Jako popularizátor vědy to stále chovám v živé paměti: 2005 – Rok fyziky, 2009 – Rok astronomie. Fyzikové si za záminku zvolili sté výročí „zázračného roku“ (annus mirabilis), v němž Albert Einstein zveřejnil tři práce, které od základu změnily fyziku: podal kvantový výklad fotoelektrického jevu a výklad Brownova pohybu mikročástic a formuloval speciální teorii relativity. Každý z těchto výsledků je mimořádný už sám o sobě, jejich triáda v průběhu jediného roku a jediného mozku je neopakovatelná. Hvězdáři, rodní bratři fyziků, si předloni připomněli 400 let od souběhu dvou událostí, které „otřásly nebem“: Galileovo zavedení dalekohledu coby nejvýznamnější událost pozorovací astronomie a vydání prvního ze základních děl astronomie teoretické – Keplerův „pražský“ spis Astronomia nova s prvními dvěma zákony oběhu planet. and František Houdek.
The largest international research centre for particle physics, the construction of which the Czech scientific community played a very important role, is celebrating the 60th year since its foundation in September 1954. It operates the 17-mile long Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest accelerator in the world. Its official name is the “European Organization for Nuclear Research”, but it is known internationally known by the acronym CERN (from the French, Conseil Européen pour la recherche nucléaire). A noteworthy interactive exhibition took place at ASCR headquarters from September 2 to October 12, 2014 was open to the public without charge. In an “interactive tunnel,” ASCR President Prof. Jiří Drahoš opened the exhibition with a ceremonial “kick-off of the protons.” CERN is the prototype of programmes for European cooperation through which a number of European projects have been built,” Professor Drahoš said. He cited the Czech scientific community for its involvement in experimental and scientific work there. Membership in CERN is important for the Czech Republic not only in terms of participation in top experiments, but significantly in providing young scientists and engineers an invaluable opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills for application in their nations. This issue of Academic bulletin features an interview with dr. Daniel Krasnický from CERN and Universitá di Genova and interview with dr. Jan Blaha from Stanford University who cooperates with CERN. and Jiří Chýla.
Academic Materials Research Laboratory of Painted Artworks (ALMA) is a joint workplace of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (AFA) and the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (IIC ASCR). This is a scientific laboratory focused on the Czech cultural heritage. Combining the branches of the natural sciences, art and the history of art, ALMA seeks to deepen the knowledge of painting materials and techniques. The knowledge acquired is integrated into a complete evaluation of painted art works by origin, age, and authenticity. The ALMA Laboratory develops instrumental materials analysis methods and interprets the results in the context of art history and history of materials technology. and Silvie Švarcová, David Hradil.
Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology was established in the early 90s in the last century. It followed-up to an activity of the Physiological Section of Czech Botanical Society. Gaining the independence of the Physiological Society, a new professional society was established. In 2008, it was transformed to the Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology. Thanks to the great development of methods in the last 20 years, especially of molecular biology used to investigate plants on different levels, the term “physiology” became limited, therefore it is nowadays often replaced by a more exact “experimental plant biology”. Naturally, this worldwide trend asserts oneself also in our countries. The research fields included are not restricted to the pure laboratory or theoretical ones. and Lubomír Nátr, Jana Albrechtová.
The Czech Society for Histo- and Cytochemistry is a successor of The Czechoslovak Society for Histo- and Cytochemistry founded in 1966. The Society provides an interdisciplinary forum to support a study of the relationships among the structure, chemical composition and function in cells and tissues by histochemical, immunohistochemical and cytochemical methods. The Society encourages its members in the development and improvement of histochemical, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical methods used to discover the content and function of the tissue and cellular systems in situ and the application of the methods for diagnostics. and Jaroslav Mokrý.
The first implementation phase of the ELI Beamlines project was concluded and the laser facility in Dolní Břežany was inaugurated on October 19, 2015 in the presence of many distinguished guests from the world of science and politics. The initial greetings were given by Czech and foreign guests, including the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences Jiří Drahoš, Director of the Institute of Physics Jan Řídký, the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Milan Štěch, Archbishop of Prague Dominik cardinal Duka, Director General of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Francesco Sette, Director General of the ELI-DC International Association Wolfgang Sandner, Chairman of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure John Womersley, French physicist and founder of the ELI project Gérard Mourou, Deputy director for science and technology in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California Patricia Falcone. Guests were invited to see laser and experimental technologies directly in one of the laser halls. and Marina Hužvárová a Jana Olivová.