Vít Voženílek: Maps Are a Testament of the Time and the People

žurnál

Magazine of Palacký University Olomouc, 2019/1

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Vít Voženílek: Maps are a testament of the time and the people

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2 — Married in and to academia 5 — The Dagmar and Václav Havel VIZE 97 Foundation Prize awarded to former UP rector Josef Jařab 6 — Olomouc Hematology Days hosted top experts from USA 6 — Dozens of alumni arrived at the Faculty of Science for their gold and diamond graduation 7 — Faculty of Physical Culture opened a modern centre for research into human movement 7 — King Sejong Institute established at UP 8 — Future rescuers instructed by a top Israeli expert on crisis management 8 — Faculty of Theology hosted representative of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv Dear colleagues, students, and 9 — Book rarity. Team from the Faculty of Law published the admirers of Palacký University, complete Digesta Here we are, at the beginning of a new 9 — Faculty of Education prepared a unique concept: Teacher21 year. The one which just ended marked 10 — Five scientists from UP on the list of world’s most cited above all one hundred years of the 11 — Scientists from UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry have Czech Republic, during which time our discovered a new approach in diagnosing tumors country persevered through bad times 12 — Interview – Jaroslav Doležel: You cannot change the world and good, years of prosperity and on your own, but it’s good to try peace, as well as those of anxiety and 15 — Portrait – Filip Melzer, Associate Professor of Civil Law hardship. Some things were beyond 18 — Success the capacities of our predecessors – 22 — Kaleidoscope of news briefs and beyond ours – however we have 24 — DIY is cool! TechnoLab proves it the chance to work so that the future 25 — Interview – Vít Voženílek: Maps are a testament of the will be better than the past. time and the people In this respect the role of the 28 — Researchers change the perspective on cancer treatment university plays a key role, because 29 — Scientists have discovered a new way to control a quality education is always the key the properties of molecules to critical thinking, and on the other 30 — Children on a dangerous path: not enough movement despite opportunities hand it also represents an effective guard against popularism and the 31 — China as neighbour: a research study at the Faculty of Arts influences of modern propaganda. 32 — We’re still UP for it! 34 — Helena dreams of a world without garbage collectors And this is why I am also glad that 35 — Experience – Veronika Žižková: I no longer walk the streets our school gained institutional of Baltimore accreditation last year. We thus have 37 — Alumnus – Jiří Pasz: Photography can make life and death the ability for the next ten years decisions to approve and improve our study 39 — Reflection – Korea programmes ourselves. Now we can 40 — First successful human organ transplant prepare new programmes for our students, offering the whole spectrum of diverse fields and combinations, and as a result also react to the title page: Satellite image of Olomouc, colours changed dynamics of social changes and (such imagery is used particularly for vegetation applications, evaluations of plants’ health status, differentiation of individual species, etc.) transformations in the labour market repro: Department of Geoinformatics, UP Faculty of Science both in this country and the world.

Jaroslav Miller Rector text: M. Šaradínová theme V. Mazochová E. Hrudníková M. Višňa photos: Gabriela Knýblová

Dagmar and Erik Sigmund “I think that on the work level, we’re dependable partners and we complement each other in regards to our stronger and weaker sides.” Dagmar Sigmundová

Married in and to academia

Most of them met during their studies, and in addition to being married to the same academic discipline, they also share a life together in marriage. Even though they take their work home with them and usually spend their spare time discussing the fine points of their profession, they feel having the same profession is a plus. We’re talking about “academic marriages” which at Palacký University are not made out of necessity. Let’s meet some of them.

Biophysics brought Iva and Petr Ilík from in peace is at night, once the children are lysing data from 24 countries, that univer- the Centre of the Region Haná for Bio- asleep. I see our common profession rather sity-educated people from EU countries technological and Agricultural Research as a plus, it never gets in the way of our pri- have a tendency to live with partners who (CRH) together roughly a decade ago. “We vate lives. My wife is even the first review- studied in the same field. In other words, were in the same department, interested er of my scientific articles. She’s not only the field homogamy is high: between in similar themes. So we used to talk shop good in English, she has a real feel for it. paired university-educated people, on an a lot, during which sparks flew,” remem- Plus she understands the topics, so it is the average of 36 percent. Czechia is one of the bers Petr Ilík, who runs the biophysics de- ideal combination,” says Ilík, praising the countries with a rather high level. partments at both CRH and the UP Facul- virtues of an academic marriage. ty of Science. His wife made the shift from The adage “birds of a feather flock to- How can one combine science biophysics to molecular biology and ge- gether,” has been confirmed in a study by and family? netics, but they continue to work togeth- Alena Bičáková, Štěpán Jurajda, and Lucie To have a common theme for discussion er under the auspices of a Czech Science Zapletalová from the Institute for Democ- and a passion for the same field can be an Foundation project. That’s why scientif- racy and Economic Analysis (IDEA), an in- advantage in a partner relationship. But ic discussions are part of their daily home dependent think-tank arm of CERGE–EI. can one combine the demanding profes- routine. “The best time to talk about work The three determined, on the basis of ana- sion of a researcher with parental responsi-

2 žurnál 2019 bilities? The paths to achieving this are var- They even take their work home somebody beside me with whom I can con- ious. For example, Iva Ilíková, after seven Work has even entered the household rou- sult about professional topics,” says Tomo- years of maternal leave and changing her tine of Veronika and Maxim Tomoszek szek, Vice-Dean for Bachelor’s and Mas- job, had to start a year ago from scratch. from the Faculty of Law. They first met ter’s study programmes. His wife, thanks The decision to exchange science for caring at an Austrian constitution comparison to her parents, well knows how a “profes- for her children however is one she certain- seminar organised by the faculty – he was sional” marriage works. “Luckily, I didn’t ly does not regret. “I think it’s important to a second-year student, she was a first-year. copy their example completely – they even be with the children when they are young. From that moment on, they’ve been shar- worked in the same room together. I think The decision to stay at home with them for ing professional and personal life togeth- that’s worse than me and my husband: me was natural, I didn’t take it as a sacri- er, including raising two children. Debates we each have our own office, on different fice. What’s more, both of our children re- on work however, do enter their home life. floors, and that works.” quire above-standard care, so at that time “There is a certain disadvantage to such They are both at the Centre for Clini- I did not have enough physical nor psycho- a relationship, in that you are basically al- cal Legal Education at the Faculty of Law. logical strength for science as well. And ways at work. Even though we just want Tomoszek was its first head, now it’s run now I appreciate the possibility of working to talk at home, we always end up talk- by his wife. “We can work together, we part-time – life is not only about science,” ing about the faculty. But even that can know how to do it, I think that the results Ilíková says. be turned to an advantage. I always have are visible.

Veronika and Maxim Tomoszek “There is a certain disadvantage to such a relationship, in that you are basically always at work. Even though we just want to talk at home, we always end up talking about the faculty. But even that can be turned to an advantage.” Maxim Tomoszek

Helena and Jiří Pospíšil “We can mutually help and support one another as life partners. Because we know the academic environment, we don’t have to explain the details, and communication is easier.” Helena Pospíšilová

žurnál 2019 3 IDEA study included 128,040 couples, 75% of whom were wedded the sample comprised 360,072 women and 321,069 men who graduated between 1993–2013 the level of field homogamy depended on the equality of the men and women in individual fields the least amount of field- paired graduates were in services and agriculture, the most in social and healthcare sciences

Iva and Petr Ilík “The best time to talk about work in peace is at night, once the children are asleep. I see our common profession rather as a plus, it never gets in the way of our private lives.” Petr Illík

Our law clinic is one of the best in Europe,” and weaker sides. My husband is a work- tails, and communication is easier. As for affirms Veronika Tomoszková. If she could aholic, who carries things out absolute- disadvantages, the only one I see is that we take some skill from her husband, it might ly precisely to their end, which I lack a bit. sometimes take work home. But we’re not be how to act on camera. And Maxim To- I save time during statistical analyses, be- alone in this,” she adds. moszek would like to learn from his wife cause I’m better at it,” reveals Dagmar Sig- how to better find information. “When mundová. “It’s not always so easy, but we Passion for science passed on to she’s sitting at the Internet, she always do everything we can so that our names are the children finds great things I didn’t even know exist- a mark of quality, of work done with care. According to the aforementioned study, the ed. She has a special search intuition.” And And that’s whether we’re talking about sci- fields with the most pairs come from social he adds another of his wife’s capabilities ence, education, or even training, where we and healthcare sciences. For example, fam- which is important for him. “She sets the transfer our results to the children. I think ilies where both partners are doctors. This bar fairly high and encourages me to jump. it’s working well,” Erik adds. is the case of Jiřina and Jiří Bártek. Jiří, one In addition to her law titles she also has of the most cited Czech scientists, works a Bachelor’s in Sports Management and Still learning to accept criticism as scientific support at the Institute of Mo- Training, so you could say she trains me,” from your partner lecular and Translational Medicine at the the vice-dean says with a smile. Helena and Jiří Pospíšil work together at UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and the Department of Christian Education works together with his wife on joint pro- Family, academics, and a love for of the Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty jects at the research institute of the Dan- sport of Theology as assistant professors. The ish Cancer Society in Copenhagen. Their The husband and wife team of Dagmar fact that they both work in the same de- research group is addressing a wide range and Erik Sigmund have a similar sto- partment is something they appreciate. of approaches to studying the cell cycle and ry. They met a few years ago when dorm That doesn’t mask the fact that it comes DNA damage. “The expertise of my wife rooms were being distributed; today they with some small pitfalls. “In many cases in the field of cancer pathology suitably have two kids, and both train young floor- it is an advantage because we share simi- complements our team’s focus,” states Jiří ball players. In the Institute of Active Life- lar topics in a number of areas. At the same Bártek. The scientific marriage in this case style at the Faculty of Physical Culture, they time, it can be a disadvantage, because is a good start for carrying on the family tra- also are interested in the influence of par- we are usually the first critics of each oth- dition. “We apparently influenced our kids ents on the physical activity of children, er’s work and we’re still learning how to ac- by our work, because our son is a neurosur- and already have several important pub- cept such criticism,” reveals Jiří Pospíšil. geon and sometimes works with us on brain lications under their belts. She is the seri- His wife adds another pro and con to hav- tumour research. Our daughter is a molec- ous one, he the more emotional one – in his ing a shared work focus. “We can mutually ular ecologist and is now completing a pro- own words. “I think that on the work level, help and support one another as life part- ject which should contribute to resolving we’re dependable partners and we comple- ners. Because we know the academic envi- acute problems with regard to global cli- ment each other in regards to our stronger ronment, we don’t have to explain the de- mate change,” adds Jiřina Bártková.

4 žurnál 2019 text: Ivana Pustějovská photo: Jana Pertáková milestone

The Dagmar and Václav Havel VIZE 97 Foundation Prize awarded to former UP rector Josef Jařab

Professor Josef Jařab, UP rector emeri- amine their accomplishments to date and The distinguished American studies tus, became the 20th recipient of the Dag- their overall activities. Recipients are cho- scholar, translator, and former senator mar and Václav Havel VIZE 97 Foundation sen from the ranks of experts in any field was awarded for developing education Prize. The award ceremony took place on 5 which has inroads into cultural, social, and promoting Anglo-American culture October 2018, the occasion of what would and everyday life,” said its founder and and democratic principles. “The Dag- have been Václav Havel’s 82nd birthday. chairwoman of the VIZE 97 Prize Board, mar and Václav Havel VIZE 97 Founda- Since 1999, the Dagmar and Václav Hav- Dagmar Havlová. tion Prize means something very per- el VIZE 97 Foundation has “awarded its in- Josef Jařab was introduced at the gala sonal to me, as recognition coming from ternational Prize to significant thinkers event by eminent psychiatrist Prof Cyr- someone whom I respect. And it’s impor- whose work exceeds the traditional frame- il Höschl, whose introduction included tant for me as a citizen, because it gives work of scientific knowledge, contributes these words about the former UP rector: “If me the possibility to also acknowledge to the understanding of science as an in- the Czech post-1989 pantheon were to in- America, which was an inspiration for tegral part of general culture, and is conclude a great personality from the universi- our republic, founded 100 years ago this cerned with unconventional ways of asking ty sphere of both European and transatlan- month – America as it was represented by fundamental questions about cognition, tic dimensions, who without doubt should Woodrow Wilson, and as it was perceived being, and human existence.” Past recipi- have been already awarded some time ago – and admired by our first Czech president, ents include American physicist Nathaniel even despite or perhaps because of his desire T.G. Masaryk,” said Prof Jařab. David Mermin, philosopher Jan Sokol, the to avoid the spotlight – then it must certainly The ceremony took place in the en- world-famous sociologist Zygmunt Bau- be our dear Silesian colleague with a friend- chanting space called Prague Crossroads, man, and writer Umberto Eco. ly, soulful face and similar manners, an ex- in the former Church of St Anne in Prague, Awardees receive a diploma and a com- pert on American literature and culture, the which Václav and Dagmar Havel built not memorative artefact in the form of the cro- charismatic rector of two prestigious uni- only for the needs of VIZE 97, but mainly zier of St Adalbert of Prague by Czech art- versities, an avid homo politicus, a respon- as a meeting place for everyone who deeply ist Jiří Plieštik. “We choose recipients over sible husband and father, a humorous com- cares for the future. The prize was given to a long period of time when we carefully ex- panion and good friend: Josef ‘JJ’ Jařab.” Josef Jařab by Dagmar Havlová.

"It gives me the possibility to also acknowledge America, which was an inspiration for our republic, founded 100 years ago this month – America as it was represented by Woodrow Wilson, and as it was perceived and admired by our first Czech president, T.G. Masaryk." Josef Jařab

žurnál 2019 5 8 faculties 1 university

Main guests of the congress Josef Prchal (left) and Robert Gale (right) during the meeting with the emeritus head of the Olomouc department, Karel Indrák. Olomouc Hematology Days hosted top experts from USA

A rich academic programme and presence from the view of molecular biology of trans- productivity was extraordinary, and I’m of globally recognised scientists marked plantation. The invitation was also accept- glad there was some contribution for them the Olomouc Hematology Days, co-organ- ed by a leading global hematologist with in it too, that they are successful, and our ised by the Department of Hemato-Oncol- Czech roots, Josef Prchal from the Univer- collaboration still continues,” said Prchal. ogy at the UP Faculty of Medicine, Univer- sity of Utah, a holder of many awards, in- The programme included the 22nd Con- sity Hospital Olomouc, and the Haimaom cluding the prestigious Stratton Prize and ference in Nursing Care and Health Care Foundation for the Support of Bone Mar- a specialist in rare diseases of red blood Laboratory Work and Patients’ Day. “De- row Transplants. cells. He has been collaborating for a long spite a number of other hematological The world-renowned U.S. doctor and time with leading experts from the Faculty events, our participants were loyal to us. scientist Robert Gale from the University of of Medicine at the UP, which awarded him More than 600 registered in advance and California in Los Angeles, one of the prom- a doctor honoris causa in 2011. others kept registering on the spot. More inent authorities in radiation effects on “It was advantageous to the point of self- than one hundred participants came as rep- blood-forming tissues, informed about his ishness that many years ago I met with the resentatives of partner companies, and the experiences in hematology during rescu- current head emeritus of the hematology large participation of our colleagues from ing the casualties of nuclear powerplant ac- department, Karel Indrák. I found other Slovakia was also gratifying,” summed up cidents, particularly in Chernobyl, mainly smart people there to work under me. Their Tomáš Papajík. (mav)

Dozens of alumni arrived in the Faculty of Science for their gold and diamond graduation

Fifty-two alumni who finished their stud- Vice-Rector Jaromír Fiurášek, Dean Mar- After the ceremony, the alumni at- ies at the UP Faculty of Science fifty or sixty tin Kubala, and Vice-Dean Karel Lemr. tended a presentation by the Faculty of years ago attended their gold and diamond “I think that the gold graduation is an Science, took a group photograph, had graduation ceremonies on November 16. amazing idea. We graduated in 1968. And a lunch together with a ceremonial toast, The ceremony where participants received we made an oath that we would meet again and toured the faculty premises. The commemorative diplomas was hosted by only after the Soviet army left Czecho- gold graduation ceremony has been tak- slovakia. And so we met only after twen- ing place at the Faculty of Science since ty-four years. I’m so pleased to be able to 2007, the first to start this tradition at UP. meet my schoolmates who I did not see for The diamond graduation ceremony took a very long time,” said Ludmila Kalábová place for the second time. “Today’s cere- from Prague, who studied Special Numer- mony interested me by how truly pleased ical Mathematics. everyone was. I shook hands with every- This year’s diamond participants in- one and exchanged a few words. In their cluded ninety-one year-old Miloš Skalický. eyes I could see how moved and happy “I’m glad I can take part in this special oc- they were that we held such a meeting. casion. I studied Chemistry and Geogra- I wish all participants well in the coming phy, graduated in 1958, and was a teacher years,” concluded Vice-Dean Karel Lemr, until I was eighty-two,” he smiled. the promoter of the event. (cho)

6 žurnál 2019 Faculty of Physical Culture opened a modern centre for research into human movement

The ribbon cutting ceremony in the mid- “Many years of our efforts to define the in the quantity, quality, and meaningful- dle of the Walk Laboratory by the Faculty Faculty of Physical Culture as a top-notch ness of kinanthropological research,” said of Physical Culture Dean Michal Šafář and research institution have been complet- Dean Šafář. his predecessors in the office, Dušan To- ed. Our employees have been able to pro- Long before the ceremonial opening the majko and Zbyněk Svozil, symbolised the duce scientific findings of extraordinary faculty was busy with preparations. Dur- opening of the new Centre for Kinanthro- importance even in the previous modest ing the summer the employees of the Insti- pological Research. Scientific workplaces conditions. I believe that the current work- tute of Active Lifestyle and the Department of the faculty now have another state-of- ing environment is a well-deserved reward of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology the-art facility at their disposal. as well as a powerful impulse for increase moved in. They have at their disposal of- fices, conference rooms, three classrooms, and most of all, perfectly equipped laboratories for experts in anthropometry, bio- mechanics, or stress physiology. A hypox- ic chamber which allows the simulation of conditions up to 5500 metres altitude is one of the unique features. The project of the Neředín campus, join- ing the research centre and the BALUO Application Centre, began to take shape around 2011, and its architectural form was projected by atelier-r from Olomouc. The overall costs of the complex construction reached €13 million. The renovation of the former military laundry to the Cen- tre for Kinanthropological Research was made possible thanks to funding by the Czech Ministry of Education. (vim)

King Sejong Institute established at UP

Korean Ambassador Mr. Seoung-Hyun sible due to the efforts of Mi-Young Park. peatedly granted the support of the pres- Moon, together with UP Rector Jaroslav “During roughly ten years of her employ- tigious Korea Foundation,” Uher said, Miller commenced the functioning of King ment at UP she accomplished a great deal adding that the accreditation for a three- Sejong Institute in the university premises. in Korean studies for us. She was the first year Bachelor’s study programme Kore- The new UP workplace has been offering person in the Czech Republic to write an in Economics at UP was approved al- courses in Korean as well as cultural events a Czech-Korean dictionary. She was re- ready in 2015. (map) promoting Korean culture. The institute is the first of its kind in Moravia. It has joined the ranks of more than one hundred institutes of the same name located all over the world. “Palacký University has Chinese, Japanese, and In- donesian studies, and I am immensely happy to announce that Korean studies have joined our family of Asian studies,” said Rector Miller. The Olomouc workplace was established thanks to the collaboration of the Department of Asian Studies at the UP Faculty of Arts and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. Korean studies have a three-year history at Palacký Univer- sity. According to David Uher, head of the Korean section at the Department of

photos: Mazochová Velena | Martin Višňa | Marek Otava | Milada Hronová Asian Studies, its establishment was pos-

žurnál 2019 7 8 faculties 1 university

Future rescuers instructed by a top Israeli expert on crisis management

A unique series of workshops was made Israel, local rescuers work under much idate us, and that we will still live on and possible due to a visit at the Faculty greater stress, and thus they choose more strive for peace,” he emphasised. of Health Sciences by Gary Grosman, effective procedures,” said the course The top expert has had 25 years of service a member of the rescue team at the Israe- guarantor and faculty Vice-Dean Radka in military air force and active participation li military air force. Students of the pro- Filipčíková. in rescue missions, particularly in providing gramme Health Rescuer attended the In a follow-up to the presentation of operational support during highly danger- presentation of his experiences from cri- practical skills, Grosman also introduced ous incidents. As a member and later a vol- sis management during disasters and the key aspects of emergency and rescue unteer of an elite division of the Israeli mili- rescue operations after terrorist attacks. procedures after terrorist attacks. “In Is- tary air force he took part in frequent rescue The themes involved mainly difficult in- rael, rescuers usually transport all casual- operations after terrorist attacks in Israel as tubations in pre-hospital care, effective ties to medical care within 25 minutes, and well as other catastrophes in Kenya, Jordan, self-defence for rescuers, and prepared- in four hours the place looks just as it used and Turkey. He founded the company Aer- ness for terrorist attacks. Students were to before the attack, everything is tidied up omedical Group, specialising in improve- also informed about the system and pro- and cleansed. We are able to quickly return ment of crisis healthcare service in airborne cedures of the health rescue service in life to those places and show the attackers operations, and is the founder and CEO of Israel. “Due to the conflicts common in that they cannot win over us, cannot intim- Global Medical Service. (mav)

Faculty of Theology hosted representative of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv

The possibilities of further cooperation oration, primarily with the Department of with Palacký University and its Sts Cyr- Christian Social Work, also involved ed- il and Methodius Faculty of Theology ucation in the area of humanitarian aid,” (CMFT) were the theme of the profession- said CMFT Vice-Dean for International al visit to Olomouc by Roman Zaviyskyy, Relations, Dominik Opatrný. Dean of the Philosophical and Theological The Ukrainian guest demonstrated his Faculty at the Ukrainian Catholic Universi- professional interest in Eastern religions ty in Lviv. The meeting with CMFT Dean by his lecture “Churches of the East and Peter Tavel, Rector of the Olomouc Arch- West: History, Liturgy, and Challenges of bishop’s Priestly Seminary Pavel Stuška, Ecumenism”. He explained the foundations and representatives of the UP Internation- and outlined the formation and status of the al Affairs Office was dedicated mainly to Greek Catholic Church as well as some of the possibilities of student mobilities with- the key aspects of the current situation of in the Erasmus+ programme. Eastern Christians in Ukraine. “The Chris- “Our students could be interested in tians of Byzantine tradition in Ukraine are getting more familiar with Eastern liturgy divided into three groups: oriented to Mos- and a course in iconography. Preliminary cow, Constantinople, and Rome,” clarified talks on the possibilities of specific collab- Roman Zaviyskyy (on the left). (mav)

8 žurnál 2019 Book rarity. Team from the Faculty of Law published the complete Digesta

Digesta seu Pandectae – a book whose never on loan. There is only one accessible extraordinarily arduous task of provid- impact on European culture can be com- website containing the complete version,” ing access to the Mommsen-Krüger edi- pared with the Bible, yet it has been prac- explained Lucie Černá. It was her teach- tion of Digesta for everyone who wishes to tically unavailable in printed form. That ers who motivated her to publish the Di- work with the text. The entire community has to be changed, decided a team of stu- gesta. She closely collaborated with Petr of scholars in Roman studies owes them dents and academics from the UP Faculty Dostalík and Kamila Bubelová from the thanks and pays tribute to the job they of Law. Digesta or the Digest, as the book Department of Theory of Law and Legal have done,” stated Skřejpek. (eha) is commonly called, is the most extensive History. and most important source of knowledge The team worked on the book for a year of Roman Law, and now it has been pub- and a half, and used the edition by German lished in its complete original version. Its scholar Theodor Mommsen, adapted by 900 pages written in Latin weigh over two Paul Krüger. The technical aspects, such kilogrammes and it is the first edition of as graphic layout and print – were taken Digesta in the history of the lands which care of by the student association Nugis made up the former Czechoslovakia. Finem. The publisher is Nugis Finem Pub- The idea to publish the Digesta in book lishing. form came from Lucie Černá, a fourth- Michal Skřejpek of Charles Universi- year student of Law. “We need Digesta as ty Faculty of Law, one of the greatest ex- the most significant source during Roman perts on Roman law in Czechia, and who Law lessons. We used to be instructed on has been gradually translating Digesta mere fragments, we could analyse some into Czech, has words of praise for the ac- parts, but the complete text is not availa- complishment of the Olomouc team. “It is ble as a book. Even specialised libraries in more than meritorious that our colleagues law faculties have only a few copies, and from Olomouc undertook this uneasy and

Faculty of Education prepared a unique concept: Teacher21

It’s about educating teachers in the spir- tion. “We have a number of departments ity teacher in the 21st century. These are it of modern European trends and societal and institutes that prepare quality teach- also areas in which teachers should devel- needs. Graduates should be equipped with ers and educational workers in various op in such a way that they succeed in the skills and knowledge necessary for suc- specialisations. There are skills, however, modern world and are able to develop the cessful functioning in the current as well as which should be inherent to every gradu- potential of their students,” said Libuše future world. ate. Therefore, on the basis of broad con- Ludíková, the faculty dean. These compe- The new concept Teacher21 was pre- sultations across individual workplaces, tences should define what a modern teach- pared by the Faculty of Education in re- we put together a list of key competenc- er should be capable of. “They should con- sponse to UP’s institutional accredita- es that should be acquired by a high-qual- sider the aim and purpose of education, be erudite in their disciplines and knowledge- able about the world around them, lead the students to better understanding of the world as well as themselves, and be able to inspire the students and develop their interest,” she added. The teaching profession is one of the most demanding, according to her. A graduate prepared by the faculty with respect to this new concept will be motivated to further professional and personal development. (map)

Vice-Dean Petra Šobáňová and Kamil Kopecký, head of the Centre for Pre- vention of Risky Virtual Communica- tion at the UP Faculty of Education, photos: Mazochová Velena | Radka Filipčíková | Ondřej Moučka | Eva Hrudníková introduced the concept Teacher21.

žurnál 2019 9 text: Martina Šaradínová science photo: Žurnál UP archives Five scientists from UP on the list of world’s most cited

Twelve scientists working at Czech universities and research centres made it onto the Highly Cited Researchers 2018 list, published annually by Clarivate Analytics. Five of them are connected to Palacký University – no other Czech university can boast the same.

Four representatives from the Regional results, based on the close interconnection Centre of Advanced Technologies and Ma- of theory and experiment, have more than terials (RCPTM) at UP were included with- potential,” said the world-famous expert, in the select company, along with 17 Nobel who made his reputation primarily on the Prize recipients. This means RCPTM had discovery of non-classical hydrogen bonds. more people on the list than all of Hun- Back on the elite list are other scientists gary or Slovenia. Radek Zbořil, Head of working at RCPTM – the chemist Rajender RCPTM and an expert on nanotechnology, S. Varma, who also works for the Environ- made the list of the top one percent of the mental Protection Agency in the USA, and most cited scientists in the field of chemis- Patrik Schmuki, an electrochemist who try for the first time. In recent years, he has also works at Friedrich-Alexander Univer- been present at the discovery of the thin- sity in Germany. nest known insulator, non-ferrous mag- The analytic chemist and phytochem- nets, and bacterial resistance to nanosilver. ist Ondřej Novák is also affiliated with UP, “I believe that the citation response of working at the Laboratory of Growth Regu- our work reflects not only its quality but lators and the Centre of the Region Haná for also the correct choice of research aims. For Biotechnology and Agricultural Research. some time we have been devoting ourselves “I’m very honoured to be included in the to the research of materials and technolo- group of highly-cited researchers. I believe gies which have huge application potential that this success is not about rewarding just in medicine and biotechnology or are use- one person, therefore I would like to thank ful in water purification and finding new my colleagues very much. For me it is clear sources of energy. On the other hand, this proof that the long-term work of our team is costly, multidisciplinary research, where has international impact,” said Novák. there is huge competition. To succeed in this requires capable scientists with great Making the world a better place ideas, in an international environment with According to Clarivate Analytics CEO An- superb infrastructure,” said Zbořil. nette Thomas, the list represents the scientists who are setting the pace of global re- Research with international search. “These scientists are contributing impact to pushing the boundaries of knowledge After a year off, the physical chemist Pavel and to society’s progress as a whole, con- Hobza, who works at both RCPTM and the tributing to a healthier, richer world show- Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Insti- ing a higher degree of sustainable develop- tute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, re- ment,” said Thomas. turned to the list. “To be listed for the fourth For comparison, neighbouring Slovakia time among the top one percent of most has no researchers on the elite list, Hungary cited scientists in the world is confirma- has three, Slovenia two, and Poland six. On tion that our long-term scientific project on the other hand, there are four dozen people non-covalent interactions and their use in on the list working at Austrian universities bio – and nano-disciplines is very promis- and research institutes, while Germany has ing. In recent years we have made the switch more than 350. The country with the most from basic research to applications, and the scientists on the list is the USA, with 2,639.

10 žurnál 2019 Radek Zbořil Pavel Hobza Patrik Schmuki Physical chemist, renowned scientist One of the doyens of research into non- He achieved success in manufacturing in the field of material chemistry and covalent interactions, famous primarily photoactive semiconductor materials, nanotechnology, creator of a number for his discovery of non-classical e.g. for the technology of solar of successful patents and technologies. hydrogen bonds. He is the recipient of fission of water. He is the head of Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and the Czech Mind prize and the prestigious the Photoelectrochemistry group at Sport Prize laureate. Erwin Schrödinger Prize. RCPTM.

Rajender S. Varma Ondřej Novák World-renowned chemist who He studies the biosynthesis and investigates the use of nanotechnologies metabolism of plant hormones and in environmental applications. He the relations between their chemical works at RCPTM in the Environmental structure and biological activity with the Nanotechnology group. help of modern mass spectrometry.

Scientists from the UP Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry have discovered a new approach in diagnosing tumors More precise diagnosis and targeted treat- analysis, which creates a visually lucid net- Taking part in the development of the ment of tumors of the hematopoietic and work, we can follow in detail the relation- new method of analysis of cytometric data lymphoid tissues are made possible by a new ships between the individual immunophe- in addition to the immunologists and hema- approach to data analysis, which has been notype profiles of specific patients and tologists were Miloš Kudělka and Martin effectively applied by researchers from the distinguish subgroups according to the Radvanský, experts from the Department Department of Immunology in cooperation type of cancer. By determining the most of Electrical Engineering and Computer with the Department of Hemato-Oncology informative markers, the set of diagnos- Science at the Technical University of Os- at the Olomouc University Hospital, the He- tic procedures can then be improved and trava, who worked on the analytical ap- matology Clinic at the Havířov Hospital and refined in order to give the most informa- proaches. (mav) Polyclinic, and the Technical University of tive value,” described the first author of the Ostrava. Their results have been published study, David Starostka, Head of the Hema- One of the data mining analysis diagrams, on in the prestigious professional journal in the tology Clinic at the Havířov hospital and an the title page of Clinical Cytometry B. (July 2018) field of cytometry –Clinical Cytometry B. assistant professor at the Department of To detect cellular signs or markers char- Hemato-Oncology. acteristic of specific diseases, scientists The main benefit of the data mining use an analytical method called flow cy- method is thus its impact on diagnoses. tometry. Standard procedures used to date “Doctors can now get more precise infor- have had trouble in detecting the pres- mation as to which markers are useful to ence of a few signs and their combinations. separate individual groups of patients with “Therefore we applied the data mining different types of hematopoietic and lym- method, which had not been used before in phoid malignancies from each other,” said cytometry,” explained Eva Kriegová, lead- the head of the Department of Hemato-On- er of one of the workgroups at the Depart- cology, Tomáš Papajík. The principle has ment of Immunology. also been applied by scientists to support The data mining method allowed the sci- treatment methods. Hemato-oncologists entists to very precisely determine which now can use it to identify individual sub- markers have the highest predictive value groups of patients according to prognosis, for establishing a diagnosis of a particular progression of the disease, or according to type of cancer. “Thanks to quantification responses to treatment.

žurnál 2019 11 text: Martina Šaradínová interview photos: Gabriela Knýblová

Jaroslav Doležel: You cannot change the world on your own, but it’s good to try

12 žurnál 2019 If your kids are not taking firsts in school and That’s right, I left to study horticulture, And maybe that’s why it interests me. If instead they want to play guitar after school, which at the time was quite a prestig- I could keep only one plant for research, don’t worry. Even so, they can go far – be- ious field, at the Agricultural University. I would choose the banana tree. And since come a world-renowned scientist, even win There I found myself at one of life’s cross- you’re asking about the road, that one was the most important awards for science in roads. That was the time when Prof Lužný long, and nobody at the beginning knew the country. An illustrious example of this is sent me for my Master of Science degree where it would lead. As I said, I loved cy- the recipient of the 2018 Czech Mind prize, to the Institute of Experimental Botany, tometry, which we used from the start for Jaroslav Doležel, who leads the Olomouc where I have remained to this day. I had analysing cell nuclei. However, it was the workplace of the Institute of Experimental enormous luck, coming from an agricul- combination of cytometry and genome Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences tural background, from a village, to end analysis which attracted me. It took a few and is the scientific director of the Centre up at the Academy of Science, where they years, but we figured out a method of isolat- of the Region Haná for Biotechnology and carried out top research. One whiff of the ing chromosomes and subsequently sort- Agricultural Research. According to him, Academy, and that was it for me. I was en- ing them with the help of flow cytometry. one never knows what might become handy tranced by the creativity there, the possi- We went that direction on purpose. I was in life. At the same time, he admits that one bility of discovering new things, commu- convinced that it was the correct approach, needs luck on the road to success and also nicating with colleagues abroad. and I wanted to apply it to plants. We began the ability to grab opportunity by the horns. with beans and peas, but that didn’t get us And this is perhaps how he inspires his stu- ——Tell us about you and plants? much notice. Then we focused our efforts dents at the UP Faculty of Science. When did you start to understand on cereals, the first being barley. We fine- each other? tuned the method and then modified it ——I cannot help but start with I’ve never been an enthusiastic botanist, for the much more complicated wheat ge- a very important event – being giv- and that’s still true today. Plants interest nome. In 2005, an international consorti- en the country’s highest award for me from the perspective of their inherit- um was formed to decode the bread wheat science. How did that make you feel? ed information. At grammar school I had genome, and our method became the main To be honest, it was a mixture of feelings. a collection of cacti, but when I started approach. Of course it was a huge surprise, I nev- playing in the band I sold them, which reer expected anything like that. Then I really made my dad angry. Even at our house ——You’ve accomplished three great alised how prestigious the award is, and it’s my wife who takes care of the plants, goals. What challenges now lie how much significance it has. So it carries I just help out occasionally. before you? a certain weight and puts some responsi- We’re finishing the sequencing of the rye bility on a person. However, being award- ——But agriculturally-important genome. It needs the final stage – decod- ed the prize certainly made me very happy. crops are of interest to you. How did ing the genome. What interests us now is that come about? the organisation of the genome in three-di- ——Much work preceded the prize, My life’s work began to sprout during my mensional space in the cell nucleus. In the so let’s start at the beginning. Were doctoral studies. I was dealing with trans- meantime, we’ve analysed the genome as you an ambitious and diligent mid- formations of hereditary information when a linear sequence of letters. But it is not dle school student? cultivating cells in vitro. That was the mo- arranged like that in reality. We should No, I was a B student, I tried to optimise ment when I became a professional genet- rather imagine it as a twisted string with the price-performance ratio. Among oth- icist. At that time the available methods lots of loops, in which there are billions of er reasons, because my hobby was mu- were inadequate, but thanks to my super- letters. We’re now studying this, thanks sic. I played in a band, and always did visor, I found cytometry, which is my life- among others to the research package for just enough to pass the exams. I was only long love. I travelled daily to Brno to the European projects which the Centre of a good student in English, and that was due pathology department in St Anne’s Hos- the Region Haná was awarded in the Ex- to rock ‘n’ roll. Rock music made me love pital to measure the DNA content in cells, cellence in Research call. We’re going to English, and I excelled at it. and I learned a lot. It was also there where make use of a superhigh-resolution mi- I learned about flow cytometers, and after croscope which we’re now buying. We’re ——So you didn’t want to be a scien- getting my doctorate, I convinced my boss going to study how the hereditary infor- tist as a teenager? to buy one. I already knew that I wanted to mation is arranged, and what influence it No, rather it was a case of choosing the dedicate myself to the study of hereditary has on a plant’s properties. In that respect, right path at certain crossroads in life. information using cytometry methods. To- we’re back at the beginning, reinventing I have always been lucky regarding the gether with my colleagues we took the road the wheel. events and the people around me. At first of using flow cytometers in a number of are- I didn’t even have a clue as to what science as in plant biology. I really enjoy discovering ——The results of the research is all about. My parents worked in agricul- new things. Playing in a band also helped should help in the breeding of crops ture, my dad was the boss at a big and suc- me with a number of technical things and which will have bigger yields and cessful horticultural firm. He was inter- got me used to working in a team. higher resistance to the negative ested in seed production and worked with effects of environment. Is that still breeders – maybe there you can trace the ——You and your colleagues have had a far-off vision? beginnings which had an influence on my a significant role in decoding the ge- Many things are already being done. Crop professional career. In principle, however, nomes of barley, banana trees – and yields are decreasing due to diseases and he evidently counted on me following in his in 2018, wheat. How long did that pests. Fortunately, resistance to them usu- footsteps and becoming a horticulturist. road take and which of those crops ally depends on only one segment of he- gave you the most trouble? reditary information, which can be iden- ——Is that why you went to agricul- So far, the banana tree has been the tough- tified and isolated. For example, we’re tural school? est, despite the fact it has a small genome. now working together with several labs

žurnál 2019 13 Jaroslav Doležel (b. 1954) Head of the Olomouc workplace of the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the scientific director of the Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnology and Agricultural Research. He also works at the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics at the UP Faculty of Science. He graduated in the field of Horticulture from the Agricultural University in Brno. He dedicates himself to the study of hereditary information in plants, its structure, and the transformations which abroad on isolating genes resistant to crop icantly increase the area of cultivated land accompany plant evolution rust and mildew. More resistant strains anymore, so there is nothing left but to in- and the creation of new not only produce higher yields, but we do crease yields. species. With his team, he not have to treat them with so many pesti- is working on new methods cides and thus stress the environment with ——What is the biggest engine driv- which will simplify analysis of chemicals. The same applies to fertilisers. ing you? The possibility of overcom- complex genomes, and in the If we teach plants to use the nutrients in ing the hurdles of research, or the framework of international the soil better, we’ll again conserve nature. mission or desire to help someone? projects he has participated Through the help of genetic modification, The need to discover something new is very in decoding the genome of we are also able to speed up breeding. By strong in me. But at present, it makes me important plant species. the way, I enjoy having visions. Once we very happy when I see that my work means The results of his scientific begin to understand hereditary informa- something. It’s a kind of bonus. When I go work have won him a number tion, then we can try to raise plants in the to Africa, for instance, and see that banana of prizes including the Czech future which will be able to extract nitro- plant breeders are using the method of flow Learned Society Prize, the gen from the air or increase the effective- cytometry and I helped introduce that, it Czech Academy of Sciences’ ness of photosynthesis and thus yields. makes me happy. You cannot change the “Praemium Academiae”, and This, however, is only possible by using ge- world on your own, but it’s good to have the Czech Mind award. He has published more than 300 netic engineering methods. the feeling you’re trying. Primarily, howev- articles in scientific journals, er, for a scientist basic research is essential. nearly 40 book chapters, and ——Is this the “second green revo- Without it, there would be nothing to apply. has edited three books in lution” to which you often refer? his field. His work has over When scientists will help ensure ——In Olomouc you’ve established 12,000 citations. enough food for the ever-growing an internationally-renowned human population? workplace, you are the scientific This process is already underway, but the director of CRH. You must have had European Court of Justice is erecting bar- a number of lucrative offers from riers in its path. New methods of breed- abroad. How is it that they have not ing are in principle based on the ability to tempted you away? modify plants’ genetic information. Luck- There have not been so many offers, be- ily for humanity, scientists have discov- cause I have made it quite clear I’m not ered the system CRISPR/Cas9 in bacteria, that interested. First, because of fami- through which it’s possible to change ge- ly, who don’t want me to live permanently netic information with accuracy, like a sur- abroad. The main thing, however, was that geon slicing with a scalpel. This principle I knew what I wanted to do and how to get has been picked up by watching nature; there. I didn’t want to leave half-way down humans have been taught by bacteria. But the road. We really have excellent work- it’s banned. Without genetically-modified ing conditions here. Everyone who comes crops, we will not be able to feed mankind. from abroad to our centre – their jaws all Today we already know that the heart of drop in surprise. In principle, we are abso- the problem could be in Asia and especial- lutely on par with workplaces abroad. So ly Africa. That is where they are expecting where would I go? I don’t have the slightest a population explosion. We cannot signif- reason to do so.

14 žurnál 2019 text: Eva Hrudníková photos: Gabriela Knýblová | FM archives portrait

Filip Melzer, Associate Professor of Civil Law

žurnál 2019 15 Filip Melzer (b. 1975) He graduated from the Masaryk University Faculty of Law in Brno. In 2002 he completed postdoctoral studies (LLM) at Universität Passau; in 2015 he was the first to receive the title Doctor Juris in Civil Law from the UP Faculty of Law in Olomouc. He teaches in the Department of Private Law and Civil Pro- cedure and at the same time is a counsel for the law firm HAVEL & PARTNERS. He also teaches at the Czech Judicial Academy. In the past he worked as a judicial assistant in the Supreme Administrative Court and later as a judicial assistant in the Constitutional Court. From 2007–2012 he was a member of the recodification commission When he was recently approached by a na- Being abroad was an eye-opener for preparing a new Civic Code tionwide daily newspaper on the occasion His career path was significantly influ- at the Czech Ministry of Jus- of the 100th anniversary of the republic enced by experience abroad. During his tice. He is also a member of the work commission on private to vote in the Lawyer of the Century poll, Master’s studies, he spent two years at law at the Czech Legislative he refused the offer with thanks. The poll a German university, in Frankfurt am Council. From 2010–2012 he seemed too general to him, and in the last Oder. Then another year in Vienna. “Go- was a Czech Deputy Minister of century, he feels Czech legal science has ing abroad during my studies was one of Justice. Since 2012 he was first head and then later a mem- not had the most favourable conditions for the best decisions I ever made. It was a real ber of the Commission for development. He considers Antonín Ran- eye-opener. I could see how law was prac- Application of New Civil Law at da as the last Czech lawyer to achieve Eu- tised in Germany, and just how extraordi- the Czech Ministry of Justice. ropean renown. Randa was a law professor narily bad was the situation here. And it At present he is participating in modifications of the Slovak who participated in the emancipation and wasn’t only that it was shortly after the Vel- Civil Code. expansion of Czech law at the turn of the vet Revolution. It was the difference in law 19th and 20th centuries. And now he has He regularly publishes in education, in legal science, which is still professional journals. He is a bronze medal with a portrait of that ex- profound.” He has stayed in legal science. the author of the textbook traordinary lawyer in his home. Filip Mel- He was the first to receive the title of Juris Metodologie nalézání práva, zer, Associate Professor of the Department Doctor from the UP Faculty of Law. základy právní argumentace (Methodology of Foundational of Private Law and Civil Procedure, was Legal science is the handmaiden of le- Law, Fundamentals of Legal one of 2018’s Antonín Randa Medal recip- gal practise, in the best sense of the word. Argumentation). At present ients. “It thoroughly and systematically resolves he is the managing editor and The medal was given by the Czech Law- problems which are important and inter- co-author of a vast commentary on the new Civil Code. yers Union for contribution to the de- esting for legal practise.” And from this velopment of democracy and active par- perspective, he considers devoting himself In November 2018 he was the ticipation in law making. However, all to legal science, teaching at the university, recipient of the Antonín Randa bronze medal for contributions throughout high school, Filip Melzer was and working for a law firm as an ideal com- to the development of democ- considered an average student. “I was bination. racy and active participation in a lazy student. Then came the Velvet Rev- His is one of the foremost names in law making. olution and everything changed. All those Czech legal science today: for over ten years in authority were removed. And the re- it has been associated with the new Czech sult? I skipped the most classes of anyone Civil Code. And how did the relationship in my class,” admits the Brno native. De- between Filip Melzer and the most exten- spite that, he graduated with honours and sive piece of Czech legislation, with 3081 reinforced by his success, he was certain he paragraphs, arise? “It came about natu- would be accepted to law school. He was rally, and with luck, for which I thank Prof not. “It was the first big setback of my life. Karel Eliáš, who revived the recodification But I am grateful for it. In that moment, commission for preparing a new Civil Code I said to myself: something has got to be and was looking for younger lawyers with changed. And a year later I was accepted.” international experience.” And he graduated from law in the top one He was actively involved in the drafting percent of his class. of the new Civic Code, he worked as a dep-

16 žurnál 2019 uty at the ministry when the code was rat- it’s similar to when someone likes to solve rooms during the decision-making pro- ified, and he has it to this day, constantly, crossword puzzles or sudoku. They’re cess. That is probably the greatest reward on his desk. And I dare say he will for a long also “only” sitting at a table, looking for us. But it can take years.” One reward time. Together with Petr Tégl, a colleague for, and looking forward to, solutions to for his work on the commentary has al- from his department, the two are the main something. “Legal science is about solv- ready come. The company Carlsbad Le- authors of a vast commentary on the Civil ing legal problems. The solutions you gal Days gave its 2016 Author Award to Code, the most detailed yet on this funda- find must be well-grounded and backed one of the volumes of Filip Melzer and mental area of private law. The first volume up by quality research. It’s just as excit- Petr Tégl’s vast commentary. came out five years ago. “Our task is to sug- ing a discovery as for example those made In addition to demanding legal science gest resolutions to cases which cannot be in chemistry or archaeology,” he says en- work, Filip Melzer also works for the big- resolved definitively by a mere reading of thusiastically. gest Czech law firm and teaches at the UP the law, and that means also including de- While an archaeologist for the most Faculty of Law. “I like to teach. Teaching scriptions of possible gaps in the law. Right part knows immediately during the dis- is wonderful in terms of sharing knowl- now we’re about half-way through.” covery what he has found, the efficacy of edge. It forces me to think, which is essen- legal science is revealed only over time. tial; however there is not as much room to Legal science is not boring “Our work makes sense at the moment go into depth as there is in legal science. The work is a bit solitary to a certain ex- when it is reflected in practice, when it And expert discussions with students? tent, but it’s definitely not boring. Maybe inspires someone, for example in court- That’s the most important thing to me.”

“Legal science is about solving legal problems. The solutions you find must be well-grounded and backed up by quality research. It’s just as exciting a discovery as for example those made in chemistry or ar- František Korbel Petr Tégl chaeology.” Partner, Associate Professor of the Department HAVEL & PARTNERS law firm of Private Law and Civil Procedure

I became aware of Filip Melzer al- Filip is a person who is difficult to ready during his studies in Brno. categorise. Formally, it can be done: Then again as a judicial assistant at he’s a lawyer-civilian, working at pres- the Supreme Administrative Court ent in academia and in law. But in re- and the Constitutional Court. Our ality, this typecasting bears only limit- paths crossed over work on the new ed resemblance to the facts. If I were Civil Code. With Minister of Justice to sum him up in a nutshell, I’d say: Jiří Pospíšil we took over the pro- he’s the spiritus movens of Czech pri- ject from Otakar Motejl in 2006. At vate law over the past decade. He was the first of his generation who – that time I was a deputy for legisla- strongly influenced by the German tion. We added Filip Melzer to the example – began to bring classical civ- recodification commission, where il legal dogma into our country. I’m he quickly became one of the most glad that his perception of the law is important figures in terms of pro- close to that of mine. That does not posals. He made use of his deep mean that we always see things eye- knowledge of comparisons and legal to-eye; not at all, we often see things theory, he was active, he knew how differently. Filip’s passion for the pro- to negotiate, he won enormous re- fession is extreme. These are charac- spect and had a huge influence on teristic of his work: detailed delving the work’s development. In 2010 into the core of the problem, scientif- he also became a deputy minister, ic honesty, precision. Without any ex- which was our most fruitful period. aggeration, I think that as they used It was capped by what is for a lawyer to invoke an historic legal authority a miracle – ratification of the new as argumentum dixit Randa, there will Civil Code. And now we work to- come a day when they will conclude gether in the biggest Czech law firm, a professional discussion with the ex- HAVEL & PARTNERS. pression: argumentum dixit Melzer.

žurnál 2019 17 success

Olomouc doctoral students excelled in French Embassy contests

In the competition of six dozen scientists ment. The study of anticarcinogenic effects pating at a foreign conference during the younger than 33 years of age, doctoral stu- of selected natural compounds was done ceremony, so his father replaced him dur- dents of Palacký University succeeded and by Lucie Borková from the Department of ing picture taking. brought altogether four prizes back from Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Sci- According to the Faculty of Medicine the prestigious contests of the Embassy of ence, who placed in the second position in Vice-Dean Martin Modrianský, who at- France in the Czech Republic. The ceremo- the contest for Jean-Marie Lehn Award for tended the ceremony as a member of the nial declaration of their results took place Chemistry. Research into Italian dialects in commission for the Albert Schweitzer in Prague with the participation of French Brazil resulted in the third position in the Award, thanks to the contest organised by Ambassador Roland Galharague and No- contest for the Jacques Derrida Prize for the French Embassy young scientists re- bel Prize winners Jean-Marie Lehn, Jean- Social Sciences and Humanities for a doc- ceive not only prestigious prizes, but also Pierre Sauvage, and Serge Haroche. toral student of the Department of Roman important stimuli for further work. “When The highest award was earned by Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Jana Fabová. you place in the first two positions, you get Zdeněk Škrott, a doctoral student from Pavel Hok from the Department of Neurol- a bonus of a scientific stay abroad. And the the Institute of Molecular and Transla- ogy at the Faculty of Medicine placed third prize itself is handed to you by a Nobel prize tional Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, in the contest for the Albert Schweitzer winner. This is a truly stimulating experi- who won the Sanofi Award for Pharma- Award for Medicine with his work focus- ence that may persuade them that months cy. In his research he explored the possi- sing on the simulation of the peripheral of hard work really may move their career bilities of using disulfiram in cancer treat- nervous system. He was actively partici- forward,” underlined Modrianský. (mav)

Vojtech Regec from the Faculty of Education named 2018 Personality of the Year

Vojtech Regec, Vice-Dean for Science, ability or impairment often are not tak- Research and Doctoral Studies at the UP en into consideration. One of the goals of Faculty of Education, was named Person- our effort is to monitor the development ality of the Year in the ZlatyErb.sk contest, of electronic accessibility, but also point for his extraordinary contribution in the out the current problems in informatisa- informatisation of Slovak municipalities. tion, prepare new measures, and imple- “I perceive it as an acknowledgement ment new innovative solutions,” he add- of all those who are involved in the prob- ed. Regec is, among others, a member of lematics of electronic access. At the same the Web Accessibility Directive Expert time, the award obliges me to continue Group of the European Commission and in this work, because there’s still a lot to a member of the working group for acces- change,” said Regec, who has been crit- sibility at the Department of the Slovak ical for years as to the state of accessi- Deputy Prime Minister for Investment bility of electronic environments for the and Informatisation. The commission disabled. “Although the process of in- praised his systematic and years-long formatisation has pervaded the ‘blood- work in the development of accessible stream’ of our society, paradoxically electronic environments for people with enough, people with a certain kind of dis- disabilities. (map) photos: Milada Hronová | Jan Petr | Martin Višňa | The NeuronFund

18 žurnál 2019 International federation awarded Jana Vašíčková from the Faculty of Physical Culture

The International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP) awarded Jana Vašíč ková from the Faculty of Physical Culture, a national delegate of the federation for the Czech Republic, for her contribution to the development of physical culture. “It is an acknowledgement of my work in the area of physical activities – and also a certain motivation for the future. I keep trying to work on myself, and this is just the icing on the cake. As there are medals for achievements in sports, this is a medal and acknowledgement in the development of physical culture,” said Vašíčková. Vašíčková has been trying to promote the idea of “movement literacy” that should be cultivated mainly in physical education classes. She also initiated the foundation of the Czech Society of Physical Ed- ucation Teachers and undertakes a number of other activities in this field. She has at- Jana Vašíčková is the second expert ly attended the Future New Leaders pro- tended FIEP congresses as a representa- from the Faculty of Physical Culture who gramme. His poster and presentation tive of the Czech Republic since 2009 and has received an FIEP award. The first lau- were awarded as the second best at the is in touch with important personalities in reate was Professor Karel Frömel. The autumn congress. At the same time he physical education and physical activities federation also appreciates young sci- was named the deputy national delegate from all over the world. entists – Michal Vorlíček has repeated- for the Czech Republic. (vim)

Lukáš Slodička from the Faculty of Science was presented the Neuron Fund Award

The prestigious 2018 Neuron Award for award by the Neuron Fund for Support of worked simultaneously on two new de- Promising Young Scientists in the field of Science together with five other laureates manding experiments in quantum nuclear physics was presented to Lukáš Slodička in Prague. physics. from the Department of Optics at the Fac- The young scientist studies the inter- In collaboration with the Institute of Sci- ulty of Science who specialises in the quan- action of light radiation and matter on the entific Instruments at the Czech Academy tum properties of light. He received the single-atom and single-photon levels. The of Sciences, he introduced the first Czech results of his experiments help explain the experimental setup of cold trapped ions fundamental processes of light absorption, of calcium, which allowed him to demon- reflection, and emission, and their potential strate an unexpected non-classical and co- use in telecommunications and quantum herent emission of light from macroscopic computers. “I’m happy that our work is so numbers of ions. At the Department of Op- meaningful that the fund acknowledged it tics, he constructed the first Czech experi- even in this early stage of research. It is a big mental setup with warm rubidium vapours encouragement for the whole team. Per- on a macroscopic scale and observed the haps we are doing something interesting emission of non-classical pairs of photons. enough and relevant at least in the context The Neuron Fund Awards are one of the of the Czech Republic,” said Slodička. most substantially funded prizes for scien- After graduation from the UP Faculty of tists in the Czech Republic. The laureates Science he obtained his doctoral degree in are selected from seven scientific disci- Innsbruck under Professor Rainer Blatt in plines – social sciences, medicine, math- experimental physics of cold trapped ions. ematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and After his return to the Czech Republic he computer science. (cho)

žurnál 2019 19 success

Palacký University acquired institutional accreditation

In the following ten years, Palacký Univer- and what content of studies will prepare programmes across all faculties. “Students sity will be allowed to approve and modify our graduates to a future that will have dif- will have the option of enrolling, along with its own study programmes. This privilege ferent demands on them than today. The their main study plan, a major, in a second- has been granted by the institutional ac- institutional accreditation also involves ary programme called a minor, and study creditation received from the National Ac- a debate on how to make related disci- two entirely different programmes,” ex- creditation Agency in the middle of 2018. plines more permeable or what should be plained UP Vice-Rector for Strategic Plan- “Institutional accreditation enables the character of doctoral studies,” said UP ning and Quality, Hana Marešová. As she Palacký University to make autonomous Rector Jaroslav Miller. emphasised, study combinations between decisions about the structure and content One of the main novelties introduced to faculties have a tradition at UP, but their of its study programmes. It is particular- students via the innovation of study pro- range will substantially expand now. At the ly important in times when we have to se- grammes is the possibility of a “compound same time, the extent of the current offer riously consider what form of instruction study”, which extends the offer of study remains unchanged. (mav)

A Faculty of Law graduate won a special prize for her diploma thesis

After the successful defence of her diploma And this new prize for originality was thesis, the UP Faculty of Law graduate de- awarded to Gottfriedová, who defended cided to send her work to a competition. And her thesis in June 2018. The student was she did the right thing. Her academic work led to the topic by the supervisor of her entitled “Trailers According to Construction work, Veronika Tomoszková from the UP Law” interested the jury so much they creat- Department of Administrative and Finan- ed a special prize for her, beyond traditional cial Law. The aim of the work was to pro- categories. Lucie Gottfriedová was awarded vide a comprehensive analysis of the is- the Jiřina Bergatt Jackson Prize for the origi- sue and answer the research question of nality of her theme and its treatment. whether trailers are vehicles or construc- The competition is organised by the In- tions, and whether their removal can be stitute for Sustainable Development of Set- decreed by law. “I think the award is a sym- tlements (IURS) and is devoted to defend- bolical closure of my studies and a pos- ed diploma theses dealing with the issues of sible step to future employment,” added urban planning. Sixteen students applied to the alumna. “The awarded thesis is proof its third year, coming from nine universities that if you choose an interesting, origi- in Czechia and Slovakia. “We bestowed one nal, and narrowly focussed theme, which main prize, four honorary mentions, and the student enjoys exploring, it results in for the first time, a prize for original theme,” a high-quality work that may have applica- said Barbara Vojvodíková, IURS director tions in practice and may be valued by ex-

and a member of the commission. perts,” added Tomoszková. (eha) photos: Gabriela Knýblová | Eva Hrudníková Mazochová | Velena | Mexican Embassy in Prague

20 žurnál 2019 Highest Mexican state decoration for Pavel Štěpánek from the Faculty of Arts

Pavel Štěpánek, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Art History at the UP Faculty of Arts, was granted the Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican Pres- ident. He received the highest Mexican state decoration awarded to foreign citi- zens at the Mexican Embassy in Prague. “It is a nice surprise, really unexpected, and also a certain moral satisfaction that my efforts have not been in vain, even though I focussed on themes that are mostly neglected and unappreciated by Czech art historians despite the fact that Mexico is part of the Euro-Amer- ican world and has had amazing civi- lisations in its history,” said Štěpánek. Although he has received a number of honorary awards, the latest one from Mexico is something extraordinary. “So far most of my awards have come from Spain. The granting of the Order of the The Order of the Aztec Eagle is the of their work on Mexican culture is ac- Aztec Eagle is an exceptional thing,” highest Mexican decoration, awarded knowledged no matter which discipline added the expert on art history and ar- since 1932 as a reward to services giv- they study. The historian Pavel Štěpánek chitecture of the Hispanic and Luso- en to Mexico or humankind by foreign- received it for his popularisation of Mexi- phone cultures. ers. In the case of experts, the impact can art. (map)

Milan Adamus received the most important anesthesiology award

The laureate of the Award of the Czech So- the UP Department of Informatics he par- ciety of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care ticipated in the development of a system Medicine (CSARIM) for the year 2018 is for automatic dosage of muscle relaxants Milan Adamus. The emeritus head of the during general anaesthesia, controlled by Department of Anaesthesiology, Resusci- fuzzy logic, and successfully used it during tation and Intensive Care at the UP Faculty prolonged neurosurgeries. of Medicine and Dentistry and the Univer- “Muscle relaxants, along with analge- sity Hospital Olomouc was presented the sics and general anaesthetics, are a part of František Celestýn Opitz Medal for lifelong modern supplemental anaesthesia, which merit and significant contribution to the de- enable doctors to secure the breathing pas- velopment of the field. “I value the award sages of the patient, allow them to let the very much. It feels good to realise your work patient breathe in a controlled way, and im- makes sense, helps patients, and is appreci- prove conditions during surgery. The pro- ated by the scientific community,” said Ad- cedure we have developed for measuring amus, who accepted the medal at the begin- the muscle relaxation contributes to the ning of the 25th congress of CSARIM. safety and comfort of anaesthesiology,” ex- The main professional interests of Ada- plained Adamus. mus include muscle relaxation and its mon- The highest award that anaesthesiol- itoring, the use of statistic methods and re- ogists can receive in the Czech Repub- search methodology in anaesthesiology. lic is intended for leading Czech special- He also furthered the use of digital technol- ists who have dedicated their professional ogies in providing anaesthesiologic care in lives to meritorious scientific and organi- the Czech Republic. In collaboration with sational work. (mav)

žurnál 2019 21 kaleidoscope Hall of Fame for tennis

Olomouc hosted the national commencement of the academic year

Czech university rectors commenced the new academic year at Palacký University Olomouc. Almost fifty representatives of Czech academic institutions, rectors of public, state, as well private universities, attended the ceremony with the participation Helena Suková, one of the most suc- of the Czech Minister of Educa- cessful Czech female tennis players in tion in the Faculty of Arts audito- history, was inducted into the Interna- rium. (ipu) tional Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, USA, and became one of the legends of the sport. Suková is also a UP alumna, The largest conference on a healthy lifestyle who studied psychology at the Facul- ty of Arts. She is a model of an athlete Top experts in research and support who has managed to launch yet anoth- of a healthy lifestyle will come together career, but not in sports. The picture er in the beginning of June 2019 in shows another two UP alumni – plastic Prague’s Congress Centre for the Inter- surgeon Bohdan Pomahač and his wife national Society of Behavioural Nutri- Hana – congratulating Helena on her tion and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) an- achievement. (ipu) nual conference, co-organised by the UP Faculty of Physical Culture. It is one of the largest academic events in the field, Gardens succeeded in with an expected 1400 participants. The a regional contest confirmed keynote speakers include Greet Cardon from Ghent University, Belgium, British epidemiologist Sir Andrew Haines and Barry M. Popkin from the University of North Carolina. (vim)

Two Václavs at the Faculty of Arts

The Department of Politics and European Studies at the UP Faculty of Arts boasts the Václav Havel Auditorium and the Václav Burian Classroom. Both were ceremonially opened on the commemoration of the Velvet Revolution. “Václav Havel’s thirst for education was profound, persistent, and unyielding. Naming a place where students ob- tain education after him is therefore deeply pleasing and meaningful,” wrote the widow of the former Czech President, Dag- The city wall ramparts gardens at UP mar Havlová. The importance of Olomouc are one of the most attractive places in journalist and translator Václav Burian the Olomouc Region, according to the was pointed out by political scientist Pavel results of the Olomouc Region Tour- Šaradín: “Sometimes in the course of our ism Prize. The ramparts gardens suc- lives, we happen to meet a person who has ceeded in the category Genius Loci a lifelong influence on us. In my case, Vác with a silver position. The online con- lav Burian was such a personality. His well test had five categories and the win- of knowledge was immense.” (map) ners were voted by the public. (ipu)

22 žurnál 2019 kaleidoscope

A new member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences

Ingeborg Fialová, a German literature scholar from the UP Faculty of Arts, has been named a corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Scienc- es. The ceremonial reception of 29 new academics and scientists in various disciplines from seven countries took place in Vienna. “Being chosen a corresponding member is a huge honour for me and a totally unexpected surprise,” said Fial- ová. She was proposed by Prof Konstan- ze Fliedl from the University of Vienna, acknowledging her remarkable output and the academic reputation of her works. She highlighted her activities in the Research Cen- tre for German Moravian Literature and the Austrian Cultural Forum. (ipu)

Miroslav Ovečka awarded University awarded its volunteers for the second time Best Talk Award at a prestigious conference For the second year, the university has ex- The prize for best talk at SPAOM2018 – pressed its acknowl- Spanish Portuguese Meeting for Ad- edgement of student vanced Optical Microscopy – was and employee volun- awarded to Miroslav Ovečka from the teering by awarding the Department of Cell Biology in the Cen- UP Rector Awards. tre of the Region Haná for Biotechno- Four new laureates logical and Agricultural Research. He joined the club of those succeeded in the competition of 38 who devote their time, lectures presented in the main scien- along with their study tific programme by representatives of and work, for the sake leading European laboratories. He in- of others and for free – students and alumni of the Faculties of Arts and Education, terested the participants with the pres- Kristýna Doubravová, Adéla Hazuchová, Nela Chudová, and Ivo Černík. entation on how he monitored the de- “Apart from the fact that university provides education and research, it has always velopment of living plants by means of played an important role in the public space. And that involves charity and volunteer- advanced microscopy. The Olomouc ism. Therefore I have great respect for your helping others, and I am proud of you,” laboratory is one of the top global insti- said UP Rector Jaroslav Miller during the award ceremony. The ceremony was organ- tutes in the exploration of plant devel- ised by the UP Volunteering Centre within the ROMSPIDO project. “Volunteering has opment and inner structure by means gradually got to the level of excellence in research or sports, which are areas that have of fluorescence microscopy. (mš) been awarded at the university for several years,” added Tatiana Matulayová, Head of the Department of Social Work at the Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology and the project guarantor. (mav)

Photos: M. Vorlíček | V. Mazochová | M. Hronová V. Duda | I. Fialová archives | Helena Suková archives

žurnál 2019 23 text and photos: university town Milada Hronová DIY is cool! TechnoLab proves it

Would you like to create an original piece of jewellery or a wooden bowtie? Would you like to show your child how to make a wooden spoon? And you don’t have your own workshop or the proper tools? There’s a place in Olomouc which can help. All one has to do is go to the Faculty of Education, which has just opened their one-of- a-kind TechnoLab to the public. “In addition to other skills, a person should be somewhat ‘literate’ in DIY (Do It Yourself) – know how to handle a screwdriver, hammer, saw, be able to hang something up, screw something down, or fix something,” explains Jiří Dostál, Head of the Department of Technical Education and Information Technology, in the middle of the fully-equipped shop. “I believe we should start with children. It’s necessary to foster their DIY interests, which might transform into their future ca- reers. Through TechnoLab, we are able to show them that working with tools is not only necessary, but can be fun,” he adds. And the individual workshops which children, students, and parents keep coming to prove he’s right. “My son is always concocting something in the garage. He loves doing it, but he doesn’t have enough tools. And they don’t have the space at his high school for teaching shop,” admits Monika Poláčková from Prostě- jov. She herself created wooden “jewellery” in the Technolab Christmas workshop. Another who cannot hide her enthusiasm is Adriana Přikrylová, a student of pre-school education. “The offer of a shop for the public at the Faculty of Education really excited me. Today I made a wooden bowtie, which I want to give my brother as a present,” she said with a smile. The Faculty of Education with its TechnoLab is filling in one of the blank spaces in the Czech educational system. And that’s not all. It’s trying to bring “shop” back into school education. And not only in the traditional sense of the word. In addition to “old school” tools and methods, it also features new technology such as 3D printers, computer-controlled machine tools, and much, much more.

24 žurnál 2019 text: Ivana Pustějovská photos: Gabriela Knýblová interview

Vít Voženílek: Maps are a testament of the time and the people

žurnál 2019 25 He takes a book in hand and is able to read they would have to write a book. I’ll show for hours and hours. There would be noth- you an example: I’ll take a clean slate and ing strange about that, if it weren’t – an I’ll draw a circle. I’ll ask, what have I drawn? atlas. He’s written a book which became They’ll say: “Probably a city.” Good. I’ll a bestseller. Nothing strange about that, if draw a line through the circle. What’s that? it weren’t – an atlas. On account of his col- “A river.” Agreed. Now while I only have lection of school atlases from all over the two symbols, there are immediately several world, he had to build special bookcases. pieces of information: a river runs through At the beginning of our interview, when the city, it flows for example from north to I had barely peeped into his study, he fires south, or it’s on the left or right, it’s narrow, a question: “What’s your favourite coun- wide, it meanders. In this way I can add try?" I blurt out for some reason, “Austria”. more and more symbols and the amount of The tall man casts a glance at the long line information increases enormously. Now try of mugs on display behind glass and reach- to do that in words. No chance. When you es for one with the Austrian flag. When he look at an old map, in addition to informa- brings a coaster with a map on it, I’m cer- tion you also get a testament of the time and tain that we won’t go off course during this the people living in it. You can read from it interview – we’re going to stick to the map. how they thought, how they worked, what Perhaps one of the ones he’s made himself. was important to them. You can determine Geographer, cartographer, geoinforma- how they ran the country, where they set up Vít Voženílek (b. 1965) tician, professor at the Faculty of Science, fish ponds, you can see if they straightened Head of the Department and head of the Department of Geoinfor- river bends and built bridges. of Geoinformatics matics. Vít Voženílek. of the UP Faculty of ——Does it depend on for whom the Science. A graduate ——Each one of us sees something map was intended? of Masaryk University different on the map – I see the The life of a map does not end by its draw- Brno, in Geography – places I’ve been, the people I’ve met. ing, that’s only the beginning. Purpose is Mathematics. In 2007 he What do you see? the keyword. A cartographer must have was appointed professor Thousands of things. I’m a trained geogra- the user foremost before his eyes, one who of geoinformatics. He phy teacher, so I see the landscape it cap- would be able to read what was drawn. This devotes himself to thematic tures. I’m a professor of geoinformatics, so is why they make different maps for chil- and atlas cartography and I see the technology behind it. I lecture on dren than for lorry drivers or pilots or politi- geoinformatics. He has cartography, so I see the arrangement, the cians. In a children’s atlas, you can find the colours, the symbols. After many years in occurrence of some animal species with had a number of foreign the field I also see something else – I see the a picture which would be an inappropriate stays, including a Fulbright person who made the map. I think about picture of an elephant in a scientific book. grant at Pennsylvania who they were, what their past was like, What is essential for a child is to know that State University. He is their education. there is a language of maps and why it is vice-president of the good to know it. That’s why we teach our International Cartographic ——I stand like that in a gallery in students how to learn to read maps even at Association (ICA) and front of paintings, thinking about the university. As the famous quote goes: the author or co-author the painters.... “Education is what we have left after we’ve of more than 25 books, That story is similar, but the basic differ- forgotten what we learned in school.” including atlases, ence is in the result. You look at a paint- monographs, geography ing, it operates on you, it evokes feelings. It ——To what extent can things be textbooks for primary evokes different ones in a different person, mapped? and secondary schools, and everyone can see something else in the Everything can be mapped. Everything among others Methods of image. Not in cartography. A map must be that has a spatial element, about which you Thematic Cartography – equally clear to thousands of people. Its can say “where”, to which you can give co- Visualisation of Spatial Data, graphic resolution relays information and ordinates. Thus I have called on colleagues Geoinformation Aspects does not allow you – as opposed to a paint- in various fields, and explained to them that of Czech State Information ing – any room of your own. When the map if you provide us the data, we can work it up Policy, and Cartography for says: Turn left, then you cannot choose to into maps and atlases. I’ve opened many of GIS – Geovisualisation and go left and I to go right. We all have to turn their eyes. We’ve cooperated with political Map Communication. to the left. scientists and created an atlas of elections to town councils, we’ve worked with trans- ——Can a map say something more portation experts and now we have a trans- about the state of the world than port availability atlas. We have a phenolog- written history? ical atlas in which – simply said – you can I don’t know if it can say more, but certain- find where something is flowering, when it ly it can say something else. Written words is flowering, when it wilts, when it sheds its cannot adequately describe what a map leaves. Demographic data can be very well does. I tell students that if they were to write depicted onto maps – the incidence of di- in sentences what is in a single map, then vorce, mobility, accessibility of facilities.

26 žurnál 2019 Find the most impossible theme for map- ——Why? packed with them. Yet we have no ping, and it still could be done. There are cartographers who do not make idea where we are actually headed. maps, but they’re still cartographers. I do A while ago during a drought you ——Show me a specific purpose. not blame them. There are those who go asked people on an Internet video For example, the Atlas of Activi- in for drawing, and those who like histor- to conserve water. It had a huge re- ties of Special Education Centres. ic maps. But for me the highlight is creat- sponse. Is this the way for a scientist What’s that? ing maps. In doing so, you must respect all to help save the world? We prepared it with Jan Michalík from the components of which we have spoken. Sometimes you talk for ten minutes, some- the Faculty of Education. The centres And once you make the map, it has to pass times you write a dozen pages, and some- help with educating children with spe- muster. And an atlas? To make one map is times one sentence is enough. With that cial needs and their parents. It was creat- not at all simple. But when you make two video I wanted to say: Believe scientists. ed about twenty-five years ago because maps and put them side-by-side, then they We can all spend hours analysing in pubs. experts were interested in how available are not two independent images, now you But rarely do we reach any truth. The pub those centres were at present for special have to pay attention to their connections. does not suffice. For the time being, we do needs children. We worked together with And if you place four maps on two pages? not have a better tool than scientific knowl- special needs educators employed in the And twelve to a chapter? And if you make edge. So let’s go, we scientists and academ- field. After finishing therapy they filled two hundred into one book? ics, and with our knowledge help those who out a questionnaire and recorded how old make the decisions. They ought to make the child was, what kind of help or therapy ——Why an atlas of climate? use of our knowledge and build upon it. It was required, who brought them there and The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute doesn’t have to be drought, it can be city from where, and so on. There were tens of called me and said that I was probably the transportation, population development, thousands of pieces of information which only person who could make such an atlas the mortgage crisis, migration policy. And we worked into the map and we discovered for them. The last climate atlas was pub- the answers don’t only have to be from car- an interesting thing. Such centres are fi- lished in 1958. My task was to put their data tographers. We go hand-in-hand with oth- nanced by the region, but we showed that and information into such a form and shape er specialists – geologists, soldiers, climate the catchment areas from which the clients that it would stand up to their liking and to scientists, botanists. They know the con- came did not correspond to the borders of all who would use such an atlas: farmers, tent, we know how to give it form. We want the regions. There were experts to whom politicians, insurers, academics, students. all our academics to write for impact jour- they had to travel across regions. What It did, and the entire print run sold out – nals, where their article will be read by three does that mean in practice? We found about four thousand copies. I have the last people in the country and four hundred in that there are places where it is as if there two at home and I’m not giving them to an- the world. Let’s try to explain to ordinary were no autistic children. But that’s not the yone. We introduced it during the first year people what we do and what it’s about, and case. It’s that the closest specialist on au- of our Cartographic Days here in Olomouc. what it can bring for them. I’m convinced tism is so far away that parents are unable We unwrapped the plastic foil and showed that every scientist should be capable of to make such a trip due to time and may- it to the public. That was great, really great. writing one sentence about his or her work be even money. So they don’t make the trip I felt a bit like director Jiří Menzel, when his for a primary school textbook. and the children do not get the care. first feature film won an Oscar. ——What do you like about “map- ——It’s a good basis on which experts ——Is there an atlas you are still ping”? could convince perhaps politicians.... dreaming of? My professor of geomorphology took me Indeed. This is why I speak of the ca- I’d like to make a school atlas. But not into the field and I learned how to look at chet of the map. A map is a unique docu- a Czech one. I’d like to make one for the landscape and at the Earth’s surface ment which is able to communicate a vast a country, perhaps a developing country, through his eyes. It’s beautiful. I love the amount of spatial information quickly and which doesn’t have one so far. There are process: I see something, and I record it. precisely. If you want to invest and you’re many of them. From time to time I read the books of the looking for cheap land, you go to the map; if Czech globetrotters Zikmund and Han- you’re going to move somewhere for retire- ——Isn’t it easier to make an atlas of zelka and I marvel at the beautiful lan- ment where there are no mosquitoes, you the country where you live? guage they used to describe what they saw, go to the map. And so on. Sure. But I like taking the more difficult what they recorded. I had the luck to meet path. It’s a huge challenge. I was in Ecua- Mr Zikmund when he received an honor- ——I’ve done countless interviews dor, for example, and I really liked that ary doctorate at our university. There have with successful authors. Successful country. Beautiful, laid-back, good people. been only a few people in my life whom novels, detective stories, poetry. Somewhere on Amazon.com I came across I approached with such a beating heart. In This is the first time where I’m an American atlas, a small one, which had one interview they asked him if he was still sitting before an author who has a few maps of Ecuador. But Ecuadorean tempted to travel and if he ever opens an at- written a bestseller which is – an at- children and teachers do not have a school las. His answer is one I’ll quote in my Atlas las. Your Atlas of Czech Climates was atlas. That attracts me, because it’s not Cartography book, my life’s work. He said: a hit. Is it a cartographer’s dream to only cartographic work, I’d have to study “Of course. For over an atlas one can al- make an atlas? their educational system in order to fulfil ways dream and make plans.” It was mine. One of my life’s goals was to some function where it would have mean- make at least one atlas. Now I’ve got eight ing and sense for children. ——So even we non-cartographers have behind me and I’m still thinking about the our private maps – of dreams, of life... next one. Personally, I consider the atlas as ——Our entire interview is about ... and we also have our own map of the the most difficult cartographic discipline. maps, dates – the world is jam- heart.

žurnál 2019 27 text: Velena Mazochová research source: Apolinar Maya-Mendoza

Researchers change the perspective on cancer treatment

Breakthrough information to be used in ed introduction of “cell death” into tumour Artificial introduction of increased repro- targeted cancer treatment has come via cells. In the just-published study, they duction speed is a completely new concept new research by scientists at the Institute looked at the drug olaparib, known under in cancer treatment strategy. of Molecular and Translation Medicine the trade name Lynparza, recently regis- Their findings also made possible a bet- (IMTM) at the UP Faculty of Medicine and tered for treatment in ovarian and breast ter understanding of the role of the PARP Dentistry in cooperation with the Danish cancer. “We predicted that this drug would enzyme as a kind of regulator of reproduc- Cancer Society in Copenhagen. The results slow or even stop reproduction; neverthe- tive speed. “The PARP enzyme is now the contribute to a more thorough understand- less, the theory had not yet been proven by molecular goal of a whole group of prom- ing of the DNA replication mechanism and experiments,” said Pavel Moudrý of the ising substances called PARP inhibitors, point toward an entirely new concept in IMTM, the first author of the publication including olaparib. These agents are used treatment strategy for tumours. The im- in Nature. in treating tumours carrying mutations portance of the data has been proven by The research team behind Jiří Bártek of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, whether as the publication of a study in the prestigious however came up with surprising find- the result of inherited mutation or muta- journal Nature. ings. The drug olaparib can not only slow tions occurring in the tumour itself. Olap- “To date, anticancer researchers have replication but can also contribute to sub- arib is now registered for treating breast been aiming primarily at reducing the stantial acceleration of the process. “We and ovarian cancers with mutations of the speed of replication – resulting in an in- have demonstrated that excessive repro- aforementioned genes, and we believe that complete reproduction process during the duction speed in tumour cells leads to this effective treatment will soon be avail- given time limit, which leads to cell death, so many serious errors that the cells will able to the majority of patients in Czechia. or in further deepening of genome insta- then die. The PARP enzyme is the impor- The new mechanism of the activity of bility,” explained team leader Jiří Bártek tant ‘brake’, and it is also the very same PARP inhibitors thus will soon offer bet- of the IMTM team and the Danish Cancer molecular target of the drug olaparib,” ter-targeted treatment and development Society. explained Bártek. of more effective combinations of other Scientists are making use of their find- Duplication errors occur not only dur- drugs which would potentiate anticancer ings regarding interruptions in DNA rep- ing too slow DNA reproduction but also effects,” IMTM Director Marián Hajdúch lication to explore the possibility of target- during increased DNA reproduction rates. emphasised.

Measuring the DNA replication speed by the method of DNA fibres: DNA of control cells (left); DNA cells influenced by the PARP inhibitor (right)

28 žurnál 2019 text: Martina Šaradínová illustration: Martin Pykal discovery

Scientists have discovered a new way to control the properties of molecules

The ability to simply and reversibly change tron possess magnetic properties. How- within the molecule. These strong interac- the properties of molecules represents ever, molecules containing two paired tions involve sharing electrons that partic- a big challenge to the scientific and indus- electrons in each orbital are non-magnetic. ipate in the chemical bond. However, this trial world. Molecular switches offer ap- So far, the process has been to induce the approach is not applicable for developing plications in nanoelectronics, biology, and switching process by employing environ- molecular switches, as the chemical mod- medicine. So far, changes in the electronic mental stimuli, which is technologically ification usually induces irreversible al- configuration of molecules have been in- demanding. teration. Therefore, Czech scientists have duced by application of external stimuli, “Instead, we have employed an atom- attempted to employ weak non-covalent in- such as light, temperature, pressure, and ically thin layer of graphite, known as teractions despite the fact that such a strate- magnetic fields. Scientists from the Re- graphene, and intentionally replaced some gy has never been contemplated before. gional Centre of Advanced Technologies of the carbon atoms in the structure with “Using a combination of theoretical and Materials (RCPTM) at Palacký Uni- nitrogen atoms. By changing the later- calculations and experimental measure- versity Olomouc, together with colleagues al position of molecules on the surface us- ments, we confirmed that the non-covalent from the Institutes of Physics (FZU) and ing a scanning probe, we were able to re- interaction between the iron atoms and the Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry versibly switch from one magnetic state nitrogen atoms is strong enough to disturb (IOCB) of the Czech Academy of Scienc- of pure graphene to non-magnetic states the magnetic state of the molecule but, at es have come up with a revolutionary solu- in the area of nitrogen atoms. Moreover, the same time, is too weak to allow tran- tion, betting on weak non-covalent inter- we observed changes in the arrangement sition of the molecule back to the magnet- actions with a chemically-modified carbon of electrons in a molecule by atomic force ic state as soon as the molecule is returned surface. Their achievement has been pub- microscopy. This represents considera- to a pristine graphene surface,” said Pavel lished in the prestigious journal Nature ble possibilities for the scanning probe mi- Hobza of RCPTM and IOCB. Communications. croscopy resolution,” said Pavel Jelínek of This new way of controlling molecule Not only are the electrical, optical, and RCPTM and FZU. properties offers possibilities in other ar- magnetic properties of molecules deter- Generally, the properties of molecules eas. “Chemically modified graphene may mined by the arrangement of electrons, can be tuned by covalent chemical modifi- serve in the development of new optical which move around in orbitals, but also cation, leading to alteration of the molecu- sensors, photoluminescent materials, cat- their biological activity. Molecules with or- lar constitution, i.e. the termination of old alysts, and pharmaceuticals,” said Radek bitals containing only one unpaired elec- and the formation of new chemical bonds Zbořil, RCPTM Director.

žurnál 2019 29 science text: Martin Višňa | illustration: AHKGA

Children on a dangerous path: not enough movement despite opportunities

The current state of physical behaviour of from the Canadian CHEO Research In- A threat for the forthcoming years, howev- children and youths has been summarised stitute. er, can be seen in the long-term decrease in in a new report by the international organi- The international comparative study of qualifications for teaching physical educa- sation Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, physical activities of children and youths tion,” said Gába. The Czech Republic also whose authors have assessed and com- was prepared by more than five hundred scored well in the ranking of residential en- pared data from fifty countries according experts. The Czech team included scien- vironment and organised physical activ- to ten indicators. The project also issued tists from the UP Faculty of Physical Cul- ities, which are according to the findings a Czech national report, created by a team ture, and from the Faculty of Science, Hu- undertaken by 62% of adolescents. led by Aleš Gába from the Faculty of Phys- manities and Education at the Technical The worst problem was revealed by an ical Culture. University of Liberec. They worked main- analysis of sedentary behaviour. Almost According to experts, the level of phys- ly with data from the Health Behaviour in 80% of teenagers spend more than two hours ical activity of children today is not suffi- School-aged Children (HBSC) study deal- in front of the television or on computers or cient for their healthy growth and devel- ing with the lifestyle of the youth and from mobile devices every school day, whereas opment. The modern lifestyle – including the International Physical Activity and the during the weekends it is almost 90%. “Pi- among other things, too much time spent Environment Network (IPEN) study ex- lot studies conducted among younger re- in front of the TV, PC or phone screens – ploring the impact of environment on the spondents show similarly alarming results. leads them down a very dangerous path. level of physical activity, as well as gov- Mobile devices cannot be totally excluded “We are responsible for this change in re- ernment documents such as the strategy from the lives of children and youths; howev- ality. Non-active children are jeopardised Health 2020, and methodical reports by er, their good implementation may increase by physical, mental, and social problems; Czech School Inspection. the levels of physical activity in leisure time. at the same time, they will face a number The Czech Republic had its best results Good examples are geocaching or the game of challenges in relation to climatic chang- in the ranking of school environment. Pokémon Go,” commented Gába. es, technological development, and grow- “Most of our schools have equipment and In total, the Czech Republic scored sim- ing globalisation. Only the healthy and devices for high-quality education in the ilarly as Germany, New Zealand, and Zim- physically able adults will be able to cope field of physical activities, and in addition babwe, i.e. in the second decad of coun- with the changing world,” said the presi- to physical education, they even offer other tries. The top of the ranking is occupied by dent of the organisation, Mark Tremblay opportunities, such as swimming courses. Slovenia, Japan, and Denmark.

30 žurnál 2019 text and photo: Milada Hronová research

A colourful range of hats and head decorations from the Middle East, Central and South-East Asia, Siberia, and Oceania was shown at the exhibition “Hats Off”. It was prepared by the Department of Asian Studies at the UP Faculty of Arts thanks to the project “Sinophone Borderlands – Interactions at the Edges”.

China as neighbour: a research study at the Faculty of Arts

Scientists from the UP Faculty of Arts achieved by an analysis of the intersection cerns the authorship of various literary have obtained almost €7 million for of neighbour relationships and by consid- relics and other texts, analysis of linguis- a primary research of Chinese border ar- eration of the historic development and tic acquisitions, non-linguistic data, and eas. The five-year project called “Sino- geopolitical interests in all given regions. so forth,” said Ondřej Kučera, the main phone Borderlands – Interactions at the A research centre of excellence will be investigator of the project, from the De- Edges” redefines the concept of Asian created for the project, hosting language partment of Asian Studies at the UP Fac- and Chinese studies – in the sense that and computer laboratories for processing ulty of Arts. it focusses on China from the “outside”, large amounts of data as well as a laborato- The strategic partners of the Olomouc i.e. as it is perceived by its neighbouring ry of material culture. Apart from experts project include the University of Cam- countries and their inhabitants. who specialise in specific geographical re- bridge, George Washington University, “It is a major success, one of the most gions, the research also includes three dis- Humboldt University of Berlin, the an- prestigious research grants one can ac- tinct methodological overlaps: social an- thropological Quai Branly Museum in quire in the Czech context. Only two pro- thropology, linguistics, and the study of Paris, the Russian Academy of Scienc- jects from the humanities were supported material culture. es, and other six foreign institutions. The in the Excellence in Research call in the Sociological surveys and field anthro- project unites top experts in the field Operational Programme Research, De- pological research will take place direct- from all over the world and is based on in- velopment and Education. And the Chi- ly in the countries neighbouring the Peo- terdisciplinary dialogue. Researchers be- nese border areas are one of them,” said ple’s Republic of China and its border lieve that its results will be so unique that Dana Bilíková, Vice-Dean for Project areas. “We are going to map cultural, po- they will influence the science and think- Management at the Faculty of Arts. litical, social, and linguistic aspects, and ing about China and will introduce a new The project strives for a complex un- we will process the data by means of new perspective on the global impacts of the derstanding of China. That should be methods of digital humanities. This con- rise of China.

žurnál 2019 31 reportage

We’re still UP for it!

Prague, Opava, Ostrava, Prostějov, the standing – its windows used to be board- Krkonoš Mts, and of course, Olomouc. ed up. There’s truly no comparison with These are just a few of the places from how it used to be. I love it,” the sympa- whence former students came to attend thetic lady from Kostelec shared. the September UP Alumni Reunion. UP alumni came to Olomouc from all D-Day was Saturday, 8 September 2018, over the country. Drahomíra Vaňková and its slogan was: We’re UP for it! also got up early, coming from not-so- Groups stood in front of the UP Ar- distant Opava. “I studied biology at the moury Library before 9 am, the official Faculty of Science and also physical edu- start of the programme. First in line for cation. I’m looking forward to seeing my her registration card was Jiřina Lavič girl friends, and I’m going to see the new ková from Kostelec. This alumna of Eng- Faculty of Science building for the first lish and Czech philology from the Facul- time,” she said. ty of Arts was looking forward to meeting Barbora Moravcová travelled from Os- old friends and going on a tour of very fa- trava. She graduated in 2009, so rather miliar places. Just like the two thousand than taking a trip through memory lane, other alumni who came to visit their alma she was looking forward to meeting her mater. “I’m still in touch with the univer- friends. “I studied philosophy and thea- sity. I’m very fond of both the university tre. I’m looking forward to meeting some- and Olomouc, and it makes me happy to body, soaking up the atmosphere, and see how things have changed since our taking a look at the newly-remodelled fac- studies here in the 1950s. Take the Ma- ulty building. I love to come back to visit,” text: Ivana Pustějovská ria Theresa Armoury here, where we’re she confided. photos: Milada Hronová

32 žurnál 2019 During the day the Armoury courtyard filled with groups of alumni from various faculties, all catching up, taking pictures, and sharing memories with one another. Many came with their children, and took advantage of the Fort Science tent, which demonstrated science experiments. Michal Sedláček was in the courtyard with his young son. “I’m an alumnus of the Faculty of Education, including its doctoral programme, and I’m still in close contact with the university,” he said with a smile and then took advantage of the special photo booth placed in front of a wall with the UP logo on it. In the afternoon, alumni were wel- comed together by rector emeritus Josef Jařab, and vice-rectors Hana Marešová, Jiří Lach, Petr Bilík, and Martin Kud- láček. The programme also took place at the various university faculties, which interested parties could visit comfortably thanks to a special minibus. The Faculty of Science combined the Alumni Reunion Day with its Silver Graduation ceremony. There were memories, and then there was a baptism. Prof Jařab launched his new book of reminiscences published by Palacký University UP, A Rector’s Re- miniscences, before a packed house in the Faculty of Arts Ceremonial Hall. “I searched my memory for those worth- while moments, ones which should never be forgotten,” he said, adding that the book, copies of which he signed for dozens of admirers, is his “interpretation of the Velvet Revolution at Palacký Univer- sity.” The evening belonged to singer-song- writer Terez Wrau, who had a concert in the Armoury courtyard. For the closing, the UP Audio-Visual Productions prepared a special projection: on the walls of the darkened Armoury, a ballerina danced next to the motto of this year’s reunion “We’re UP for it!” as all were re- minded of the genius loci of the town and its university. “We’re very pleased that our invitation brought so many alumni, and that you’ve enjoyed the programme. We’re glad that so many came with their entire families and showed their loved ones not only where they studied, but also how their alma mater has changed. Alumni are an important part of our university, and caring for them is one of our priorities. I’d like to thank all of you who made the trip to visit us,” said Eva Blažková of the UP Conference Service.

žurnál 2019 33 text: Šárka Chovancová lifestyle photo: Gabriela Knýblová

Helena dreams of a world without garbage collectors

She always takes with her a bottle for wa- tricky, because there weren’t so many op- ter, a sack for groceries, a box for food, portunities to practise zero waste. It took and she loves to cook. You will not find any me a while to figure out the how and the foods wrapped in plastic in her house, and why,” the student said, with a smile. Young children dream about becoming garbage collectors. We instead of tropical fruits you’ll find apples The recipe for minimising household dream about living a life in which we and pears on her table. Helena Škrdlíková, waste is simple according to Helena. “I try won’t need garbage collectors. We a student at the UP Faculty of Science, has not to produce any unnecessary waste, so want to live a life free of garbage. been a long-time supporter of the “zero for example I do not buy anything wrapped waste” lifestyle, whose adherents are try- in plastic. I go to a no-packaging shop, and Every day, tonnes of new waste see the light of day. The majority of it ends ing not to produce any waste. my diet is somewhere between vegetarian in dumps, in the ocean, or just lying Helena comes from a village and was and vegan, because animal husbandry has somewhere in the streets, in the forest, used to sorting waste and protecting the a huge impact on the environment. I make in the fields. Part of it is burnt, and environment as a child, first thanks to her my own toothpaste and vegetable milk, and only a tiny portion is recycled. parents and later to her friends in scouting. I eat local fruits and vegetables – no banan- In a parallel universe called zero “It was a kind of an unconscious heeding as nor oranges.” waste, the majority of waste is not my parents and following role models. And According to Helena Škrdlíková, it’s im- created at all, part is recycled, and later, when I began to study environmental portant for a person to be able to give a tiny portion decomposes. studies and having a greater awareness of up things which they don’t really need. Czech Zero Waste is exploring how ecological and environmental problems, “It’s about habits. It would be better for us to live a waste-free lifestyle (not only) I said to myself, I have to do something,” to prevent the creation of waste, to make in Czechia. We inform, inspire, and she remembers. the best use of seemingly unnecessary advise, but primarily we are gradually A friend suggested perhaps choos- things, to compost and recycle. And throw documenting how we can wean ing a life without waste and writing a blog things into the waste bin only as a last re- ourselves from the dustbin men. about it, where she could share her expe- sort,” she says, adding with slight exag- We’re Helena, Jana, and Míša. riences with others. She published her geration that while young children dream Travellers, volunteers, discovers, and first post in January 2015 and others came about growing up to be garbage collectors, dreamers. We’re Czech Zero Waste. quickly. “At the beginning it was quite she dreams of a world without them.

34 žurnál 2019 experience

text: Ivana Pustějovská photos: Veronika Žižková archives, Fernando T. Zamunér

Veronika Žižková: I no longer walk the streets of Baltimore

“Dear Veronika, yes, you are welcome.” of e-mails, and go through a mountain of Veronika Žižková (b. 1986) This brief sentence was the decision that paperwork.” allowed Veronika Žižková, a doctoral stu- But Veronika tackled the paperwork suc- From Šternberk, she studies in dent in Medical Biology at the UP Facul- cessfully and crossed the ocean in January the Medical Biology doctoral ty of Medicine and Dentistry, to go to Bal- 2014 for four months. Even though she had programme at the UP Faculty timore, USA, a few years ago. The same had an internship in Germany, America was of Medicine and Dentistry. She sentence decided the direction of her re- something else entirely. Perhaps because has had foreign internships in search and these few English words actu- Baltimore, where she was headed, is infa- Germany and the USA. This past ally are responsible for her return in 2018 mous for crime. “Johns Hopkins is crucial year her project on researching to a prestigious scientific workplace which to the city and a prestigious employer, one head and neck tumours was was made possible by the Palacký Universi- which takes great care about the safety of its supported by the UP Endowment ty Endowment Fund. employees. In practice, it looks as though Fund. But first things first. “In 2013, thanks there are guards everywhere, that the en- to a grant, I was able to travel to Ameri- tire campus is under watch. You cannot ca. So I wrote to many workplaces asking just go where you want. You have to show for an internship. Only Prof Califano of a special badge that you’re from Hopkins.” Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore re- There’s no chance of taking some walks plied. To my long e-mail with a CV and let- through the centre of this city of more than ters of recommendation, he reacted with 600,000. University employees live on the only that single sentence,” the smiling outskirts of this city, one where the majority blonde remembers. But a one-sentence of the population is African American, liv- invitation, of course, was not enough in ing in poverty. “The commute to work takes the end. “Johns Hopkins is a very prestig- an hour and a half – a car is a necessity, al- ious university, with a lot of rules and reg- most nobody walks. Today I no longer won- ulations. In order to be accepted, a person der why safety, or rather danger, can vary must have plenty of patience, write dozens from street to street,” says Veronika.

žurnál 2019 35 However, when she was getting ready to not have the newest equipment at their dis- her work however, she did not work with go to the USA, she could not even imagine posal which is standard in the majority of tumours found in the human body. It would something like that. She looked for accom- laboratories here. On the other hand, they be too risky for the patients. They used modation which was cheap and near to have no problem getting more money for cells which were similar to such tumours. work. Through Airbnb she found a shared research. When some experiment is not “My entire research is on cell lines, which room, she paid a month’s rent, and got on going right, they sit down at the computer are actually cell cultures which have all the the plane. The first day on the job, her boss and order different chemicals and they go same qualities, are virtually immortal, and asked how her journey was. “The flight back at it, again and better. Research is an have the capacity for unlimited cell repro- was okay, and then I walked ten minutes to absolute priority for them.” duction,” she explains, adding: “I was us- work,” she bragged. The professor’s reac- Their enthusiasm for work is huge, ac- ing head and neck cell lines where I turned tion was immediate: “Go home and pack!” cording to Veronika. “They usually start off individual genes through a molecu- He moved her out, and even hosted her work around nine, and if they leave at six, lar biology technique and then observed with his family for a week until they found they are among the first. Even I sometimes what it does to the cell, whether that spe- her a place to stay. “He even paid for my ac- left at midnight. You get caught up in the en- cific gene is so necessary that after it’s been commodation, because he knew what the thusiasm.” But as a young woman who be- turned off it is not able to survive and then month’s rent cost,” Veronika shared about tween the two American stays bore a son, dies.” When she explains to a lay person her experience. Americans’ friendliness she also sees its dark side. “It’s quite sad who can’t understand what such research and willingness to help are what she appre- when mothers with small children spend is good for, she laughs and answers: “I want ciates most about them. “They’re incred- so much time in the lab that someone else to force cancer cells to commit suicide.” ibly communicative, they want to talk to has to look after their kids. That kind of day Veronika Žižková recommends stays you, even if you’re only going together one care can cost 2000 dollars a month.” abroad to everyone. “You gain perspective, flight up in the elevator.” Her first American stay determined her you learn a different approach. It’s an expe- Veronika disproves the mistaken im- contemporary scientific direction. “The rience which enriches you. Don’t plan too pressions of how better equipped Ameri- workplace offered studying head and neck much: it’s better to take every opportunity can laboratories are than ours. “They do tumours, and I joined the project.” During as it arises – it’s really worth it.”

“Americans are incredibly communicative, they want to talk to you, even if you’re only going together one flight up in the lift.”

36 žurnál 2019 text: Velena Mazochová photos: Jiří Pasz, JP archives alumnus

Jiří Pasz: Photography can make life and death decisions

He was able to connect his experiences as and death decisions – for example when a humanitarian worker aware of the pain a photographer takes pictures of famine, of the contemporary world, and the ability and is then able to organise help for the of a photographer to say something about afflicted area afterwards. It’s an artistic it. He has photographed child soldiers in shortcut which can help us to understand Uganda, the prostitute caste in Nepal, the issue better and perhaps even more skateboarders in Myanmar, devastation in quickly,” explains Jiří Pasz, who gradu- Haiti, refugees in Jordan, and an operation ated in Humanitarian and Social Work at on a three-year-old child who was wound- the UP Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty ed in war. And also an invincible will to nev- of Theology. er leave things up to fate. The power of the At first it was a desire to travel, which stories which Palacký University alumnus soon gave him a taste for wanting to help. Jiří Pasz tells via photographic “shortcuts” “Travel enthralled me right after high is not only due to mere witnessing of suffer- school, but I soon began to notice not only ing and ruination. At the same time, he is captivating landscapes, monuments, and With Kenyan cameraman Simon Okongo, with able to illuminate a message of understand- culture, but also the huge amount of suf- whom he collaborated on a documentary film on Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi and in ing, hope, and human solidarity. fering going on around them. Then I began all of Africa. He says that photography can change studies in Olomouc on how to help peo- the world. “It has the power to give ple in the most effective way. It’s one of the a voice to those who have none. In its ex- most difficult things that humanity is still treme form it has the power to make life struggling with,” Pasz says.

žurnál 2019 37 He has visited nearly fifty counties in the cent years by “passing along good news”. world and dedicated himself to a wide range “Without leaving out the often very dra- Jiří Pasz (b. 1981) of topics – from the problems of poverty and matic context, I meet wonderful people Graduated with a degree in social inequality to domestic violence, pre- everywhere who are not consigned to their Humanitarian Aid and Social venting corruption, the rights of ethnic and fate but are bravely and proudly fighting Work at UP Sts Cyril and sexual minorities, and refugee situations in for themselves and others. And these are Methodius Faculty of Theology the ones whom I think should be seen the lands torn by war. He has also document- and VOŠ Caritas, International ed biogas generators for small farmers in most,” Pasz says. This “good news” in- Development Studies at Cambodia, the electrification of a huge cludes missions by Czech doctors whom Utrecht University, and is refugee camp in the Middle East, and edu- he has accompanied to lands affected by now in the Social Geography cating children in Haiti. In Czechia he has war. The photo documentation which he doctoral programme at Charles travelled with hospital clowns, skied with made during the voyages has become the University Prague. He has people in wheelchairs, and photographed foundation of the travelling exhibition worked together with a number the Bohnická theatre company made up of “Flying Doctors”. “I saw miracles such of non-profit organisations (UN, psychiatric patients. “I’ve been aiming at as how to disconnect the heart of a three- Amnesty International, Caritas, the broad and complex picture, supported year-old girl and then operate on it, how to ADRA) and the Czech Ministry by the study of specific political, economic, drain a brain tumour, or how to use a ham- of the Interior in Cambodia, and social phenomena. All that however is mer and chisel to perform knee surgery. Nepal, Uganda, and Myanmar. often connected to great material poverty, And mainly, I was witness to the unbeliev- In recent years he has been drama, and sometimes even tragedy,” Pasz able professionalism with which the Czech documenting Czech foreign aid explains. team of doctors works.” in Haiti, Ukraine, in refugee The most powerful moments in his ca- With the help of his stories, he wants to camps in the Middle East, and reer were those spent getting to know child lead a dialogue, putting facts into it. “I’d has worked with HateFree members of the Ugandan armed forces and like to separate the debate from emotions, Culture. He founded the his stays in an African slum and in a refugee connect people, and provide them with the initiative Czech on Board with camp on the border of Jordan and Syria. To biggest basis possible to make good deci- Myanmar and has taken part get the necessary distance of a photogra- sions – for example into the current heated in voyages by Czech doctors to pher who “only” presses the shutter release debate on refugees, which is dominated in the Middle East (MEDEVAC). requires a great deal of sympathy, he says. Czechia by irrational fear,” says Pasz. His work has been featured in “The ability to emphasise with the other, To date he has made use of his experienc- dozens of exhibitions in Czechia. with people, makes community. Empathy es as a humanitarian freelancer in the are- comes from recognising we are not isolated as of public relations, journalism, produc- units,” he underlines. He photographs seri- tion, graphics, and of course photography. ous topics. “However, the dignity of a man is Collectively, his most recent activities can always first: I’m never separate from these be summarised under the concept of social people – we speak together, we’re in con- marketing. “There is a battle being waged tact, we work together.” Maximum solidar- over space in the human mind, occupied ity must also at the same time be balanced by advertising and scandal pages. And I’m with a self-protective distance. “I learned interested in how social themes can reach how to have a larger perspective in school that place, because if we can better under- in Olomouc, and I’m very grateful for that. stand the causes of the problems surround- It’s a way of getting close to people, but at the ing us, we’ll be better able to solve them. same time not to take on all the world’s pain. I’m convinced that we can only survive this I would go mad if I didn’t have that.” together. If we fail to be interested in the At the amount of suffering with which other, and if we refuse to help him or coop- he has met, he has been reacting in re- erate with her, humanity is lost.”

38 žurnál 2019 reflection

photo: Gabriela Knýblová

Bumo KAWK teaches Korean at the Department of Asian Studies, UP Faculty of Arts, under the auspices of the Korea Foundation’s Professorship Program. Its main goal is to better standards and increase awareness about Korean Studies at Palacký University.

재단 프로그램으로 팔라츠키대학교에 가기로 결정이 되었을 Although at the beginning I was not entirely sure wheth- 때 먼저 걱정이 들었습니다. 그 이유는 작년에 등산을 하다 er I should set out to Olomouc, today I know that it was 가 미끄러져 왼쪽 팔이 골절 되어서 가르치는 데는 지장은 없 a good decision. I was handicapped not only by a frac- 으나 생활하는 데에 불편할 것 같아 걱정이 되었습니다. 여러 ture of my arm, but most of all by my lack of competen- cy in Czech. On the basis of my experience with many 해외 대학에서 가르친 경험으로 비추어 보면, 그 나라의 모국 overseas universities I know that it is difficult to address 어와 문화를 모르고서는 현지 사람들과 진실한 대화를 나누 the local people without a knowledge of their language 기가 어렵다는 것은 알고 있습니다. 영어로만 의사소통을 하 or culture. When we communicate only in English, our 게 되면 서로를 이해하는 데에 한계가 있습니다. 그럼에도 불 understanding is limited. That’s why I’m grateful to 구하고 친절과 따듯함으로 저를 맞아주고 도와준 많은 교직 many of my colleagues and students who have helped me 원과 학생들에게 고마운 마음을 전합니다. in this respect.

1년 동안 팔라츠키대학교에서 근무하면서 이룬 가장 큰 성과 One of the biggest achievements we made in 2018 was 는 주체코 대한민국대사관과 함께 팔라츠키대학교에 올로모 the opening of the King Sejong Institute at UP in cooperation with the Korean Embassy and our universi- 우츠 세종학당을 개설한 것입니다. 팔라츠키대학교 동료들의 ty colleagues. It took place in the winter term 2018, and 협력과 한국 정부에서 지원이 가능하였기에 이러한 성과를 Palacký University became the first European universi- 달성할 수 있었습니다. 올로모우츠세종학당은 한국대사관 연 ty that opened this “co-type” King Sejong Institute in 계형으로 개설된 유럽대학 최초의 세종학당입니다. 올로모우 collaboration with the Embassy. The institute offers the 츠 세종학당은 팔라츠키대학교의 학생들뿐만 아니라 한국어 possibility to learn the Korean language and study Ko- 와 한국문화에 관심이 있는 체코 일반인들에게도 한국어를 rean culture not only to UP students, but also the pub- 배울 수 있는 기회를 제공하는 기관입니다. lic. I really wish that in the future Korean language and culture will become more and more familiar to people in 앞으로 올로모오츠 팔라츠키대학교를 통하여 체코에서 한국 the Czech Republic by means of Palacký University Ol- 어와 한국문화가 더욱 알려지기를 진심으로 바랍니다. omouc.

žurnál 2019 39 heritage text: Jiří Fiala | reproduction: Žurnál UP

First successful human organ transplant Ophthalmologist Dr Eduard Konrad Zirm (1863–1944)

Eduard Konrad Zirm was born in Vienna, beds, becoming and remaining for many nea healed well and the patient was able to the capital metropolis of the Austro-Hun- years the largest and most modern eye clin- see with his left eye until the end of his life. garian Empire. Soon afterwards, Edu- ic in the German-speaking lands. In the years following, Eduard Konrad ard’s father died, and so he and his sister Zirm carried out further keratoplasties in Adela were raised by their mother. After World’s first successful cornea Olomouc, but none were successful. His graduating from the Medical Faculty of Vi- transplant work did however stimulate further devel- enna University, Zirm worked as an assist- Olomouc’s ophthalmology gained extraor- opments in surgical techniques, including ing doctor at the 2nd Vienna Eye Clinic. In dinary fame on 7 December 1905, when transplantation of corneas from deceased 1892, he found a position at the Olomouc E.K. Zirm conducted the first successful patients, and the emergence of eye tis- hospital, at that point named the Moravi- transplantation of a human organ in his- sue banks. During his tenure in Olomouc, an Land General Institutes. The head of the tory – the cornea. Zirn’s patients were for- Zirm carried out a total of 7,886 cataract Internal Medicine department, Emilian ty-five-year-old householder Alois Glogár, operations. Mick, complied with the professional inter- who lost his sight after burning both eyes ests of his young colleague, and in 1894, he with quicklime, and eleven-year-old Karl Gardener, beekeeper, and writer pushed for Zirm’s appointment to the eye Bräuer, whose eye was seriously injured by Eduard Konrad Zirm built a villa ac- disease surgery. At the same time construc- a metal shaving. Zirm attempted to extract cording to his own design on Tabulový tion had begun on the new Land Institutes the shaving with a magnet, but due to the Hill, and spent the years of his retire- at Tabulový Hill in the Olomouc suburb of loss of the vitreous fluid, he was forced to ment working in his extensive gardens Nová Ulice (the current site of University remove the lad’s eye. Because the cornea and keeping bees. His essays, poems, Hospital Olomouc). Thanks to the efforts remained intact, he used it for the trans- and stories were collected in the book Die of E.K. Zirm, the Ophthalmology depart- plant. He placed the eyeball in a warm sa- Welt als Fühlen, Eine naturphilosophische ment got its own pavilion in 1902 with 165 line solution, with a trepan he cut two Studie für Fachleute und Laien, published grafts from the donor’s cornea, one from in Leipzig and Vienna in 1937. He asked its centre and the second from its periph- that an urn with his ashes be placed in his ery, he put the grafts between two pieces of beloved garden. In 1945, however, it was gauze hung over steam from a vessel with taken to Graz in Austria, where his widow boiling sterile water, and gradually trans- Irena and two sons, Konrad (a doctor) and planted them into Glogár’s eyes, who was Eduard (a lawyer) lived. The ophthalmol- under general anaesthesia. The graft tak- ogist Eduard Konrad Zirm is commem- en from the cornea’s periphery and fixed orated by a plaque on the building of the to the conjunctival flap of his right eye had Eye Clinic at the University Hospital Olo- to be removed after three weeks due to mouc and the blind (!) Zirmova street on pain caused by increased intraocular pres- Tabulový Hill. The University Hospital sure, while the graft taken from the cor- Olomouc Eye Clinic has been organising nea’s centre and fixed by a cross stitch to a medical conference called Zirm’s Olo- the conjunctiva so that it covered the cor- mouc Colloquium since 2010.

Robert Hofmann (1889–1987): Ophthalmologist Eduard Konrad Zirm Oil painting, 1929. Private collection.

40 žurnál 2019 Genius loci…

titulní strana obálky – hudebník, skladatel a pedagog Tomáš Hanzlík foto na 1. a 3. straně obálky: Gabriela Knýblová www.upol.cz Genius loci…

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