During the Brain Awareness Week, held worldwide annually in March, neuroscientists and other brain scientists seek to promote understanding of the progress and benefits of brain research by informing the general public concerning their research activities and their achievements. Brain Awareness Week was created in the USA by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives in 1996. The fourteenth year of the Brain Awareness Week in the Czech Republic occurred on March 12, 2012. Events were held the ASCR’s main building. We feature an interview in this issue with neurosurgeon Professor Eduard Zvěřina, who is the founder of microsurgery in the Czech Republic. and Gabriela Adámková.
The Center for Innovations in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies (Nanocentre), which began its work at the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the ASCR in 2010, has successfully established a direct link between the fundamental research and industry as it transfers research results into the technological praxis. The Center is equipped with a progressive instrumentation and computational technique for high-tech synthesis. structural characterization and clarification of functioning of nanomaterials, as well as for their development and judging their technological applicability. and Luděk Svoboda.