Masaryk University faced a number of challenges in 2023, but it also experienced a number of joyful moments. As the year draws to a close, we briefly recall some of the important events.
Important people and anniversaries
Echoes of Mendel's anniversary
Scientists from the MU CEITEC research centre participated in the creation of the unique Hrachovina sculpture, which was unveiled in January in front of the Old Brno monastery and commemorates the genetic breakthroughs of Gregor Johann Mendel. Inside the sculpture, there are specially sealed tubes with DNA of the personalities who participated in the creation of the sculpture and the popularisation of Mendel’s work. “At the top, somewhere in the gilded parts of the sculpture, there are fragments of Mendel's own DNA,” explained Šárka Pospíšilová, Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies. The unveiling of Hrachovina by sculptor Jaromír Gargulák marked the end of the celebrations of Mendel’s jubilee in 2022, the 200th anniversary of his birth. The legacy of the “father of genetics” will continue to be commemorated by Masaryk University in the museum situated within the grounds of the Augustinian Abbey and through the regular Mendel Days event in autumn. This year’s Mendel Days focused on the broader context of Mendel’s legacy and presented the importance and contribution of natural sciences to Czech and European society.
Tribute to Karel Engliš
In January, Masaryk University began its 105th year of existence with a commemoration of its first rector, Karel Engliš, whose name has since been borne by the main auditorium in the building of the Faculty of Law. “I appreciate the fact that Masaryk University upholds his legacy in this way,” said František Plhoň, grandson of Karel Engliš, who received Masaryk University medal for promoting the legacy of his grandfather.
Martin Černohorský’s centenary
On 31 August, the physicist Martin Černohorský, professor emeritus of the Faculty of Science and the first-ever rector of the Silesian University in Opava, celebrated his 100th birthday. “Professor Černohorský’s centenary is a great celebration of life, but also an opportunity for all to remember the legacy of this outstanding man. May health, joy and peace accompany him in the next years of his remarkable life,” said MU Rector Martin Bareš in his congratulatory address. Martin Černohorský celebrated his jubilee with the university community on 7 September at a festive seminar in his honour, organised by the Faculty of Science together with the Union of Czech Mathematicians and Physicists. “I wish everyone to succeed in what they do and what they want to do. And to find that it is useful and it resonates with people,” said the centenarian Professor Černohorský.
25th anniversary of the Faculty of Social Studies
The Faculty of Social Studies celebrated an important anniversary in 2023. The celebrations of its 25 years began in the spring with the traditional Faculty Day. They continued in the autumn when FSS held a conference and honoured important individuals who have contributed to its development over the years.
In the secret ballot held by the Academic Senate on 3 April, Martin Bareš was confirmed in the office of Rector of Masaryk University for a second four-year term. He was the only candidate and received 51 votes out of 55 possible, more than in his first candidacy in 2019. “I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the vote. It demonstrated great confidence in me and I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure that I do not fail the expectations. I am fully aware of the many challenges and problems that lie ahead and will have to be tackled,” said Martin Bareš after his re-election. The new Vice-Rectors Monika Jandová and Jana Fialová and Vice-Rector Petr Suchý also started their second term.
Minor reshuffling at MU faculties and departments
The deans of the Faculty of Medicine, Martin Repko, the Faculty of Social Studies, Stanislav Balík, and the Faculty of Sports Studies, Jan Cacek, are also continuing in the next term. In all cases, they stood as the only candidates for election by the academic senates of their respective faculties. After Jiří Zlatuška, the Faculty of Informatics will be headed by Jiří Barnat, and CEITEC MU will be headed by Pavel Plevka instead of Jiří Nantl, who became Deputy Minister of Education. “My goal is to strengthen the scientific reputation of CEITEC and Masaryk University by participating in international projects and improving the way we present our results to the global scientific community. An improved reputation will help us attract top scientific talent and ideally create a positive feedback loop leading to the production of excellent scientific results,” said Pavel Plevka.
University Ombuds to protect the rights of students and staff
Lawyer Eva Janovičová has been appointed to the newly created position of University Ombuds. She deals with all kinds of complaints submitted by students and MU staff: “These can be employment issues, discrimination, bullying, student affairs, inappropriate behaviour by teachers and students, or plagiarism, for example,” described Janovičová, who is the sole investigator of complaints but can also serve as a contact person. Students can also contact their representatives in Masaryk University’s Academic Senate, who are also trained to handle such affairs.
The Rector Martin Bareš
Photo: David Konečný
International projects
Hope for patients with untreatable diseases
In September, the Faculty of Medicine inaugurated CREATIC, a unique international project focused on the research, development and production of medicines for patients suffering from diseases for which no medical treatments currently exist. The faculty has received European and national funding and over the next two years will convert one of the buildings on the Bohunice University Campus to house CREATIC (Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunology Centre). According to Rector Martin Bareš, the whole project fulfils all the roles of a university: education, research and the third role of benefiting society. “The project results will affect individual patients and can make a positive difference in their lives and their families,” said Mr Bareš.
Latin American partners in the EPSULA project
This year, the MU Language Centre launched a major international project, EPSULA, to help preserve the culture and languages of indigenous tribes, in cooperation with European and Latin American partners. It is also one of only two projects for the South American region to receive EU support this year. “The EPSULA project has a really far-reaching impact, which will be reflected in teaching materials at major European universities. We are also working specifically through our contacts in Latin America to support local people and preserve their heritage,” said Hana Poledníková from the Language Centre.
Slavnostní zahájení projektu CREATIC se uskutečnilo v areálu Augustiniánského opatství v Brně.
Foto: Mariya Ostrenko
Awards
In 2023, several awards were given to people associated with Masaryk University. In January, the Brno City Hall honoured the Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and former MU Rector Jiří Zlatuška, CEITEC researcher Jiří Fajkus, Professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy Václav Suchý, and Jiří Procházka, MMA fighter and graduate of the Faculty of Sports Studies.
The prestigious Werner von Siemens Award for overcoming obstacles in studies was awarded to Ester Milostná, a student of the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Informatics.
Vice-Rector Radim Polčák was inducted into the Cybersecurity Hall of Fame, which is a prestigious award for people working in the field of cybersecurity.
The award for significant scientific contribution in the field of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology was awarded to Professor Šárka Pospíšilová and young researcher Martin Toul.
The honorary doctorate from the Örebro University in Sweden was awarded to Jana Klánová, Director of RECETOX.
MU awarded honorary doctorates to American professors Leon Kessler and Charles Alexander.
The Czech “Nobel Prize” – which is what the Česká hlava award is sometimes called – was awarded in November to archaeologist Jiří Macháček from the Faculty of Arts and Martin Toul, a recent graduate of the Faculty of Science.
Jiří Macháček, winner of the “Česká hlava – Invence” (Czech Head) award
Photo: Jitka Janů
Research
In early spring, MU researchers returned from an Antarctic expedition with concerning news. The average temperature in Antarctica was 3.5°C higher than the 2004-2020 average.
Brno researchers have come closer to a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Dalibor Blažek became a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).
Masaryk University joined the collaboration in the fields of astronautics, space physiology and medicine, space technology, applications and space exploration with four other Czech universities this summer.
The project for QUVIK, the first Czech space telescope has been given the green light; astrophysicists from Masaryk University will manage the scientific part of the project. MU will also run the satellite’s scientific operations centre.
Two prestigious ERC grants for Masaryk University researchers
Two Masaryk University researchers – Peter Fabian and Petr Těšina – have been awarded prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants. They were successful in a competition of almost three thousand candidate projects and received financial support to build their own research teams. “This will help us to expand our research team, to fund much more sophisticated experiments, and carry out more detailed analyses,” explained Peter Fabian from the Faculty of Science, who is investigating the possibility of studying human inherited diseases in animal models. “The fact that it is a five-year grant guarantees certain stability, and the flexibility of the funding means that it is possible to respond to various challenges that occur during the research,” added structural biologist Petr Těšina from CEITEC MU, who came to Brno after several years in Munich. Peter Fabian worked for several years at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. He will head the new Dioscuri Research Centre at MU after having succeeded in an international programme to promote scientific excellence in Central and Eastern Europe.
Czech Science Foundation JUNIOR STAR grants
The Czech Science Foundation (CSF) will support three JUNIOR STAR projects from January 2024. Three researchers from Masaryk University were among the recipients: Michal Zajaček from the Faculty of Science, Klára Marečková from CEITEC MU and Martin Lang from the Faculty of Arts.
Biologist Peter Fabian (left) and structural biologist Petr Těšina from MU received prestigious ERC grants.
Photo: MU archive
Sustainability
Masaryk University is aware of its societal role and therefore places increasing emphasis on sustainability. Between September and October, it joined the European Week for Sustainable Development. The QS Sustainability Rankings confirmed that the University's sustainability efforts are effective. Masaryk University ranked the best among Czech universities and was ranked 161st globally.
International ranking successes
Masaryk University has achieved historic success in the prestigious international QS World University Rankings, joining the list of the top 400 universities in the world. It has improved by more than 150 places year-on-year. A total of 1,499 institutions were ranked. In the latest edition of the Shanghai ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities), Masaryk University was placed among the top five hundred universities in the world for the second time since last year’s historic success. When Times Higher Education published its World University Rankings by Subject, MU found that it was ranked in ten out of a total of 11 subject areas. Its best result is in Law and Arts and Humanities, where it has earned positions in the top three hundred in the world. Another major ranking company, Shanghai Ranking, has also published a subject-specific international comparison of higher education institutions. MU is ranked in the world’s top 200 in two disciplines – Environmental Science & Engineering and Geography. It is the best in the Czech Republic in three areas.
University buildings and renovations
MUNI BioPharma Hub is nearing construction
Masaryk University’s strategic project MUNI BioPharma Hub has its main contractor. The tender was awarded to the consortium of IMOS, Metrostav, PS BRNO and IDPS, with whom Masaryk University has now signed a contract. The handover of the construction site on the Bohunice University Campus took place at the beginning of October. The unique educational and research infrastructure will occupy 15,190 square metres of land. The groundbreaking ceremony is planned for early 2024, which marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of Masaryk University. The importance of the MUNI BioPharma Hub as a major strategic project has also been reflected by the City of Brno in its #Brno2050 strategy, making the MUNI BioPharma Hub a flagship project in the Prosperity theme.
Uncertainty around the Scala cinema
A structural survey in the summer revealed serious faults that prevented the Scala University Cinema from reopening after the holidays, having previously closed briefly in February. The extent of the damage will be determined by a further survey to be carried out from January 2024. Until the estimated cost of restoring the building, which also houses the Bolek Polívka Theatre, is known, the University does not want to accept the offer to buy the building from the City of Brno for a symbolic one Czech crown. In the meantime, classes, conferences and other activities have to take place in alternative premises. “Scala is a unique meeting space for the public and a venue for major university events of significance, and together with the operation of the cinema, it has managed to preserve its original purpose. It is our know-how that is quite unique and almost non-transferable. We would like to preserve this continuity,” said Vice-Rector Jiří Hanuš.
Biathlete Tereza Jandová and speed skater Veronika Antošová, both students of the Faculty of Sports Studies, shone at the 2023 World University Winter Games in Lake Placid. Together they won one gold and three bronze medals in the USA. Other medals followed at the Summer Games in Chengdu, China: the gold medal for the basketball team was won also thanks to Tomáš Jansa, a student of the Faculty of Economics and Administration. “Winning the University Games is definitely my biggest achievement in basketball so far,” said Jansa, who plays point guard for Jindřichův Hradec in the Czech top basketball league.
University league matches
Students once again competed in various university leagues, which are becoming increasingly popular with spectators. This is underscored by three big duels that took place in Brno this year. At the end of February, the men’s and women’s MU volleyball teams played against their Brno University of Technology counterparts in front of a full house on the Bohunice Campus. Both matches were won by MU students. In October, the two universities clashed on the ice. In front of a packed Winnig Group Arena in Brno, the hockey players of HC MUNI once again challenged their rivals from BUT, who eventually beat Masaryk University 3-1. The third derby was in basketball. In mid-November, the MU basketball team defeated the MENDELU team 90-77 at the STAREZ Arena at Vodova.
Ice Hockey Match
Photo: MU archive
University events
On the anniversary of the birth of the first Czechoslovak president in March, Masaryk University once again organised its Masaryk Days, at which Andrey Zubov also gave a lecture. In May, the University honoured distinguished researchers, successful students and volunteers at Dies academicus.
At the ceremony marking the start of the academic year, the best teachers were awarded and the University Wine was announced.
But the year at Masaryk University was not only in the spirit of conferences and award ceremonies. The University was also involved in a number of events that gave students a well-deserved break from lectures and seminars. In May, the traditional Majáles festival offered good entertainment, with the king from Masaryk University taking the throne after many years. In May, students were also able to have fun on campus during MUNI Day. Originally, the Campus Day was only open to students and staff from the campus faculties, but in 2023 participants were invited from all MU faculties and departments.
The University has also been busy over the summer. It hosted its first-ever international alumni meeting in Brussels. For the first time, it also participated in the Meltingpot Forum, part of the Colours of Ostrava festival. The end of summer was then made more pleasant by the Concert of Film Soundtracks in Denisovy sady, where the Masaryk University Symphony Orchestra played famous film music.
The autumn months were enlivened by the Deans’ Barbecue and the Researchers’ Night. In November, the University commemorated the events of 1939 and 1989, the Fragile Freedom event and a lantern procession.
The Advent season was brightened by the traditional Masaryk University Advent Concert, at which the Masaryk University Choir performed in cooperation with the chamber choir Ensemble Versus.
