January 21st marked the 150th anniversary of the death of one the most famous and influential Czech writers, Božena Němcová who was born in Vienna. When she was 17 years old, she married Josef Němec who a state customs officer and 15 years older than her. Although the marriage lasted nearly 25 years, it became an unhappy one since the married couple didn’t understand one another very well. Němcová died in poverty, estranged from her husband. Bohemian patriots arranged a dignified funeral for her. Her most popular work is the novel The Grandmother, considered a classic work of Czech literature. The book was inspired by Němcová‘s own childhood in the village of Ratibořice, where she lived with her parents, siblings and maternal grandmother, Magdalena Novotná. and Magdaléna Pokorná.
The Inauguration of Application Laboratories of Microtechnologies and Nanotechnologies (ALISI) took place May 30, 2013 at the Institute of Scientific Instruments in Brno. The aim of ALISI was to build a new research center with modern equipment achieving applicable R&D results and on a level with the world's highest ranking institutions. According to Professor Pavel Zemánek, scientific director of ALISI, the research activities are related to diagnostics and technologies using the methods of magnetic resonance, laser microtechnologies and nanotechnologies — especially interferometry and spectroscopy, measurement and processing signals in medicine, electron microscopy and lithography, electron and laser beam welding, thin film deposition by magnetron sputtering, cryogenics and construction of unique scientific instruments and systems. and Luděk Svoboda.
The European Union has allocated 31 million crowns for the professional enhancement of Czech scientists and international activities of research teams at the Institute of Scientific Instruments of the ASCR and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication of the University of Technology in Brno. The EU subsidy encompasses three years. Thanks to this financial support, Vladislav Krzyžánek, a leading Czech expert in electron microscopy, has returned to Brno after 12 years in Muenster, Germany. The EU subsidy will additionally fund training workshops, guest stays of foreign scientists, support for researchers’ mobility and the establishment of cooperation between universities and the industrial sector. and Luděk Svoboda.
Euro-Biolmaging, an EU project, aims to create a pan-European infrastructure for biological and biomedical imaging. It will consist of closely interlinked leading European imaging facilities offering to European researchers an open access to a wide range of innovative imaging technologies. These technologies are used, for example, in researching new diagnostics and curing serious diseases. The Euro-Biolmaging published a first call for future Euro-Biolmaging nodes in January 2014. In total, 71 imaging facilities from 19 countries submitted their Expression of Interest to become a Euro-Biolmaging node. The Czech Republic submitted two applications. and Pavel Hozák.