The symbol of the contemporary Czech state, the last Czechoslovak and the first Czech president Václav Havel died on December 18, 2011. He first came to international fame as a dissident playwright in the 1970s through his involvement with the human rights manifesto Charter 77. He was prosecuted for his stances and spent many years in prison. Not only thousands of Czechs gathered on Novemeber 23, 2011 for the funeral for Václav Havel, but also leaders from across Europe and around the world joined to mourn Mr. Havel at the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. Academic bulletin features personal memories of Václav Havel by Honorary President of the ASCR Rudolf Zahradník, former President of the ASCR Helena Illnerová and the Czech philosopher Jan Sokol. and Rudolf Zahradník.
The European Molecular Biology Organization organized a meeting in Prague October 1-3. At this symposium several topics were discussed: biology and genetics of mitochondria in relation to cancer; the role of mitochondria-targeting compounds in cancer suppression (including BH3 mimetics); mitochondria as transmitters of death receptor-induced apoptosis; regulation of apoptosis and the interplay of mitochondria with other organelles p53 and mitochondria in apoptosis regulation; and the role of mitochondria in targeting cancer stem cells. and Jiří Neužil, Ladislav Anděra a Alois Kozubík.
A Seminar of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) was organized in collaboration with the Institute of Ethnology of the CAS and the Czech Association of Social Anthropologists on the occasion of the EASA Annual General Meeting on October 14-15, 2015. The seminarMaking Anthropology Matter was intended as a forum to discuss the role that anthropology as an academic discipline and intellectual endeavour plays and could play in the contemporary European public sphere. Some of the themes under discussion were mobility, migration and multiculturalism; economic crises, neoliberalism and human economies; and environment, sustainability and responses to climate change. The event was tied to the current Executive Committee’s priority of strengthening the position of anthropology at different levels across Europe. and Zdeněk Uherek.
Soon after becoming the head of the Academy of Sciences in 2009, Professor Drahoš was faced with questions concerning the very survival of the institution and a crisis in funding caused by a wrong methodology of evaluation. During the past year, the Academy engaged in an evaluation of its 54 institutions. All of this involved a considerable amount of work. The electoral term of Professor Drahoš’s presidency is nearing its completion, so this affords an opportunity for a succinct recapitulation of his achievements. and Marina Hužvárová.
One of the architectural jewels of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague is its Villa Lanna. The Editorial Staff of Academic bulletin decided it deserved recognition with a supplement the Academy's official magazine, enclosed with the September issue. The Staff is indebted to Prof. Jan Bažant who kindly wrote the historical and artistic aspects of this magnificent edifice. On October 8, 2013, the Editorial Staff arranged a small celebration during which Professor Ba2ant guided a group on a tour through this outstanding Neo-Renaissance villa. A photography gallery of the celebration is available on the third cover of this issue as well at the http://abicko.avcrcz. and Mgr. Marina Hužvárová.