žurnál Magazine of Palacký University Olomouc, 2017/1 theme Olomouc – A University Town Genius loci… Visit UPoint… … or its e-Shop! Find an original souvenir to commemorate your studies and the UP Alumni Reunion in the extensive range of our promotional products. We recommend you check out the unique UniWearCity fashion collection – an original fashion brand. The special collection was designed especially for Palacký University by UP alumna Alexandra Monhartová in collaboration with fashion designer Alice Klouzková. The collection was made in the Czech Republic with the emphasis on quality material and austere elegance. UP students, UP employees, and UP Alumni Card holders can take advantage of a 10% discount in the shop. UPoint – Palacký University Information Centre and Shop House of the Black Dog | Upper Square 12 | Olomouc www.upoint.upol.cz contents 3 — A University Town 6 — The Role of Social Workers in Society 6 — Faculty of Arts Offers Indonesian Studies 7 — Experts Warn: We must shorten our time spent sitting 7 — Faculty of Health Sciences Opens a New Programme: Paramedic 8 — Faculty of Education Publishes Almanac 8 — Faculty of Law Offers New Study Programme in English 9 — New Geopark Explores the Magic of Rocks Dear Readers, 9 — Faculty of Medicine Opens Aesculap Academy 10 — Acoustic Analysis Reveals Uniqueness of Freddie Anniversaries are always sources Mercury’s Voice of joy and pride. Established in 1566 as a Jesuit college and re-established in 11 — Olomouc Telemedicine Centre Tests Home Health Care 1946 as Palacký University, in 2016 our in Scandinavia academy celebrated four hundred and 12 — Unique Surgical Technique Developed by UP Urologists fifty years of its existence and seven 13 — UP Botanists Discover New Plant on Borneo decades since its renewal. Over the course of centuries, legions of alumni 14 — UP Scientists Have Created World’s Smallest Metallic have spread its glory and reputation Magnets across the globe. To celebrate our 15 — Miroslav Strnad, Plant Physiologist rich and dramatic history, we invited 18 — Success our alumni back to Olomouc, and I hasten to say that the splendid and 22 — Kaleidoscope of News Briefs pleasantly informal 2016 Reunion will 24 — To the Soaring Heights… with a Pacemaker be writ in gold into the university 25 — Delana Mikolášová: Failure is not a problem chronicle. With 70 honoured alumni and almost 10 000 participants 28 — BALUO: Bases of Application Life Utilities Olomouc from the Czech Republic, Europe and 30 — Chomoutov’s Alchemy of Beer overseas, the event certainly aspired 32 — The University Choir: Affair of the Heart to the biggest academic get-together 33 — School Gardens of Eden in the history of this country. This new English version of Žurnál recalls 35 — Lenka Konrádová: Each morning I have to look myself this memorable happening, one that in the mirror may justly be called the highlight of 37 — Medicine Helped Him – Now He Helps Others the academic year. This issue offers 40 — “Francjosef” and Olomouc interviews with selected renowned alumni, inspiring life stories of some Palacký University graduates, reports on recent research achievements of our scientists, the first-hand impressions from Olomouc as voiced by the sole Bhutanese student in the Czech Republic, and much more. Long cover photo: Gabriela Knýblová live Palacký University and its ever- growing alumni club! Žurnál | Published annually in English | Czech Registration No.: MK ČR E 12524, ISSN 1804- 6754 | Published by Palacký University Olomouc, Křížkovského 8, CZ-771 47 Olomouc, Czech Republic | VAT No.: 61989592 | Chairman of the Editorial Board: Petr Bilík | Editor- in-Chief: Ivana Pustějovská | Layout: Věra Marešová | Graphic Editor: Michaela Cyprová | Jaroslav Miller Proofreading: Matthew Sweney | Editorial Board | Biskupské nám. 1, Olomouc | Telephone: +420 585 631 155 | E-mail: [email protected] | Print | Profi-Tisk Group Olomouc | 1 000 copies UP Rector text: Ivana Pustějovská theme photo: Gabriela Knýblová 2 žurnál 2017 A university town They came. Up until the last minute, we worried about whether they would make it. But they came. The town was full of them. “I consider the award as a kind Old, young, locals, out-of-towners, famous sons and daughters. of testimonial that perhaps I have brought no shame upon Everywhere. And everywhere they went, they could be recog- the Olomouc university, which nised at first glance. By the blue lanyard around their necks and for me will be a commitment to the smiles on their faces. Palacký University alumni. try even harder.” Vít Pohanka, radio journalist September ninth and tenth last autumn, Delana Mikolášová, a top diplomat (you Olomouc belonged to the university. can read an interview with her in this is- “The fact that I am currently More precisely, to the Alumni Reunion, sue), flew in from Israel. the Head Chaplain of the Armed the like of which Olomouc has never seen. Everything which took place during Forces of the Czech Republic For two days, fellow students, teach- those two days was “Made in UP”, includ- is thanks to what Palacký ers, employees, and friends met. Every- ing the programme. Anyone who wanted University endowed me with.” one who has UP not only on their parch- to hear the proof of how well UP gradu- ments, but also in their hearts. They came ates can play and sing could listen to the Colonel Jaroslav Knichal to see how their colleges have changed. likes of musical star Leona Machálková, “I finished my studies in optics and elec- folk musician Jiří Pavlica, opera sing- “It is certainly an honour, there tronic optics at the Faculty of Science er Lucie Ceralová, and jazzman Emil were medal recipients who in 1994. I’m glad to be here. They have Viklický live in concert. have accomplished truly great a marvellous building which did not exist And they were honoured. Six dozen things in diverse areas of human in my day,” said Helena Indrušová, who personalities who have made a name for endeavour. I was pleased that came from Slovakia. “I wanted to walk themselves in perhaps every field, from there were scientists there; and through the halls where I studied. Espe- medicine to science, justice, business, I could be among them. There cially the Anatomy Department, where the arts, journalism, politics, diplomacy, are not many Czech scientists I can still smell the formaldehyde,” Mile- and sport, accepted a medal from Rector who have achieved global na Moravcová, a dentist and 1976 gradu- Jaroslav Miller as a symbol of gratitude ate, said with a smile. for representing their school. Stepping recognition. I’m proud that There were many similar meetings up to the podium were such personali- some of them are from our alma and many were filled with surprising and ties as oncologist Karel Indrák, scientist mater.” touching moments. For example when Radek Zbořil, American Studies scholar Radek Zbořil, Scientist and graduate Jindřich Štreit christened the Josef Jařab, businesswoman Jarmila Pod- RCPTM Director university desk calendar, and several la- horná, journalist Jakub Železný and doz- dies descended upon the famous pho- ens of others. “I keep in touch with the tographer saying, “We studied together, “When we left our alma mater years Jindřich, remember? Let’s get a shot of us back and stepped up to the symbolic ser- university not only for together, ok?” Or when Jitka Pospíšilová vice line, we still had no clear idea of what nostalgia’s sake. For me it is from Hranice, a 1965 graduate in Eng- would be waiting for us, what kind of also a bit of a challenge and lish and Russian from the Faculty of Arts, match it would be. The umpire was per- motivation.” somewhat involuntarily touched the ring haps already sitting in his chair, an un- Jakub Dürr, Czech Deputy on her hand. “For me Palacký University known opponent had warmed up, and we Foreign Minister even has a family significance. My parents had just completed the first serve. Nobody made financial contributions to its re-es- knew whether they would be successful. tablishment after WW2. And that’s why That’s how it all began. Here a forehand, I wore this ring, which was my mum’s, so there a backhand, we didn’t always win, that she could be here with me – symbol- sometimes we left the court in disappoint- ically.” And distance was no obstacle for ment, but we always gave it our all. We those who wanted to return to their stu- can promise that we are ready for whatev- dent days. Miloslava Minnes, a graduate er comes next,” promised, on behalf of all, of both the Faculty of Education and Fac- the former tennis champion, psycholo- ulty of Arts, flew in from Canada. “I want- gist, and UP graduate Helena Suková – ed to be back in Olomouc, it’s lovely here.” her eyes gazing on the “ReUPblic”. žurnál 2017 3 UP REUNION IN NUMBERS 6 000 alumni came to Olomouc — 70th anniversary celebration of the re-establishment of Palacký University — 1952 was the year of graduation of the eldest alumna — 6 500 km journey to the Reunion made by an alumna from Canada — 76 distinguished alumni received a commemorative medal — 11 check-in sites throughout the city — 180 days from conception to realisation of a glass container – for the check- in site in front of the main train station — 20 events in the accompanying programme — 7 gala concerts — 25th anniversary celebration of the enlargement of the university textbook centre to the UP University Press — 0:30 am was the time UPoint’s last visitor left — 4 354 buttons with the Palacký University logo were distributed — 8 000 bottles of mineral water were distributed to alumni — 152 student volunteers helped in organising the event 4 žurnál 2017 photos: M.