programmes as possible 7 Forum We’re really not able to refute the things dema- one. However, the idea that support for science is great threat to humanity. Today we have very effec- in English. In my laboratory, there is a clear rule: gogues make up. The Americans never made it self-evident and the feeling there is no need to jus- tive medicines thanks to people who worked for dec- if there is a foreigner in the room, we all have to to the Moon, vaccination causes autism, special- tify it is exasperating to me. Maybe someone like ades on what originally seemed like “useless things”. speak English, even if we were only talking about ly magnetised water cures cancer. It takes a sec- Jiří Grygar [a well-known Czech astronomer and We never really know what will make a difference. last night’s party. ond to mention three pieces of nonsense while a populariser of science] makes less of an impact in

Interview well-founded refutation of claims like these can terms of research but he has done more for Czech What do you say about the idea popular The ERC international grants have recently Interview take a scientist half a day. Demagogues can think science than most and his work is extremely bene- among politicians that the private sector will been a major topic. How are Czech universi- 26 up 20 such pieces of nonsense in a half hour. Par- ficial as a whole. place orders for graduates from universi- ties doing in gaining them? 27 adoxically, a scientist by comparison can come ties according to current needs? There is good news and bad. The bad news is that across as less trustworthy or tedious, using complex Should a scientist subordinate their inter- That is utter stupidity. Jan Sokol has a beauti- compared to countries similar in size in Western terms, while a populist provides supposedly clear ests to societal needs at a given moment? ful analogy: his parents fastidiously made sure he Europe like Belgium or the Netherlands, we still answers with confidence. Despite this, scientists A scientist shouldn’t submit to the demands of learned shorthand. Their idea was that he would haven’t got many. We have about a tenth of what have to find time for the fight against demagogues. society, but companies and institutions that are never lose his way and would always make a liv- they have. The better news is that we have the most ing. But he didn’t want to learn it. He trained as ERC projects from Central European countries a watchmaker and in the end studied philosophy, (except Hungary), and the best news is that the which provided well for him his entire life. Today trend is moving up. Associate Professor Jan Kon- nobody is interested in shorthand. Developments valinka teaches at CU’s Faculty move so quickly that no one can predict what we’ll Why are there so few here? of Science and serves as the need even in a couple of years. I think one reason is inertia. Our leading disci- Vice-Rector for Research. He The entire problem also has a political context. plines, such as parasitology and chemistry, were works at the Institute of Organ- ic Chemistry and Biochemis- Unfortunately, our country has become a low-cost established in the 1960s and 70s. Egyptology has try of the Czech Academy of assembly shop and companies based here need a century-long history. Although it seems that sci- Sciences, where he concen- a supply of low-paid assembly workers. Schools ence is very dynamic and changes rapidly, tradition trates on research into HIV shouldn’t be involved in this in any way. If companies has an extremely important role to play. It takes proteins and research into need more craftspeople, they have to pay them well time for solid roots to take hold and still more for neuropeptides and prostate and they will come. It is not the task of education to the tree to bear its first fruit. cancer tumour antigens. supply workers to be replaced by robots in 10 years. Isn’t the problem also that our best scien- Our university’s role is not to produce tists and graduates go abroad? “cheap assemblers”, but it placed in the top That is part of it. We have a lot of excellent stu- 300 in international rankings. Why isn’t it in dents and postdocs who go abroad. These peo- the top 100? ple are typically between 27 and 35. Often they Because we’re not good enough. choose not to return, and if they do, they don’t get a chance to found their own laboratory. They have formal. When you eventually get a job, you are of- Does anyone who gets a job at Heidelberg, Popularisation is an essential to return to their old professor and work in his fered lousy pay, you grumble, but you are impossi- for example, even want to return to Charles group. As far as philosophers or researchers in the ble to dislodge and you gradually get to be an asso- University? part of scientific work. It may humanities are concerned, they have to find three ciate professor and then you get your professorship, Absolutely. And let’s not forget that a lot of scien- more jobs to support their families. They often and one day you go into retirement. This is what tists working in this country are foreigners. Espe- sound like an exaggeration but abandon scientific work completely because they we want to shake up. We don’t want to replace old cially in the natural sciences, we have so many well- our survival depends on it cannot make ends meet. professors, but we want to change the system from equipped facilities that they are quite comparable below by supporting those starting out. This is why to the West and in many cases are better. It isn’t too What should be done to keep people from we established the Primus program. hard to become an assistant at Oxford Universi- leaving? ty, but to get a professorship there is not that easy. On one hand, it’s good that they leave the country. What is its scope? That’s why many people still come back and try it association has as its goal to influence the level of On the other, they should come back. I consider We want to capture the best of our young people with us. higher education in the Czech Republic in a direc- the system where a student defends his bachelor’s, and offer them above-average resources so that tion that will suit research-oriented universities. We master’s thesis, dissertation, or is habilitated and they can prove that they’re able to lead their own Charles University is trying actively to be place emphasis on excellence, international com- gains a professorship – all within the same faculty – teams. There’s a big difference between being part an international player. The latest success parison and the evaluation of science. to be absurd. For example, in Germany you can’t of an established team and leading your own. We’re has been the 4EU+ project, which includes defend your master’s thesis at the same school trying to give a chance to those who have made it Sorbonne University and universities in Hei- Isn’t the emphasis on science and research where you completed your bachelor’s, and you abroad to bring to us their experience and build delberg, Copenhagen, Milan and Warsaw. exaggerated? What if someone is a better definitely must not habilitate where you defended something of their own. Few realise that the hard- What does membership in this alliance rep- teacher than they are a scientist? your master’s thesis. And almost nowhere will you est thing in science isn’t to come up with a solu- resent? It’s up to the head of the department to evaluate get a professorship in the school where you were tion. The hardest thing is to come up with a prob- 4EU+ increases our university’s prestige. It will of- this and to fairly compensate everyone. Just as with habilitated. That’s how things should be. And don’t lem. The chemist Pavel Jungwirth says: “I’m not fer students and teachers greater freedom and op- excellent scientists, exceptional teachers are valu- try the argument on me that Germany is a bigger looking for answers, I’m looking for questions.” portunities for international cooperation, especially able to the university. Personally, I don’t believe in country. The Czech Republic is in the European those who have not yet had any. Many colleagues this dichotomy. From my experience, we have ex- Union. I don’t want to hold graduates here. They Is the programme tailored for young scien- have a lot to offer, but thus far they haven’t been cellent scientists who are dazzling, charismatic and should go abroad for experience. But the best of tists? able to connect with a foreign facility. 4EU+ of- inspiring personalities, and then there are those them should be given the opportunity to apply for Primus is generous in that a candidate can get up fers them new structures and money. Students will that are not. We must realise that we’re not at a ly-

Forum 7 Forum a position at Charles University. to four million Czech crowns per year [Editor’s then have the opportunity to visit these universities ceum but at a university. Science is not a hindrance 7 Forum note: the equivalent of around 172‚000 US dollars] in the short or long-term, not only as part of the to the fact that we teach students here. Science is How do you want to achieve this? and can essentially do with it whatever they want. established Erasmus programme, but also as part an integral part of our work and distinguishes uni- The reason Czech science isn’t at a higher lev- They can set the salary level, recruit a team, pur- of new frameworks that we are currently prepar- versity from secondary school. el is precisely because young scientists don’t get a chase a machine or buy chemicals. Such freedom ing. We will also open joint study programmes. The chance to run their own projects, teams and labora- makes some people nervous. However, with the long-term goal is for Charles University students to But not everyone can be a scientist.

Interview tories. We have a system that isn’t dynamic enough. Primus programme we have managed to set a trend go to Sorbonne University or to Copenhagen and No. But the thing that gives the university meaning Interview Practically no one leaves institutes where they that other research organisations and universities in automatically be able to choose from a portfolio of is to uncover something new. If my colleagues tell 28 work. Nobody is ever fired and evaluations are only the country have begun to copy. lectures and seminars. me that they don’t have time for science because 29 Indirectly, but I think more importantly, we they have to teach, I immediately reply that they have to harmonise the ways of leadership and our should go teach at a secondary school instead. This approach to students. It forces us to adapt to the is Charles University. Science is the university’s rai- habits, rules and management techniques they have son d’être. You don’t have to teach how to interpret More ERC grants are being won in France, Italy and Denmark. This change of ap- someone else’s texts. That’s absolutely useless, es- Thus far, mathematicians, biologists and chemists proach could put us among the top universities. pecially today, when all the information is available on the internet. have benefitted the most. The newly established Association of Czech Research Universities has a similar task, but What do you think is the role of today’s uni- Charles University has so far managed to within seven years of receiving a doctor- stars. Currently, botanist Filip Kolář (LS8) on a national level. What does membership versity teacher? obtain a dozen prestigious grants from ate. The first one was the mathematician also excelled: he will use the 50 million When I started teaching, I literally had the key to the European Research Council (ERC). Daniel Král (PE1) in 2010, during which Czech crowns he obtained to put togeth- bring? Jana Roithová brought two to the Faculty time he completed his project at Warwick. er a team and a five-year investigation There are many colleges and universities in the the library. I was the only one who had English of Science – in the starting and consoli- After 2015, Michael Bojdys (chemistry into the polyploidisation of plant popula- Czech Republic. The newly established association textbooks available, or foreign magazines. I knew dation forms in 2010 and 2015 (in the field PE5), who now works in Germany, dealt tions (see p. 31 of this issue). A year ago, the has as its goal to bring together those who have Nobel laureates and I made unknown things ac- of chemistry and the PE4 panel). In 2013, with graphene. Physicist Jana Kalbáčová world-famous mathematician Jaroslav research ambitions and want to become research cessible to students. But today? All of the courses Michal Koucký of the Faculty of Mathemat- Vejpravová (PE4 Panel) brought her grant Nešetřil (the theory of dynamic networks) institutions on a European level. Many of my col- at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can ics and Physics was awarded a consoli- to Charles University. was awarded a synergy grant together leagues complain that the level of our students is be seen on YouTube. Nobody needs me to pass dator (computer science PE6) grant. In The past three years revealed how the with Hungarian colleagues. declining. I hate to say it, but the level of students on generally available information. So what am I the same middle category of ERC grants Primus programme has paid off: the last Charles University and the Academy is not declining, it’s that we don’t get the best stu- here for? I’m a guide for students, someone who’ll in 2017, two CU scientists were awarded: four ERC grant recipients all received Pri- of Sciences are among the most success- dents any more. Twenty years ago we did, but today show and tell them something they won’t find on mathematician Libor Barto, on the topic mus support first. In 2017, it was the quan- ful institutions in the country. The Czech of computational complexity (panel PE6), tum physicist Jiří Klimeš (PE4), and last Republic has so far won (or welcomed) 40 they often sidestep us in favour of directly studying the internet. But that’s already very difficult, and to and biologist Vladimír Hampl (LS8), deal- year the plant biologist Matyáš Fendrych ERC grants, while neighbouring Slovakia in Western Europe or the US. And I’m not talking be able to do it, I have to do science myself. Even ing with protozoa and their evolution. The (LS3) and astrophysicist Ondřej Pejcha has secured only one. about a handful of people but about several dozen if I pass on my failures to them, that is important. remaining grants are in the starting class (PE9), who returned from Princeton and students. If we don’t do anything about this, soon Interpreting written books is simply inadmissible intended for budding scientists, given researches interactions between binary it won’t be dozens but hundreds. Therefore, the in 2019. A star in the field of botany clinches an important ERC

“This is blue-sky research, but we are grant aware of its potential overlap,” the botanist Filip Kolář said after having received an ERC start-up grant of 50 million Czech crowns. Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

STORY BY Martin Rychlík PHOTO BY Luboš Wišniewski

Kolář is one of a group of scientists who team members from all over the world; foremost, it also requires applying for an were able to bring a prestigious grant I believe the ERC ‘brand’ is quite re- ERC,” explains Kolář.

Science Lab from the European Research Council nowned,” says the botanist who intends And PRIMUS is already bearing Science Lab (ERC) to the Czech Republic. The team to employ experts in population genetics fruit. Over the past three years, Charles 30 was granted about 50 million crowns for and genomics, but also experts in carry- University has won four junior ERC 31 the research of evolutionary genetics of ing out ecological experiments. grants by people who had previously various plant populations. won the Charles University competition! Where was he when learned the news? PRIMUS as a “prep” In 2017, it was physicist Jiří Klimeš, and “It was a bit odd, actually. I was sitting Kolář, who started to study so-called in 2018, astrophysicist Ondřej Pejcha at a banana plantation in Uganda and polyploidization (i.e. gene mutations and biologist Matyáš Fendrych. I connected to the Internet after quite accompanied by multiplication of chro- Kolář benefitted from workshops for a long time. We went on field research mosome sets) during his doctoral stud- those interested in the ERC system, led there and I totally forgot about the grant ies with Jan Suda, is a “product” of the by Professor Zdeněk Strakoš, from the application. I hadn’t been optimistic “hatchery” of young scientists who were Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. even about how the grant interview in supported by the University internal Strakoš has been trying to increase Brussels had gone; I knew how I should PRIMUS grant. “PRIMUS was a funda- the success of Czechs in applying for have responded to their questions better mental pre-stage for me; it is a very open these EU grants: “For decades, we have the second the door closed behind me,” grant that allows you to set up a team, not been able to put up a functional na- Kolář laughs, recalling the moment. gain leadership experience and, first and tional grant system to give our talent- The Faculty of Science in Prague is ed scientists independence and prepare where he will conduct his five-year-long them for ERC-type projects based on research. He is, of course, pleased with Over the past three the idea of solving a difficult issue, rath- the grant, but he soon began to think years, Charles University er than just publishing. Thanks to the vi- Filip Kolář, Ph.D., is a biologist and systemic ecologist about how to coordinate and combine sion of Vice-Rector Jan Konvalinka and specializing in plant populations. He graduated in biol- the research with his one-year intern- has won four junior Rector Tomáš Zima’s support, Charles ogy from the University of South Bohemia in České ship at the University of Oslo. ERC grants by people University has such a system in PRIM- Budějovice (2009) and concluded his doctoral studies “I plan to build a team step-by-step, US,” says Zdeněk Strakoš. at the Faculty of Science, Charles University (2014). He had previously won starting with two doctoral students worked as a postdoc in Oslo, Norway and subsequently the Charles University at the University of Innsbruck. His wife is a biologist as and eventually engaging as many as well and they have three children. five post-docs. Ideally, I will recruit the competition! Egyptologist Miroslav Verner has been working at The basic documentation Czech excavation sites in Egypt since the 1970s. “I have experienced a lot of traditional Egyptol- method remains the oldest ogist archaeology and some of its techniques and and simplest, when the On the Wings approaches are still thriving. Working with a hoe, paintbrush, spatula and camera is still absolutely archaeologist himself fundamental,” he says, describing the means still employed in Abusir today. describes his research

Pyramids under the sandy crust using surveying tools such of the Desert When Miroslav Verner took over responsibility for as a tape measure, plumb conducting Czech archaeological work in Egypt, he agreed with the then Vice-Chairman of the Czech- bob, folding rule or milli- oslovak Academy of Sciences, the archaeologist metre paper. Josef Poulík, that he would start cooperation with geophysicists. “We were one of the first to incorpo- Dragon rate geophysical measuring on pyramid fields. We used a geomagnetic and electric resistance meth- od that helped us to map the overall situation at the then new concession, the large archaeologi- Via satellite, wearing house cal site, including the southern part of the Abusir slippers burial ground and reaching as far as the northern Documentation methods are an inseparable part limits of Saqqara,” he points out. Thanks to these of archaeological field research. There are many technologies, Czech Egyptologists have located the ways of displaying and converting the actual state main grouping of monuments and have determined of research into analogue or digital form. In the their basic character. “We have clarified where last quarter of a century, new information geotech-

Forum 7 Forum non-royal mastabas and where royal pyramids nologies made a significant impact and the field 7 Forum could be, and – as it turned out later – we also lo- research has moved towards a comprehensive dig- cated huge shaft grave complexes.” itization of archaeological findings. The basic doc- According to Verner, the popular opinion that a umentation method, however, remains the oldest pyramid rises high and is clearly identifiable from and simplest, when the archaeologist himself de- a distance is only true in some cases. “Especially scribes his research using surveying tools such as a smaller pyramids were devastated by stone thieves tape measure, plumb bob, folding rule or millime-

Science Lab for centuries, until the pyramids eventually disap- tre paper. The subjective view of the archaeologist Science Lab peared under huge layers of wind-blown sand.” At plays an important role in this process, putting his 32 first glance, the desert surface is monotonous to skills, experience and knowledge into the docu- 33 the untrained eye: an endless, sandy, undulating menting process. plain, on which the remains of crumbling limestone This, however, does not mean that Czech Egyp- are scattered, with red granite or basalt and shards tology has been lagging behind in the use of mod- of ceramics here and there. In such an environ- ern documentary methods in recent years. The ment, it is difficult to navigate, so it is good to com- above mentioned geodetic total station is common- bine the methods of traditional prospection, i.e. place, by means of which the spatial position of de- surface archaeological surveys, with modern tech, tailed points is measured; their database forms the Verner explains. basis for the creation of maps and plans of archae- Since their first archaeological research in Egypt, ological research. The methods of remote sensing, Czech Egyptologists have also been cooperating 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, GPS mapping On site. Professor with surveyors who, using geodetic and photo- and others are also used. “Modern geotechnology Miroslav Verner For hundreds of years, only the wind (right) debates with grammetric methods, documented important re- gives us many possibilities and ways of document- the foreman of and occasional stone thieves visited the search in Nubia in the 1960s. Since the 1970s, they ing the archaeological site and found artefacts. The Egyptian workers have regularly participated in expeditions to Abusir, view from above is very important for archaeolo- hired for the exca- sand-covered ruins of the pyramid fields and vation at Abusir. where the geodetic network necessary for the cre- gists: they are able to see the spatial structure of grave complexes in Abusir. Recently, however, ation of an archaeological map has been gradual- the objects studied. And the 3D model of a tomb, ly built, and as a result, the Abusir pyramid field vessel or burial chamber provides a different point 3D scanners and lasers of the Czech Institute of was identified and examined. In 2001, surveyor of view,” Vladimír Brůna says and adds “By using and cartographer Vladimír Brůna left for his first various techniques, we simply collect spatial data, Egyptology have been paying visit. What techno- archaeological expedition to Egypt. He continued which we then process to create new, more detailed logical development has Czech Egyptology in the work of his colleagues and since then, he has and objective outputs.” been gradually extending the documentation meth- As one of the first, Czech Egyptologists ordered undergone over the last hundred years? ods. You will most often meet him on the site using satellite photography in 2003 at Abusir, together geodetic total station, a 3D laser scanner or a cam- with some other important sites with a total area of STORY BY Kamila Kohoutová PHOTOS FROM The Czech Institute of Egyptology era, or flying a kite. 64 square kilometres. “Methods of remote sens- Interdisciplinary skills: as an experienced surveyor, Vladimir Brůna (left) contrib- utes to the creation of the satellite atlas of pyramids with CU’s Vice-Rector Miroslav Bárta, the fresh recipient of the prestigious Česká hlava (Czech Head – or brain) award.

ing have been used in archaeology since the early of the spatial structure and links between individ-

Forum 7 Forum twentieth century. Today, we can easily buy satellite ual objects and also perfectly complements the 7 Forum data, which is a great advantage, and regularly up- historical site maps,” Brůna notes, adding that the date the satellite image database of our concession data collected at the beginning of September are in Abusir,” the surveyor says. now being processed and the outputs for Egyptolo- The satellite image resolution is very high and gists are being prepared for further analysis. the smallest unit – a pixel – displays less than one square meter of landscape. Vladimír Brůna and Unique Mapping of Underground Premises

Science Lab his colleagues from the Czech Institute of Egyp- However, Vladimír Brůna does not only map ob- Science Lab tology are thus able to explore large areas in great jects that are located on the surface; the vast major- 34 detail, while at home – wearing house slippers, so ity of them are hidden underground. Using geodet- 35 to speak. “We first interpret the images visually – ic methods and 3D laser scanning, he creates their based on our experience and knowledge, we recog- three-dimensional models and interconnects them. nize individual structures, objects and phenomena. “With the 3D model of a shaft, burial chamber Spectral reflectance plays a big role, by means of and other surface and underground objects, we can which we are able to distinguish various objects. continue to work, see their spatial structure, and For example, the higher content of limestone in the relationships between the objects; this allows us sand or clay structure has a different reflectance to measure distances, volumes and create views and than sand, which in turn shows differences in cross-sections,” Brůna explains. The view from above moisture or texture. In addition to interpretation, Under the hands of this new kind of surveyors – we also use digital image processing and, using a the geo-ITs – beautiful ancient worlds emerge, is very important for combination of these methods, render individual despite being buried under tons of sand. The sand archaeologists: they objects and phenomena in the GIS environment.” makes their work more difficult indeed. As Brůna Often, though, even more detailed images of the acknowledges, they often have to improvise: “We are able to see the archaeological site are needed, and since aerial work in extreme conditions, not only affected by photographs are difficult to obtain in Egypt, scien- high temperature, humidity, dust and wind, but spatial structure of tists use an unconventional tool: a tethered kite (in also pressured by time. Especially in a situation the objects studied. Czech, “drak” refers to both a kite and a dragon; where there is a danger of collapse of the ceiling or hence the “dragon” in the headline) that carries wall underground, an instant survey is necessary. And a 3D model of a a camera in order to obtain higher resolution im- Therefore, I have to think through each step very tomb, vessel or burial ages. In recent years, drone photography has also carefully in advance – my work must be effective expanded, but since it is not possible to fly one’s and accurate. There is no second chance in these chamber provides a own drone over an archaeological site in Egypt, situations.” the Czech expedition hired a specialized Egyptian different point of view. company which shot all the major parts of the site. “The bird’s eye view gives us an objective picture Helping children with type 1 Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

They treat paediatric patients with

Spotlight diabetes Spotlight STORY BY Lucie Kettnerová PHOTOS BY Luboš Wišniewski type 1 diabetes, growth disorders 36 37 or pubescent development: the team at the Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology Clinic of the Second Medical Faculty and Motol University Hospital strives to ensure that these children enjoy just as rich and long a life as their healthy peers. Jan Lebl: Zdeněk Šumník: Štěpánka Průhová: Lenka Petruželková: No one gets A cure for diabetes Not every form Parents want a warranty for is not on of diabetes is the solutions now / 18 a healthy child / 12 the horizon yet / 14 same / 16 ones with the cases that are most diffi- tee of Good Will foundation, which he with Štěpánka Pruhová, my first and cult to diagnose or the most difficult to will never forget. Related to this was the most successful postgraduate student, treat. In the Czech Republic, therefore, need to create a new theory of nutrition: we focussed on various types of genet- Motol is usually the last facility patients together with accurate insulin dosage, it ically conditioned diabetes, as well as No one gets are sent to, as doctors elsewhere don’t was necessary to find a balance between some disorders related to paediatric en- know what to do with them. The reason food intake and insulin. docrinology. Today, we can build on this is not only the renowned expertise of Similarly, growth hormone came to phase in many ways with our research,” the faculty, but also the large, well-coor- the former Czechoslovakia with a delay. Professor Lebl says. dinated teams that Motol has managed “After the General Health Insurance Nowadays Jan Lebl is aware that to assemble. One of these is the endocri- Company (VZP) was founded, we man- Czech endocrinology has crossed Euro- a warranty for nology team. aged to get a budget to purchase growth pean borders and can also make a differ- It had to fight hard for its prestigious hormone, which is quite expensive, and ence further abroad. “We are fortunate position. “In its first professional phase to set up a system of treatment that has to be part of the rich and developed part I tried as much as possible for us to since then moved to the level of the de- of the world, and that our children with quickly reach same level as the devel- veloped world,” he says, describing an- diabetes have a chance at a high-qual- oped world. For children with diabetes, other crucial success. ity life. All of us - patients included – a healthy child the greatest challenge after 1989 was to In the next phase of the field’s devel- should realise this is not a given, that ensure that they got access to the same opment, it was necessary to look for new elsewhere in the world doctors fight blood glucose meters as in developed ways of detecting the roots of diseas- every day to help children with diabe- When he first joined the hospital in the 1980s, paedi- European countries, that they regular- es. Humans have around 21,000 genes, tes survive. Our responsibility now is to ly checked their blood sugar level on of which several hundred are related to help less fortunate parts of the world so atrician Jan Lebl had to cope with several patient test strips, that they could be treated paediatric endocrinology. “Since the late that quality treatments can also be made with repeated injections of insulin, or 1990s, we began to recognise individual available there.” deaths a week. Today such deaths are rare and many even that they were able to use insulin genetic disorders in our patients. Along children are able to live high quality lives despite pumps. In Czechoslovakia in the 1980s, parents had to boil their children’s urine serious health issues. at home and add Benedict’s reagent to find out if it had sugar in it, and had Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

to drip urine onto the white powder of Lestradet’s reagent to find out if acetone Paediatrics is the most beautiful field of We don’t treat obesity Lebl says. Through systematic research, was present. It was a very inaccurate and clinical medicine, according to Jan Lebl. Professor Lebl has especially connected experts are recognising mechanisms that late examination of their condition, and “When I meet with students who come his professional life with the field of pae- govern growth, so that growth hormone it was insufficient for determining the

Spotlight to us in their third year to take a course diatric endocrinology, which deals with is becoming just another stone in the right doses of insulin,” Lebl recalls. Ac- Spotlight in clinical propaedutics for the first time, the diagnostics and treatment of the mosaic. It can also induce or inhibit ad- cording to Lebl, the first phase was busy 38 I tell them that children are the nicest endocrine glands. In the Czech Repub- olescence if it is premature. yet tremendously fulfilling. Moments 39 patients. What’s more, in paediatrics to- lic, diabetology is somewhat detached Patients battling with excessive weight such as when 2,000 Czech children day things almost always turns out well, from the field because the largest group also come into the endocrinological clin- were able to receive new glucometers in contrast with adult medicine, where of children has diabetes, a disease that ic. “But we avoid obesity a bit. I agree – thanks to Olga Havlová’s Commit- mortality is by definition 100%”, he says, requires extremely focused attention with the opinion of American doctors, explaining his decision to dedicate him- and care. who have the greatest experience with self to children. the problem, and who say that no health When he joined the hospital in 1980 Sometimes I think that some care system is so rich that it can provide after graduating, the situation was very parents don’t appreciate individualised care for the obese. The different. During his first 10 years there, issue of today’s obesity epidemic is a he always got the same question from it and feel like they’ve got a question of a certain stage in the devel- his parents when he got home: “Did any warranty card that they can opment of a society, one that is in the children die on you again?” The fact redeem for a healthy child. context of individual characteristics. If that a young patient died during nearly there is enough food for everyone at all every shift from leukaemia, cystic fi- In addition, paediatric oncology deals times of the day, then it depends on how brosis or even “only” asthma, was a sad with things like disorders of the thyroid, every individual is set up to regulate reality. “Sometimes I think that some adrenal glands, the parathyroid glands, their eating behaviour and metabolism”, Professor Jan Lebl graduated from CU’s parents don’t appreciate it and feel like which control the management of calci- Lebl says, admitting that he is not an Faculty of Paediatrics in Prague in 1980. they’ve got a warranty card that they um, the gonads and the pancreas, which advocate of individualised obesity treat- For the next 17 years he worked at Motol can redeem for a healthy child. They produces insulin and other hormones. ment. “There’s nothing wrong with it, University Hospital, and in 1997 he took feel that if their child is not healthy, He is also focused on the regulation but methodically there’s essentially not a over as the had of the Clinic of Children and Adolescents at CU’s Third Faculty of they bring them into the equivalent of a of growth in children, and at Motol he lot that can be done about it.” Medicine and at the University Hospital factory repair shop and the health care currently cares for around 700 children Vinohrady. In 2006, he returned to Motol system is obliged to repair them. We’re with this problem. “Growth hormone is Treatment available to all as the head of the Paediatric Clinic of the glad when it turns out well, but it’s not our helper. It doesn’t help everyone, but As a rule, the children who end up at Second Medical Faculty of Charles Univer- always possible”, Lebl says. it does help many children,” Professor the Motol University Hospital are the sity and Motol University Hospital. Unfortunately, we don’t have such an option at this time, and therefore it doesn’t seem rational to expand the diabetes prediction programme beyond clinical trials. A drug with the generic name of tep- A cure for izumab - an autoantibody acting against one type of lymphocyte – represents a new hope for children in the preclinical period of type 1 diabetes. Only in the case of this drug has it recently been proven that it slows the progression toward clinical diabe- Professor Zdeněk Šumník is diabetes is not tes in children by an average of two years. This is a the head physician at the Pae- diatric Diabetes Centre of the very big breakthrough. Two years without insu- Paediatric Clinic of the Sec- lin with normal blood glucose values is definitely ond Faculty of Medicine and worth it. We will begin testing this very promising Motol University Hospital. His on the horizon yet drug in the Czech Republic in the fall. But this research interests include the doesn’t change the fact that at present we can only detection of risk factors for advise families to monitor the clinical signs of dia- the onset of type 1 diabetes and betes, which has little to do with real prevention. the use of modern technolo- Almost a hundred years ago, a diagnosis of diabetes gies for its therapy. mellitus was a death sentence. The discovery of Can’t the outbreak of the disease be influ- enced by an inappropriate diet? insulin, however, was a breakthrough: for the first I always wonder in this context whether we truly time, it was possible to successfully treat the fatal know what an appropriate diet for our children is, the physiological norm possible. One possibility is but that would be a slightly different discussion. Of to create an artificial pancreas using a combina- disease. In his research, paediatric diabetologist course, in general, the need for insulin depends on tion of a continuous blood glucose monitor, insulin Zdeněk Šumník examines risk factors that lead to the body mass index; type 1 diabetes actually breaks pumps and an algorithm that would connect the out earlier in obese children than in thin children, two devices. In the last few years, research in this development of type 1 diabetes. but we cannot specifically intervene in diet. field has been truly unprecedented, and the first prototypes have been gradually getting to patients. Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

Preventive screening in small children may However, if you are thinking of constructing ful- Can it be predicted whether a child will get swer the question of the primary trigger of autoim- not make sense if you have nothing to offer ly functional replacement beta cells, that’s a much diabetes? mune inflammation in the islets of Langerhans. If them yet. longer road ahead. Despite some success in efforts I’ll answer in a slightly roundabout way. Type 1 dia- we were able to identify such a factor, it would the- There is no population screening in the Czech Re- to reprogram other cells to beta cells, they still ha- betes is one of the autoimmune diseases where ge- oretically be possible to eliminate or at least supress public, but some states in Germany and Sweden ven’t managed to achieve an adequate capacity of

Spotlight netic and environmental factors contribute approx- its actuation for at-risk populations. Some common have already gone down this path. They decided to insulin production capable of fully replacing one’s Spotlight imately equally to its onset. We know with a fair viruses seem to be the most promising in this re- screen children between ages three and five for the own tissue. Another problem is the increased risk 40 amount of detail that genes increase the chance of gard, even if vaccination against them with the goal presence of autoantibodies and basic risk genes. of reactivation of the immune system after the im- 41 getting sick and the risk they bring, and we are able of diabetes prevention thus far is something that’s Nevertheless, this is an initiative at the cutting edge plantation of these cells, and their limited sensitivi- to make a kind of genetic prediction. The problem off in the distant future. In addition, the preclini- of clinical research – monitoring alone certainly ty to rapid changes in blood sugar levels. I don’t see is that the estimate is still relatively inaccurate, be- cal phase of type 1 diabetes begins relatively early, will not improve the health or prognosis of these much light at the end of this tunnel, but of course cause even with the combination of the highest-risk most often by the age of five, which further compli- children. Pharmacoeconomic studies have clearly I’d be glad to be wrong. genes, “only” one in five will get sick. cates the technical implementation of studies and shown the lack of effectiveness of mass screening On the other hand, we still know relatively little possible preventive measures. for type 1 diabetes, which is why in our environ- Are there proposals for treatment solutions about external environmental factors and their role ment I do not now consider it rational to talk about that appear at international conferences in the diabetogenic process. This is due, among If you perform an examination on a child, it seriously. It would of course be a different situa- that you consider too futuristic? other things, to the fact that in the shortest case, a what information do you share with the par- tion if effective preventive measures were available One of these is so-called smart insulin, which clinical manifestation of diabetes with a typical rise ents? – then we would try to find children in the preclin- would be absorbed from a subcutaneous depot on in blood glucose takes place several months after On the basis of a combination of genetic parame- ical phase in the child population and enable them the basis of current blood glucose. Insulin is natu- the onset of the autoimmune process. However, ters and screening for specific antibodies, we can to extend their lifetimes without diabetes. rally produced in the pancreas, gets into the portal this is measured in years or decades. According to say with approximately an 80% probability whether vein, can act very quickly in the liver first, then is the current thinking, environmental factors are re- diabetes will develop in the next five years. This Is there a chance that in the next 10 to 20 spread throughout the body in the blood. Insulin sponsible for the primary activation of the immune sounds rather convincing, but it makes sense to years scientists will make a major discovery applied by pen or pump into the subcutaneous tis- response, which – after a certain time – leads to the perform this examination only in at-risk popula- that will lead to a complete cure of diabetes, sue, as is common today, cannot match this sophis- destruction of beta cells on the islets of Langer- tions, which means for close relatives of people so that diabetics will not have to rely on insu- ticated system in its effectiveness; insulin simply hans. It’s not yet clear whether the preclinical with diabetes. It cannot be recommended at the lin injections their entire lives? does not belong in subcutaneous tissue. According phase of the disease occurs autonomously without level of the entire population due to the still rela- Of course, hope exists. Twenty years is a very long to the smart insulin creators, a change in the struc- additional external impulses or in certain waves of tively low incidence of type 1 diabetes among chil- time, but at this point I personally would count ture of the insulin molecule would be caused by its attenuation and reactivation. dren. myself among the sceptics of a so-called complete reactivity to the surrounding glucose concentration. This implies that in order to reasonably estimate cure for type 1 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone nec- The rate of absorption would increase or decrease the lifelong risk of developing type 1 diabetes, we If you know that the risk of the disease is essary for survival, and if it is absent, as is the case as needed. A patient would thus inject insulin, would need to carry out a robust long-term study high, are you able to prevent its outbreak or with type 1 diabetes, it should ideally be adminis- which would then take care of the rest itself. But starting in infancy. With a little luck, they could an- at least delay it? tered to the body in amounts that are as close to that seems too futuristic to me. We can’t fix genes times we use drugs designed for something else Doctors today mainly focus on improving the and find out that they work beautifully, especially Not every form of diagnosis of the disease. As Associate Professor for some of these other types of diabetes. A perfect Průhová states, thanks to next generation sequenc- knowledge of the etiology of diabetes helps tremen- ing methods it is possible to analyse multiple genes dously.” in one examination. “That’s why we’ve developed a panel of hereditary diabetes genes so that we can Knowledge of genetics is also useful else- investigate all the genes that are known in relation where diabetes is the same to diabetes at once.” Associate Professor Štěpánká Průhová is very ac- But experts have thus far not been able to repair tive in the field of scientific research. Aside from mutated genes. “If I were to work from other mod- being in charge of 120 paediatric patients with type Dividing diabetes into type 1 and type 2 is el diseases where certain vectors can be inserted or 1 diabetes at Motol Hospital, she is involved in sev- a specific area of a gene can be repaired, it would eral research projects. She uses her knowledge of relatively common. “But few people know that potentially be possible. But the responsible genes genetics in paediatric endocrinology as well, where other types exist, including monogenic diabetes, work throughout the body, and so far I can’t im- she deals with growth disorders and uses genetic agine a way we’d be able to repair them all. The research to figure out what causes a given problem. which is caused by carrying a mutation of a question is also whether it makes sense at all for “There are two major projects underway at the mo- less severe forms of the disease,” Štěpánká Průhová ment that are tasked with finding out how genetic certain gene,” explains Štěpánka Průhová, who is says, admitting that development in the treatment causes influence body height in specific families. of diabetes is directed toward the majority types We are investigating what makes a person short- involved in research into this hereditary disease. rather than to rare cases. “But patients with MODY er or taller, and what subsequently influences their also benefit from this because we can choose the growth during childhood and adolescence,” she medicine that’s the most suitable for them. Some- explains.

There are approximately one million diabetics in the Diabetes Society and should start treatment the Czech Republic. The vast majority of them face according to current guidelines, these people have Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

type 2 diabetes in adulthood and many fewer, type been found to have a disorder that has been pres- 1, which is inherited polygenically. But less than ent since birth, and will continue until old age. 5 percent of patients have a somewhat different Fortunately, these patients tend not to develop the disease, one that is autosomally inherited, so pa- chronic diabetes complications we’re most con- tients hand it down in families and it is caused by cerned about. Therefore, there’s no need to start

Spotlight a pathogenic variant in one of the genes. It is called treatment because slightly elevated blood glucose Spotlight monogenic diabetes mellitus. fluctuates only minimally and does not increase Associate Professor Štěpán- 42 “If diabetes occurs in a young person, whether over time, as we know with other types of diabe- ka Průhová chose heredi- 43 a child or an adult under the age of 40, who is thin tes. Children with this diagnosis can play sports, tary forms of diabetes and and has negative autoantibodies, it can be assumed don’t have to inject insulin, and don’t even have to their causes as the topic of that it’s not type 1 diabetes. If they’re not obese, adhere to a strict diet. They only have to slight- her postgraduate study at the it’s not likely to be type 2 diabetes either. In these ly reduce their intake of fast sugars in food, such Third Faculty of Medicine. In cases, we begin to address whether their parents as giving up sweetened soft drinks. It tends to be addition to her care for diabet- ic patients at the Paediatric or grandparents were treated for diabetes. If it is very good news for parents, which is why we call Clinic of the Second Faculty of shown that there have been several generations this variant ‘good diabetes’ ”, Associate Professor Medicine and Motol University in the family where diabetes has manifested itself Průhová explains. Hospital, she works in the Lab- early, the patient is indicated for genetic examina- But hereditary forms of diabetes can be sig- oratory of Molecular Genetics, tion,” says Associate Professor Štěpánka Průhová, nificantly worse. If a patient has another type of where she performs molecular describing cases where doctors consider the geneti- disease (such as changes in the HNF genes) and genetics diagnostics of MODY cally dependent variant of diabetes. at the same time does not cooperate properly with diabetes and some forms of If monogenic diabetes is detected in patients, a doctors and does not take their medication, there is neonatal diabetes. She is the different treatment can be applied than in type 1 a high risk of complications and a need to apply in- vice-dean for doctoral stud- and type 2 diabetes. However, the procedure cho- tensive treatment, sometimes including insulin. For ies and foreign affairs at the Second Faculty of Medicine at sen depends especially on the genetic background cooperating patients, it is possible to try treatment Charles University. detected and extent of the disease. Glucokinase with oral antidiabetics, specifically sulfonylurea de- diabetes is a mild variant of the disease. “While the rivatives, which they often respond to better than if patient meets the criteria of diabetes according to they were to receive insulin. According to studies, up to 70 % of people with MODY (maturity onset diabetes of the young) – as this type of diabetes is Doctors today mainly focus also called on the basis of clinical observation – on improving the diagnosis can replace insulin treatment by treatment with tablets, which most patients welcome, especially of the disease. children. glucose and the arrows are pointing downward, you very sceptical of patients’ ideas, but here it turned can eat in time to avoid hypoglycaemia. Everyone out that the system works and that it’s worth it to is looking forward to when they are able to connect listen to patients. the sensor to an insulin pump that physiological- Our goal is to adapt the algorithm into an official ly mimics the pancreas better than an insulin pen. form so that we can gain the approval of the State Unfortunately, at this time families control the Institute for Drug Control to conduct a prospective pump according to a doctor’s instructions. study in a home environment to prove the system’s safety and effectiveness. Then an official product There’s nothing like this on the market yet? can be made that would be easily available for all There’s only a single product available in the world patients. but it’s not available in the Czech Republic yet. That’s why a parent association named “We are not What made you take on this difficult task? waiting” was started. It has some clever people in it I think all patients should be entitled to the same who themselves created and are gradually improv- approach, and I can’t accept the fact that although ing an algorithm that can work with the sensor and a closed circuit pump has existed in the USA for switch off the pump according to blood glucose three years now, it still has not reached us. So I levels. It can send a bolus [Editor’s note: a single support any other product that would increase dose of insulin provided before food] or otherwise competition on the market and force companies to respond. It works like a closed loop. innovate faster and bring the latest available tech- nologies to our market immediately. Does the parent then need to manually oper- I had two options – to close my eyes and pretend ate the pump? that the patients’ solution did not exist – or to get They don’t have to. Everything is controlled via the familiar with it and find out if it worked. I chose mobile app. You connect the app with a transmitter the second option. The driving force for me is mo- that detects the level of glucose and communicates tivated parents who want the best for their children with the insulin pump. Every five minutes a new and who go for the best possible results. blood glucose reading is performed and the algo- rithm calculates what is likely to develop over the How long can it take to get all the neces- Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

next few minutes and how much insulin needs to sary stamps of approval? For child patients, Parents want be increased or decreased to get as close as possible every month can certainly play a role. to the optimal blood glucose reading. This com- We quietly hope that we’ll be able to have launched mand is sent to the insulin pump via Bluetooth, the study this fall, because we have everything and the pump itself executes it. Only the oversight prepared. We even got a grant from the Technolo-

Spotlight function remains with the parents. gy Agency of the Czech Republic. We also have to Spotlight solutions now get the approval of all the international companies 44 So then the control doesn’t take place via the whose sensors and pumps we’re using. The study 45 What is life like for parents of young diabet- insulin pump? will last for nine months, and then we will have “I don’t know of more motivated ics? No. And imagine that you’re a 17 year old girl, certification. However, it will be beneficial to verify Very difficult. When you have a small child with di- you have a dress and you have to pull out a pump that the system is effective and safe. patients than the parents of abetes, you wake up every night, sometimes several somewhere quickly… At that moment, you’re only a diabetic child,” says Lenka times, both to feed and to inject so that the com- interested in being discreet. Then the main ad- There are around one million patients in the pensation is the best it can be – the quality of life vantages of having it controlled by a smartphone Czech Republic with diabetes. That still isn’t Petruželková. To improve the suffers. You either withdraw from normal activities or smart watch start to become clear. Teenage pa- an interesting target group for companies? quality of life for their children, and the child has excellent blood glucose levels, or tients are an extraordinarily difficult group for us, Although this figure may seem high, it’s a negli- you lead a normal life, but with worse levels. Luck- because at that age they’re dealing with personal gible number in terms of the worldwide number they created an open source ily, continual monitoring sensors are available, and issues. Compensation isn’t important for them. of diabetics. In the Czech Republic, we are at the these have greatly improved the quality of life for mercy of the big global players. system providing automatic patients and their loved ones. What prevents the system you’ve described insulin delivery. Although it has from being adopted on a mass scale? How do these sensors work? The problem is the open source program’s lack of not passed any official certifi- The patient has a tiny probe installed with an en- certification. We cannot officially recommend it zyme, and it continually senses the current level of without this certification and proof of its safety. cation and its use has not been sugar. The reading is not from the blood but from certified, Lenka Petruželková the subcutaneous skin, which correlates well with Wouldn’t it be simpler to test the system to blood glucose levels. The sensor sends data to a prove its safety? Lenka Petruželková, Ph.D., is a graduate of the First nevertheless decided to help receiver, which is at the moment a smartphone, We’re already trying to do that. In cooperation Faculty of Medicine at Charles University. She works at the Department of Paediatrics at the Second Fac- which we all have. It clearly shows not only the with the engineer Miloš Kozák, the father of one the families and now they are ulty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital. She current blood glucose level but also its trend – of our patients, who turned this procedure into a is one of the founding members of the international working together on official whether it’s going up or down. As a result, you user-friendly and simple mobile application, we GOOD NEWS group, focusing on the treatment of type know what to expect in the near future and how tested the algorithm in a pilot study that showed 1 diabetes in children. She is the head of the Artificial- testing. to prepare for fluctuations. If you have low blood very promising results. After all, doctors tend to be Pancreas4ALL project. The Path to the Grant According to the young scientist, hav- ing a good idea for a research project is essential. That required an overview Foundation of projects other chemists around the world are working on, and to look for areas where there might be room for new discoveries. “I had had an idea for a project for some time. It took about six offers a world of weeks to work it into a final written pro- posal and to process everything else re- recommendation from the supervisor, lated to the preparation of the grant ap- an invitation letter from the receiving plication,” Navrátil explains. Luckily, he person from a foreign university and didn’t find getting a grant too difficult. to determine the amount of the grant to The foundation requires relatively few requested. “The most time-consuming possibilities documents, making the application itself process is designing the project itself easier than with some grant schemes. As Eva and finding a suitable institution to for other competitors, everything was carry it out,” Bednářová admits. To en- confidential: only the jury examining all Bednářová courage other young scientists who are applications knew all the details. considering applying, she adds: “I was young scientists A scholarship worth 1,165,000 assured that if the project was ambitious Science, the Czech Way crowns will allow her a one-year enough, well written and performed at a “I don’t think it is easy to do top-level internship at Columbia University, top workplace, the chances of approval Thanks to the Experientia Foundation, talented science in our country comparable to New York. Bednářová opted for this were excellent.” world standards. Many scientific teams school because it is one of the most young scientists in the field of organic, bioorganic in the Czech Republic are still working prestigious in the world and she Science, the Czech Way on topics that are not up-to-date,” the hoped to join the team of Professor According to Bednářová, the competi- and medicinal chemistry can now spend a year on an scientist says. Innovative thinking, ideas, Tomislav Rovis, in whose research tion among scientists in the Czech Re- Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum international study stay or internship at a prestigious insight and a global view of science is Bednářová is interested. She is the public is not as tough as in the countries what he lacks the most. “A lot depends first woman in the seven-year his- of Western Europe and the USA and the university abroad. Eva Bednářová and Rafael Navrátil, on the respective scientific team lead- tory of the Experientia Foundation success rate of submitted grant appli- ers,“ the grant-holder admits: “Young to receive a scholarship. cations is higher. On the other hand, graduates of the Faculty of Science at Charles scientists with experience from abroad these benefits are often offset by a high

Students University, received the grant this year. who know exactly what to work on and Eva Bednářová wants to continue work- administrative burden and a low finan- Students who want to set up their own scientific ing on the development of a new method cial remuneration of scientists. “Howev- 46 STORY BY Marcela Uhlíková PHOTOS BY The Experientia Foundation teams should get more encouragement. of preparation of chemotherapeutics er, I cannot compare the situation in the 47 “The conditions improved thanks to the acting directly on the area of applica- Czech Republic to other countries yet emergence of the Experientia Founda- tion, i.e. in the place of affliction. The because I have only limited information tion start-up grant; however, that grant problem of commonly-used cancer drugs from abroad,” she concludes. is only for beginner scientists in the is their low specificity and side effects. The CU graduate studied chemical field of organic, bioorganic and medici- “Our idea is to deliver a non-toxic drug Eva Bednářová, Ph.D. After graduating processes and reactions at the molecu- nal chemistry. In addition, the problem precursor to the very spot of the affected from the Department of Organic Chemis- lar level using mass spectrometry and many young scientists face is not only tissue, where it will be transformed into try at the Faculty of Science, CU, Eva Bed- ion spectroscopy. Among other things, having to raise funds, but also gaining an active substance using a non-invasive nářová earned her doctorate in organic chemistry within the Cotutelle programme these methods make it possible to study suitable laboratory space. method, in our case a photo-redox cat- Rafael at the Faculty of Science of Charles Uni- the mechanisms of organic reactions alysed cyclization reaction,” Bednářová versity and the Institut des Biomolécules Rafael Navrátil graduated from the Insti- or highly reactive molecules, of which says. It is the use of this method that Max Mousseron at the Université de Mont- Navrátil tute of Organic Chemistry at the Universi- little is known. He worked on both of could reduce or eliminate the commonly pellier in France. She is now a researcher ty of Chemistry and Technology in Prague; Thanks to a scholarship worth these topics. Specifically, his work dealt observed side effects of the drug, which at that department. he is now a PhD student at the Department 1,270,000 Czech crowns, he will with fluorescent dyes and their tem- often limit its usability. of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, perature-dependent properties, iron spend a year at the Scripps Re- CU. He has also completed a research search Institute in San Diego, complexes mimicking enzyme reactivity, internship within the framework of a doc- The Path to the Grant California. He chose the location light-responsive molecular switches or toral program, the Erasmus+ program at Agreeing with her colleague, Rafael, because it meant he will be able light-activated models of antiviral drugs. the Radboud Universiteit in Nijmegen, the the young scientist regards the admin- to work in a team led by Profes- “I solved many projects in cooperation Netherlands. istrative process of applying for the sor Phil Baran, one of the leading with other chemists who wanted to learn Experientia Foundation grant as very figures in contemporary organic more about the molecules and reac- straight-forward, as opposed to appli- chemistry. Grant evaluators were tions. My results explaining the proper- cations for competing grant agencies: impressed by Navrátil’s project of ties and reactivity of the studied com- all that was necessary was to write a developing new methods and reac- pounds proved valuable to them,” Rafael roughly four-page description of the tions in organic synthesis. Navrátil says. project, to submit a CV, to get a letter of CU Med student: Writing gave me a broader perspective

lost her memory and when I began writing I didn’t There aren’t many authors who publish their first want to focus on the reason why. Not right away. book while still at high school, but Marcela Remeňová, But of course it eventually became more impor- tant. In terms of plotting, I didn’t take many notes now a first-year at Charles University, did exactly ahead of the first book but that has now changed: by the time I got to the third book in the series, that. In fact, she wrote the first three books in a there were many more characters and plotlines. I continuing fantasy/sci-fi series called Eight Worlds. had to take stock in where my characters were and where they were going. My notes are a lot more We caught up with her at the start of her first detailed – including what happens in individual semester at the Second Faculty of Medicine to discuss chapters. Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

her writing – and more. Working with different characters, can be tricky, can’t it? Each has different traits and STORY BY Jan Velinger PHOTO BY Vladimír Šigut their own voice… I find that part very refreshing. I really like chang- ing perspectives: otherwise, it gets tiring to write

Students How did you balance your time between writ- to know that no one is going to interrupt. The most from just one point of view. Students ing and high school? important thing to do is just write. I tell myself no- 48 Time management on the first two books wasn’t body else is going to do it for me. Your story is part science fiction/fantasy: Marcela Remeňová was born in Prague in 1999 and 49 studied at Jan Neruda High School. Writing has been that hard: the writing wasn’t as difficult. The third what attracted you to the genre? her passion since childhood; she says it helped her see book in the series was a little trickier because I You began writing stories as a little girl – how The fact that you can come up with anything. That the world from many different points of view. faced high school leaving exams, my schoolwork did you get the idea? everything is possible within the world you create. itself was harder and then I very much wanted to I am an only child and when I was a kid I was al- I wanted to have a supernatural element and the get accepted at university. Sometimes I really had ways playing pretend games, where I imagined genre allows that. to work at it because I wasn’t satisfied and I felt I many characters that I talked to. Some of them could do better. were eventually the basis for some of the characters Do you settle in advance on internal rules in Eight Worlds – First Acquaintance, some came lat- you don’t break? You were accepted at the Second Faculty of Do you have to be tough on yourself to be er: Lea, the main protagonist, for example, wasn’t a In terms of the books, the laws of physics, for ex- Medicine. successful in the arts – whether writing or part of those early games. She joined the story only ample, are the same and are respected. What is That’s right. I am just at the start and I expect it anything else? when I began the first book. different are skills that some of the characters, such will be very hard, but I hope to become a doctor The older I am the more critical I have become: as Lea’s parents (from a different world than our one day. I am not yet sure which area I would like things don’t always come easily but if you are over- When you decided that you wanted to write a own) have. That said, I didn’t set limits per se. The to specialise in because there are so many options. ly critical it can hurt the process. Sometimes it can novel, how much did you map out in advance? reason? Even we as human beings don’t know ful- At the moment I like the idea of becoming an ob- be too much and can slow down your writing. You I’ve heard about different approaches: Ste- ly know what we are capable of and this is similar. stetrician. I need to learn more about it. have to be careful not to overdo it, or it can work phen King, for example, gives his charac- The characters can’t travel back in time or any- negatively against you. ters a lot of room – he doesn’t try to lock the thing but know how to use certain fighting skills or What about research in medicine? Is that whole story in, in advance, and they some- to use their mind over matter. something you might also consider? What do you “do” when you write? Do you times surprise him. At least, that’s the gist I am pretty much open to everything but I will see prepare for writing sessions? from some of his lectures online. I guess you are a fan of science fiction your- how things go. Right now I am happy to be stud- Today I mostly know what I have to do, so the I had some of the story thought through but not, self? ying the first semester and getting to know fellow main thing is just to sit down and get started. for example, the ending. I knew which direction I was, but to be honest, I haven’t been reading classmates and seeing what it’s like. There is no avoiding that! Sometimes, music helps the first book needed to go and what the second much lately. This year there was just so much to do me get in a certain mood before writing. Being in a might be about, but it’s true that a lot was still with finishing high school and getting accepted at A whole new chapter. good environment is obviously important. You need missing. At the beginning of the book, Lea has university. I just didn’t have the time. Yes and very exciting. I am looking forward to it. 50 History Forum 7 Czech AcademyCzech of Sciences won the How Heyrovský STORY BY uable contribution. andinvalsuccess - Heyrovský’s discusses Barek JiříProfessor ography. Associate work was inpolar of area His main Prize inChemistry. awarded Nobel the Heyrovský was inventor Jaroslav and Czech chemist years the since 60 been has It scientists very scientists very well aware that ourown I amoneof the vanishing generationof – forelectrolysis you achemist? as electrode mercury – dropping od raphy. meth isthe How important for hisworkChemistry inpolarog rovský received Prize Nobel in the You wereHey Professor 10when PHOTOS BY

Marcela UhlíkováMarcela Luboš Wišniewski,Luboš

- - - - self. Iam talking aboutscientists who ning with the work ofHeyrovský him- - Prague schoolofpolarography begin phy from the fromamazingpersonalities nate that Igainedalove- forpolarogra like ProfessorHeyrovský.- I was fortu were ofgiants standingon the shoulders results were possibleonlybecause we Nobel PrizeNobel electrode hasbeen replacedinlabo- Electrochemistry. ofEnvironmental UNESCO Laboratory ment of Analytical Chemistry, orinour hisname),(now- bearing in ourDepart at the Chemistry Academy ofSciences worked eitherinhisInstituteofPhysical And although the dropping mercury And although the droppingmercury and filling in grant applications – he and fillingin spend mostof their time reports writing times – when scientistsdidnothave to 9th, 1922. Becausehelived inhappier onFebruary solution underobservation into the dripping ing through mercury interesting pass - to measure the current came up with the idea that it would be the exactdateofitsbirth. Heyrovský polarography. As ithappens, we know It’s wasn’t the case with of the discovery was here? pinpoint; case that the to hard toleading are Prizes Nobel exact discoveries date of scientific that the case the issometimes It award.commemorate this is all the morereason to appreciateand erable competitionin this field, which awarded time.the first Thereisconsid- in this fieldarenot ally NobelPrizes times forphysiology andmedicine. Usu- chemistry, onceforphysics and three was nominated 18 times: 14 times for For perspective, ProfessorHeyrovsky award late so come – in1959? in1922.Chemistry) Why did the inChemickéfield (Journal listy of hisdiscoveries about inthis article Heyrovský hisfirst published and othernaturalmedicalsciences. nanotechnologies,various biochemistry duced byHeyrovský arestillinuse procedures ofscientificresearchintro- rovský. The methodsandexperimental the pioneering work ofProfessorHey- would nothave been with us without andelectroanalyticalmethods materials to realize that newelectrode is necessary health andenvironmental protection. It forhuman other substancesimportant nanomaterials, biomoleculesandmany drugs, chemicalcarcinogens, pesticides, ofnew and transformations properties still anamazing tool forstudying the electroanalytical methodsevolve, itis as bynewelectrodematerials ratories compounds. of biologically active organic for tracking trace amounts anddetectors ical sensors ofopment new electrochem develCU. Hefocuses onthe - Chemistry, Faculty of Science, of Analytical Department the at chemist electroanalytical Jiří Barek Professor is an - wash abowl to discover penicillin. baseduponapromise to forget grant to difficult for AlexanderFleming togeta ofpolarography.ery Justasit would be solutions, althoughitled to the discov- into various dripping mercury uring would noteven formeas- getagrant HeyrovskýProfessor thattoday worried role” agencies. ofourgrant Iamalittle would considerlimiting the “planning world-class in their fields. AndmaybeI focused onchemistry, onceconsidered schools position ofCzechsecondary and schools, the importance restoring andsecondary teaching atprimary istry byimproving the qualityofchem- start natural, medicaland technical sciences. most talented study the youngpeople to possible to inspire do everything the direction,wantin this tothink wemust as high the width ofitsbase. Soif we in my opinion, apyramidcanonlybe professionals within Czechsociety. And ous awards, but to educatereallygood conditions andbetterchancesfor - vari as soonpossibleforbetter working “select few” who will then goabroad sion ofuniversities isnot to educatea mis- main who thinkthatthe minority It’s possible. That said, Ibelong to the future? inthe success similar such that achance weIs there will see to haveis said very been talented. Even Heyrovský hisstudies, during than fourmonths. inless ofChemistry encies inJournal ence came to beknown asapolarogram. potential.inserted Later, this depend- on the dependenceof the this current Physics and, in the afternoon, measured from the Faculty ofMathematicsand galvanometersimply borrowed amirror As forchemistry, I would definitely He published the measureddepend- Prize in Stockholm forPrize inStockholm development the of polarography. 1959hewas London. College InDecember awardedty Nobel the Heyrovský at Universi hisphysical studies - chemistry continued exist faculty of didnot independent natural science at time), that chemistry, (an physics at Faculty the of andmathematics Arts JaroslavProfessor Heyrovský (1890–1967) After studying with beautiful polarogram curves. with beautifulpolarogram trode andhe was rewarded forhislove rovsky elec- loved hisdroppingmercury committed to his work. ProfessorHey- in the wasway alsoextraordinary he was and leadingalargeresearch team. He with hisheart. He was skilledincreating not only with hisheadandhandsbut plication. Hedidhisamazingresearch its thereby ensuring wide practicalap- methodhedeveloped,the polarographic possibilitiesof usability andfascinating al scientificcommunityof thepractical way, and to convince- the internation the resultsofhisresearchinanamazing had the ability to explainandpromote oscillations causedby the dripping. He despite the complicationsofcurrent electrode fits of thedroppingmercury allowed him to see the amazingbene- essential from the non-essential, which distinguish the ability to had the He and skills? slav Heyrovský’s qualities greatest In your what opinion, were Jaro study lateron. about tothink what they wantbegin to children by thetimethese light out the experiments, andlater wonder what put leagues show them beautifulchemical excitement andinterest when my col- young people. Ihave seenchildren’s be taken to makescienceattractive for I think that a lot more effort should I think that alotmoreeffort - 51 History Forum 7 Caring for the Infant Jesus of Prague

Several Spanish women pray with heads bowed on the kneeler’s bench. Behind them, a group of Japanese tourists seeks spirituality through their phone displays, young couples on the wooden benches ask for God’s intercession, and Czech secondary school students wind their way through it all. CU doctoral Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

student Pavel Pola, the prior of the Church of Our Lady Victorious, guardian of the famous Infant Jesus of Prague, is used to the bustling crowds. Alumni Alumni

52 STORY BY Lucie Kettnerová PHOTOS BY Luboš Wišniewski, Martin Špelda, Jorge Royan 53

You belong to the order of the barefoot Car- My parents are both engineers, but my grandfa- melites, but nobody is walking around the thers were doctors and everyone was kind of count- church barefoot. What’s going on? ing on me becoming a doctor. A dentist, specifi- I like to joke that we made a compromise with the cally. I changed my decision more or less without shoe-wearing community – we wear shoes during warning and quickly, so it took them a while to deal the day and take them off at night. But to set things with it, but I think they’ve come to terms with it. straight about the name. “Barefoot” was a peri- My former classmates told me: “You’re not going od term for the reform council, whose members to heal bodies, but souls.” walked in sandals. Full shoes were a luxury in the Middle Ages, while the poor wore sandals. Today Did you set out on a clergyman’s path right we can wear any shoes we want. after school? During my studies, I had already gone to Italy as You studied at the Catholic Theological Fac- part of the order for a year long novitiate, which is ulty. Was that your first choice? a form of spiritual preparation. I was ordained after It wasn’t. I first started at the First Faculty of Med- completing theology, but then I prepared for spiritual icine, where I spent three years. Then I re-evalu- service abroad for some time. It was in France that I ated my life’s direction, because I was tempted by discovered for myself the character of Thérèse of Li- theology and the priesthood, and I also discovered sieux, whom I have studied for a long time. the Carmelite Order, which I joined. This saint is not very well known in the Czech How did your parents take the news that Republic. What is her story? they weren’t going to have a doctor in the Thérèse of Lisieux was a barefoot Carmelite who family but a priest? lived at the end of the 19th century in France. She died very young, at the age of 24, and became world Does anyone have a problem that a Catholic an informal programme. We finish the day at 9 pm famous due to her writings, although they were is going to the Protestants? with our last common prayer. few. Nobody even knew she was writing anything. Someone of course could have a problem with that. It wouldn’t have taken much and her work would I see it more as an expansion of one’s horizons. I Your church is quite atypical. Elsewhere Blessing with have remained forgotten in the convent archive. feel firmly anchored in my community and tradi- there’s an almost sacred silence, people the right hand tion, so for me “otherness” is not threatening but whisper and keep their mobile phones hid- What was it about her personality that spoke rather enriching. Moreover, the topic of ecumenism den in their pockets. Here there’s quite a lot to you? seems to be fundamentally important. of noise, groups of tourists come here with

That’s a difficult question. I feel like the more I guides and everyone’s taking pictures or Globus cruciger, study her, the less I understand it myself. Thérèse People do their doctorate when they want filming the Infant Jesus. Latin for “Cross- -bearing orb” for me is a beautiful woman, and at the same time to focus on a scientific career. Logically the The Infant Jesus of Prague is really very unique. her life was very ordinary: it could be described in question then arises as to what use it has for The statue attracts tourists who come to admire the five sentences. a priest. beautiful pure early Baroque, pilgrims who want She had four older sisters, all of whom joined When I was preparing the edition of Thérèse’s writ- to pray here, and local people as well. It all blends the convent. She did so at 15, which was quite unu- ings and their annotation, I enjoyed studying the together. Of course it can be disruptive sometimes, sual, but she didn’t do anything extraordinary there literature on it and thought I would like to contin- but at the same time it provides great opportunities and died of tuberculosis nine years later. When one ue. At the same time, I see my studies as a good to reach people and give them a certain message. of her sisters was supposed to create a report for platform that will push me to develop intellectually. the surrounding convents, she wondered what to Don’t the faithful complain? write about her. She was nice, but that’s all there How long have you worked in the Church of Sometimes, yes. We try to quiet visitors when the was to say about her. But a year after Thérèse’s the Infant Jesus of Prague? noise exceeds a certain limit. We were able to ne-

Height 45 cm (+ 2 stand) death, her sisters published her writings, which im- I first entered the monastery in Slaný. Within our gotiate with the guides that they would make their Material: mediately sold out. Since then, half a billion copies order there is a practice that the clergy sometimes comments in front of the church and then go into Wood, canvas and wax have been published in 100 translations. moves from monastery to monastery. In the Czech the church in silence. The church isn’t an exhibi- Long Republic, we only have two monasteries, Prague tion hall where guided tours should happen, but it chemise What does she write about in her works? and Slaný, so aside from being abroad, I was first is a place of silence and personal reflection. She describes a strong personal experience, her in Slaný and now I’ve been in Prague five years, of spiritual journey she had set out on and which was which two of those years have been in the post of Online you offer a fairly action-packed pro- not easy. For a year and a half of her life, when she prior. But the decision came from above. My boss gramme for children with elements of expe- Bare Forum 7 Forum feet 7 Forum knew she was sick, she experienced a deep spiritual gave the order and I moved. riential education. That doesn’t tend to be crisis. She almost lost faith, began to doubt that common in churches. everything, but gave no outward signs of this and Does a candidate for prior have to have an We’ve prepared programmes for schools for more fought with it on her own. I think it’s precisely this election campaign like politicians do? than three years. Schools were interested in coming

Alumni that is very inspiring – despite living through a kind I wouldn’t call it a campaign. Our province is tiny. for a tour, mainly before Christmas or at the end Alumni of darkness, she lived on and would not be discour- It has only 70 brothers, of which 10 are Czechs and of the school year, so we took it a bit more actively 54 aged. She was a master of courage and trust. I also 60 are Italians. I think that the pre-election contest and created an experience programme. We started 55 want to study St. Thérèse’s work in my dissertation was carried out here in a brotherly spirit. But I can with fourth and fifth graders; the programme is for at the Protestant Theological Faculty. imagine that it may not go so smoothly in some the whole morning and during that time children This form of prayer is also acceptable for people places. go into the monastery, tower, crypt and sacristy. who have not joined the Church or who do not As a Catholic priest, why did you choose the But it’s not just a classic tour. Children have the identify themselves as believers. The offer hung on Protestant faculty? How do Carmelites live today? opportunity to experience something, to get to our bulletin board for a long time, and people were When I was putting together the topic, I happened For our order, the key value is contemplative prayer know the place, to get to know Christianity, and asking at the time if it was all right that they don’t to meet to Professor Ivana Noble. I was inspired or meditation. So within the daily schedule we also to talk with a monk. They can ask him whatev- attend church. But they evidently do come in be- by her attitude, how she approached the topic, so devote two hours to silent meditation and then er they want, which for many of them is a great ex- cause they read it here. I believe that a meeting is we agreed that she would lead my work. But I also we have additional prayers as other orders do. Of perience. Over time, we expanded the programme beneficial for everyone because it leads the medita- have a consultant at the Catholic Faculty. course the rest of your lifestyle has to adapt to this, to include both younger and older children. tor to live more truly in their faith or their search, because to sit or kneel somewhere for an hour re- however that may be. It represents a journey in quires a person to be well-rested, for example. At What else do you offer the general public? depth, one whose conditions don’t require you to the same time, we don’t live in seclusion; we try to Our space is very limited because the education tell us where where you belong and what you prac- The Infant Jesus of Prague be out among people, to pass on our values and ministry has its headquarters in the original mon- tice. The starting positions may vary. is really very unique, maybe even try to invite them over. astery; only the vicarage remains for us. For in- But we try to invite people to the church who Our daily routine looks like this: We meet at 6 stance, due to popular demand we added Thurs- would not come to a classic religious programme. attracting tourists who am in silent prayer, then we pray in classical prayer, day meditations. I think it belongs to the place and That’s why we created the regular evening lectures breviary and then each of us has our own work. to our order. It’s a silent meditation with a short called Man in Dialogue. As I mentioned, we hold it come to admire the Either here in the church, which requires a lot of introduction. After it’s over, participants have the right in the church due to space limitations, which beautiful early Baroque, care because it’s the most-visited church in Prague, possibility to reflect or to discuss with us. can also be an advantage, as it turns out. The lec- or we prepare programmes for schools or for local tures have a different atmosphere. People lecture pilgrims who want to pray people, organise lectures and so on. Before lunch, Are the participants mostly Christians, or differently and react differently to the message. here, and local people as we gather for prayer, have lunch together, and in are there also people who Tomáš Halík calls Once a month we open the church to various top- the evening we have another hour of meditation, the “somethingists” - people who believe in ics. But they’re spiritual because if it relates to life well. evening praise, have dinner together and maybe something supernatural, but not God? or man, it relates to God as well. CU graduate Pavel Pola is a priest, a barefoot Carmelite and, for the past two years has Clothes according been the prior of the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Prague’s Malá Strana. Since to the calendar 2008, he has studied the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; he is The Infant Jesus, as a priest at the altar, the author of the introduction dresses in garments of the colour of the and notes for a new edition of liturgical period, which are set according Story of a Soul. He graduated to the Church’s calendar. Four basic col- from the Catholic Theological ours are generally used. Faculty and is now a doctoral student at the Evangelical The- ological Faculty.

Does your order also engage in missionary Do you have time for any activities outside activities? the walls of the monastery? In Prague there’s a kind of missionary PR – we For almost 15 years, I’ve been working in a present the missions we are connected with and 50-member group of volunteers working with also support financially. I think it’s a nice connec- children and youth. My task is to provide them tion between the Czech Republic and the Central with spiritual support. I also work in psychother- African Republic, where the order operates. The apy. Now I also work as a therapist for priests and Czech Republic is the geographic heart of Europe, clergy. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time for and the Central African Republic is the same for anything else. Forum 7 Forum 7 Forum

Africa. The mission opens up another dimension of White Red life. You can either shut yourself away in your own If you found the time, what would be the The colour of glory, purity and holiness – The colour of blood and fire – for Holy Week, the pond, or you can realise that there’s someone else direction you’d like to put your effort and for celebrations, Easter and Christmas Pentecost holidays and the holidays of the Holy Cross out there who might be worse off. The connection energy into?

Alumni of pilgrimage sites with the missionary dimension I’d like to help people find new ways to deepen Alumni thus serves as a call for a certain kind of solidarity. their spiritual development. Meditation is difficult 56 for many young people. To sit for half an hour and 57 Who is the assistance going to in Africa? remain silent requires a superhuman effort from There are five monasteries active in the country. them. I consider it a challenge to arrange this for The brothers came from Italy almost 50 years ago. them, because for me, meditation is something es- Each of these spiritual centres has a slightly differ- sential to my existence. It’s something I couldn’t ent focus. Some concentrate on education or sup- imagine my life without. So I’d also like to encour- porting agriculture, others on spiritual service in age others to discover what it can offer. the area. Assistance takes the form of both financial and personal involvement, when we arrange trips Can a Carmelite indulge in any worldly pleas- for volunteers. Brothers from the Czech Republic ures? For example, they organise football also go to the Central African Republic. I myself matches at the Hussite faculty. have visited the country four times. I’m not one for football, but I used to play volley- ball and I liked to ski in the winter. Among worldly The church has not only a modern website, pleasures, I like to cook and make good coffee. I but you can also be found on the social net- have my own pizza oven, which I got when I was works, including Facebook and LinkedIn. So ordained into the priesthood. you don’t consider new media bad? I also play music. I used to play the piano and We are also trying to be active on these platforms organ, and today I play the zither. And I like to lis- because people today are active there and spend ten to music. I love the Collegium 1704 ensemble, a lot of time online. Of course it has its limita- which interprets baroque music in a classical way. tions and, I would say, risks as well. But it is also A musical perspective is, I think, a certain way of a space where important dialogue can take place perceiving the world. and people learn a lot of interesting things about Purple Green the real world. I certainly wouldn’t condemn social The colour of repentance – for Lent and The colour of life and hope – for the liturgical interim networks indiscriminately. Even mainstream media the Advent periodní periods (the most common colour) can create a certain illusion of life. Address Celetná 13 Prague 1 110 00

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Celetná has always been among the Old Town’s For some time this palace served as a centre Classrooms most important streets and was the site of Ro- for gambling, a kind of casino for the nobility. The manesque courtyards dating back to the 11th entrance to the palace features the coat of arms century. Under the reign of Charles IV, during the of the Carretto di Millesimo family – the original High Middle Ages, they became the site of two new can be found in the Lapidarium of the National Gothic buildings, preserved to this day in the form Museum. Charles University has owned the pal- of original window frames with tracery. The pal- ace since 1990 and it was reopened in September instead ace received a Baroque makeover around 1756 2019 after extensive reconstruction . at the behest of Kryštof, Count Cavriani and the architects Anselmo Martino Lurago and Fran- Professor Jan Royt tišek Ignác Preé. The palace under construction Vice-Rector for Creative and Editorial Activities was then acquired by his relative Jan Josef, Count of casinos Carretto-Cavriani di Millesimo. PHOTOS BY René Volfík 60 Life at CU Forum 7 ities. four facil school - to public the visit of members ing invit participant, was an active sity Univer Charles country. Thisyear, the across sities and univer tres tech cen stitutes, in at museums, for time 14th the – wasence held - sci ularising day event pop – asingle tists ofNight Scien vědců or Noc The Summer School of Experimental Surgery of Experimental School The Summer - - Life at CU - - - - - comes to CU comes to Night of Scientists 1 / 7 countries took part. 15 countries from 19universities from students Thirty-three room. experience operating inthe ableto were gain students For medical time, sixth the University. Charles Pilsen, Facultythe in of Medicine of auspices underthe held Surgery of Experimental ternational School Summer of In the return July sawthe 27 / 9 - Paris in meets Alliance 4EU+ 9 / 10 Jan Palach opens Memorial 21 / 10 zon 2020. key international grants- Hori as such for forof applying ateam responsible tasking and the to possibilities discuss face of meeting to face, importance the Tomáš outlined right) onthe (last Zima Rector University operation. Charles extensiveParis co to further confirm in University atance – met Sorbonne 4EU+ Alli- ofprestigious the part are – which of universities six The rectors multimedia exhibition. exhibition. multimedia a and memorial features the Všetaty, was into converted of located village in, inthe PalachThe house up grew 1969. molation inJanuary Czechoslovakia by self-im invasion Soviet-led the of against protested who dent - stu young Faculty of Arts of inhonour the Memorial Palach Jan the opened The National Museum - - 61 Life at CU Forum 7 62 Life at CU Forum 7 The Cup isours! The Cup Causa Honoris Doctor estant Theological Faculty. Theological estant Prot the with relations good to significantly contributed and for 20years than more and hermeneutics studies inBiblical scholar class isaworld- Oeming olinum. Dr.h.c.tigious at Car the title Germany, pres the received in University Heidelberg from theologist a renowned Oeming, Professor Manfred 11 - - - / 11 31 / 10 score of 4: score of team Economics’ by a Praguedowning the School late - 31st of October hours ipated Battle inthe onIce team won highly-antic the hockey University’s Charles the team’sthe success. heandtain as fans celebrate team the cap with trophy Tomáš lifts (right) Zima the other.each Rector CU of four teams against school talents the pits traditionally tournament one-day ious 0. Theprestig - - - ers (pictured: Tomáš (pictured: ers Klus). by perform Czech concert afree including years ago, fallthe 30 of communism celebrationsous marking keyother sites. Hlávkovathe and dormitory at inceremonies memory their honoured University centration camp. Charles con Sachsenhausen the to sent were 1,200 people than in1939. More Nazis the and aprofessor) by leaders (eight student nine others execution and the letal of Op Jan ofdeath student of the 80th anniversary the markedThis year Czechs better place today yearsago. 30 than ably moved forward and was inafar mocracy, unquestion had country the transformationthe to back de period mistakes during some that despite ed fall Petr suggest of communism. Nečas undergone had the since country the many the changes wards – discussed governments Czech led 2002 on from left to – allof whom right) (from Nečas and Petr Paroubek, Jiří Vladimír Špidla, ofVelvet the anniversary Revolution. events uptoof special leading 30th the of aseries part as University Charles at students inadebate with part formerThree ministers prime took The evening sawnumer ------as part of November ’89 week part as Former indebate took PMs part 17 / 11 celebrations and Velvet Remembrance 13 / 11 63 Life at CU Forum 7 Amélie de Montch- alin (in the middle), France’s Minis- ter of State for European Affairs, debated with CU’s All the best Rector Tomáš Zima and also Jan Kon- valinka (pictured), vice-rector for research. in 2020 from all of us at Forum Magazine!

Here are some of the many events we will be following in the new year: French minister outlines

Forum 7 Forum 17/1 10/5 challenges facing EU 19/2

STORY BY Valerie Stupnikova, Jan Velinger PHOTO BY Martin Pinkas The 50th anniversary The 100th anniversary Thirty years since of the death of Milada of the reinstatement the three theological Paulová, the first female of the name “Charles faculties joined the Final Word Final The year 1989 – with the fall of one During her lecture, Minister de to be members of the EU should full professor in the University” university communist regime after another in Eu- Montchalin emphasized the im- be in convergence with Europe. history of Charles 64 rope – was of monumental significance. portance of preserving European Key aspects include development University The reverberations were far-reaching identity. She pointed out that over in the economic, social, educational and opened the way for freedom for the last 30 years Europe had taken spheres. Cited as a positive example, millions and a return to democracy in great steps forward and voiced the was the Little Schengen project in countries behind the Iron Curtain for opinion that “Europeans needed the Western Balkans. decades. The EU took in its first mem- to remember who they were”; she One of the students who helped 1/6 24/6 30/6 bers of the Warsaw Pact, significantly stated that not only diplomats and with the organization of the lecture, expanding its membership. Problems politicians had to hold discussions Lenka Stoláriková, shared her im- unforeseen – the annexation of Ukraine, but that the broader public also pressions afterwards, saying attend- Thirty years since the One hundred years since The opening of a major Great Britain’s withdrawal from the needed to take part. Additionally, ees were able to ask questions on founding of the Faculty of the Faculty of Science exhibition at the National EU – have since come to the fore. It the minister stressed the importance topics they found interesting. She Social Sciences Museum highlighting was these challenges ahead that were of opportunities for every European said they could shape their own received full statute the focus of a visit by France’s Minis- citizen. opinions and identities building on the work of Czech ter of State for European Affairs Amélie The lecture at the Carolinum the ideas presented in the discus- Egyptologists de Montchalin at Charles University on was followed by questions from sion and added it was beneficial for November 30. students. Topics such as Brex- students to attend such events to The minister gave a lecture at the it (which the minister made clear get a “better understanding” of key heart of the university, the Caroli- would introduce enormous chang- issues and some of the decisions be- 1/8 15/11 num, entitled “30 Years After 1989 – es in the values and ties between ing made. 27/10 Can Europe keep its promise of the EU countries), and the sover- peace, prosperity and freedom?”. eignty of Ukraine (with one of the Rector Tomáš Zima, the Vice-Rector major goals being the demilitariza- Twenty years since the Seventy-five years since The 350th anniversary of for Research Jan Konvalinka, and tion of the country) loomed large. founding of the Faculty of the founding of the the death of the famous the Vice-Rector for Quality of Edu- The future of EU enlargement was Humanities Faculty of Medicine in Czech thinker Jan Amos cation Radka Wildová were the top also discussed and the minister Plzeň (Pilsen) Komenský (Comenius) university representatives present. stressed that countries that wanted in 1670 About 50 percent of the games that were made for the ZX Spectrum were text adventures. You could tell a story much more powerfully than in the action games of the era. The only graphics were a loading screen, maybe with a hammer & sickle and then you started playing. Many games were subversive – and funny.

Jaroslav Švelch: How programmers in the ’80s used games to mock the regime / 4