The Academy Assembly, the highest body of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic responsible for the foremost priority decisions related to the ASCR, held its XLI Meeting in the Municipal House in Vinohrady December 13. 2012. By a secret ballot. Professor Jill Drahoa was reelected by the Academy Assembly as the new candidate for the presidency of ASCR for the period 2013-2017. The president of Czech Republic will ratify this election and the nominee will be inducted as the new head of Academy at the XLII Meeting of Academy Assembly on March 19. 2013. and Luděk Svoboda.
In this issue, we feature an essay by Professor Jaroslav Pánek from the Institute of History of the ASCR originally presented as an address a the University of Pardubice on the occasion of his receiving an honorary doctorate. In this essay, Professor Pánek presents his views on the increasing influence of Islam in Europe and highlights the role of Jan Amos Comenius, "the teacher of nations", whose consummate lifetime work is being recalled through an exhibition at the Pedagogical Museum of J. A. Comenius. and Jaroslav Pánek.
The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports hosted a prestigious science contest for talented young students entitled European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS). The September 20-24 exhibition took place at the Exhibition Grounds in Prague-Holešovice with 124 participants from 37 countries. A total of 83 projects competed in nine categories: biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environment, mathematics, medicine, physics, and the humanities. The winners were honored at the awards ceremony at Bethlehem Chapel. and Marina Hužvárová, Gabriela Adámková.